'The voice of Erin' - an Irishman's Diary on tenor William Dunlea

William Dunlea (1911-1998) was known as 'The voice of Erin'. The tenor was born in the suburb of Blackpool in Cork, Ireland, but was know for his singing all over the world, particularly in England and America where he lived and worked for a number of years.

I have just written an Irishman's Diary in the Irish Times newspaper about him. Read it here.

William Dunlea (1911-1998). Image source.

In the 1940s and 1950s, Dunlea sang on the radio in Ireland (Radio Eireann). He also sang on radio in England (BBC) and America, where he lived for a number of years. He performed in venues all over England and the United States including the Royal Albert Hall in London and in Carnegie Hall in New York.

A plaque in Blackpool, Cork, Ireland dedicated to their famous son, William Dunlea.

In 2008/09, Cork City Library held an exhibition on Dunlea. A book was also written by local historian, Jim McKeon and it details Dunlea's life story. You can download a PDF version of the book here from the Library website.