Sean Dunphy
(Nov 30th 1937 - May 17th 2011)
was an Irish singer who represented Ireland
at the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest,
achieving second place with "If I Could Choose".
He was also the first Irish singer to record in Nashville

Dunphy first became famous in his home country as lead singer with The Hoedowners,
a showband led by trumpeter Earl Gill. Between 1966 and 1973,
fourteen singles by Sean Dunphy and The Hoedowners entered the Irish Charts
including, in 1969, two number ones: "Lonely Woods of Upton" and "
When The Fields Were White With Daisies". In the late 1970s,
Dunphy went on to have two further hits as a solo artist.

Despite undergoing a quadruple heart bypass operation in 2007,
Sean Dunphy continued to give live performances up until his death.
Sean Dunphy passed away on 17th May, 2011.

Earl Gill Trumpet / Vinney Keane (RIP) Drums / Pat Keohane Bass Guitar / Sean Dunphy
Dave Carlilse Rhythm Guitar / Noel Guthrie Lead Guitar / Eamonn Young Tenor Sax/Clar

Text From Eamonn Young
Played Clarinette and Tenor Saxaphone
with Sean Dunphy,Earl Gill and the Hoedowners
young.eamonn@online.ie

Sean Dunphy
and the Hoedowners
Back: Pat Keohane (Bass Guitar) Earl Gill (Leader-Trumpet)
Vinny Keane (Drums) R.I.P. Noel Guthrie (Lead Guitar)
Center Sean Dunphy (Lead Singer)
Front: Eamonn Young (Tenor Sax & Clarinet)
Frank Mangan (Piano & Organ)

In 1967 history was made when two Eurovision singles topped the Irish charts. The Irish entry was Sean's Dunphy with another classic Irish Eurovision ballad "If I Could Choose" and it achieved a very creditable second place when performed at the contest staged in Vienna. The song which edged it out was the U.K. entry, "Puppet On A String" by Sandie Shaw and after the contest, it too went to number one in Ireland, making it the first "foreign" Eurovision number one in Ireland. It should however be remembered that the song was co-written by an Irishman; Phil Coulter, last seen as a judge on "You're A Star".
 

Girl Singer Deirdre Wynn                                               Sean Dunphy
 

In 1968, they adapted an old Scottish folk-song "Football  Crazy "
The Hoedowners called their song "Showball Crazy"
they put on a comedy show when they performed it onstage.

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