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Philomena Begley

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Philomena Begley
Background information
Born (1942-10-20) 20 October 1942 (age 83)
Pomeroy, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
GenresCountry, gospel country pop
OccupationSinger
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1962–present
LabelsDolphin Records, Top Spin, Release, Ritz, Prism Leisure, H&H

Philomena Begley (born 20 October 1942) is a country music singer from Northern Ireland, widely regarded as "Ireland’s Queen of Country". She rose to prominence in 1975 with her chart-topping version of "Blanket on the Ground", which outsold Billie Jo Spears’ original in Ireland. Over the course of her career, Begley has toured internationally, recorded numerous duets with Ray Lynam, and performed at venues including the Grand Ole Opry and Carnegie Hall. In 2020, she became the first recipient inducted into the ICMA Hall of Fame.

Background

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Philomena Begley was born on 20 October 1942 and grew up in Pomeroy, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. She was one of eight children.[1][2] Before her break into music, she worked for six-and-a-half years at Fisher’s Hat Factory in Cookstown.[2]

Career

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Her first venture as a singer was with the popular Old Cross Céilí Band, with whom she sang as a dare, but stayed with the group.[3] The group soon became known as the Old Cross Bandshow and released three records in Ireland in 1968 and 1969, but none made an impression in the chart. In September 1970, the band changed its name to The Country Flavour.[3] Begley's first record following this became her first chart hit when "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" reached number seven in the Irish chart.[4] In 1974, she formed the Ramblin' Men,[3] while the Country Flavour continued to tour with several other lead singers (including Eileen King and Dan O'Hara) during the 1970s.

Begley regularly toured with Ray Lynam from 1975 and they recorded many duets together, probably their most popular being "My Elusive Dreams",[3] which went on to be mentioned in The Pogues' song, "A Pair of Brown Eyes".

In 1975, Begley had a hit with her version of Billie Jo Spears' hit song "Blanket on the Ground" which took her to number five in the Irish chart.[3] Spears also released the song in the United Kingdom and in Ireland at the same time, but in Ireland, Begley's version received the highest sales, as Spears' version only went to number 11.[5] The success of the single helped cement Begley's reputation as "Ireland’s Queen of Country", a title that has followed her throughout her career. She occasionally performed with Spears and later recorded a tribute song to her after the American star's death in 2011.[6][7]

By 1977, she was undertaking a major tour of the United States, and in 1978, she was invited to sing at the Grand Ole Opry by Porter Wagoner.[3] Since then, she has made multiple return visits to Nashville, been a guest of honour at the St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York City, and performed at both the Grand Ole Opry and Carnegie Hall.[8]

Personal life

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Begley is married to Tom Quinn, and they have three children: Mary, Aiden, and Carol, as well as five grandchildren.[9][10] They live on a farm in Galbally, County Tyrone.[11] Her son Aiden has established a singing career of his own, and her niece Andrea Begley won the BBC TV series The Voice UK in June 2013.[12]

In 2017, she published her autobiography My Life, My Music, My Memories, co-written with Emma Heatherington, reflecting on her career, family life, and the challenges of touring during the Troubles.[13]

In 2019, Begley underwent heart surgery to have a valve replaced.[14]

Recognition

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One of Begley's biggest fans is Irish singer Daniel O'Donnell, and he once said, "When Philomena sings a song you believe her... you feel that she's experienced every emotion she expresses."[15]

In December 2020, Begley became the first recipient of the ICMA Hall of Fame award, presented during The Late Late Show Country Music Christmas Special.[16]

In February 2023, she received Mid Ulster District Council’s highest civic honour at a reception held at the Burnavon Arts Centre in Cookstown.[17]

In March 2025, Begley was honoured at Áras an Uachtaráin, by then-President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, and his wife, Sabina Higgins.[18]

Discography

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Albums
  • 1972 - Truck Driving Woman (Release Records)[19]
  • 1973 - The Two of Us (with Ray Lynam) (Release)
  • 1974 - Meet the Queen of Country Music (Top Spin Records)
  • 1975 - The Best of Ray and Phil (with Ray Lynam) (Country Records)
  • 1975 - Blanket on the Ground (Top Spin)
  • 1976 - Irish Country Queen (Top Spin)
  • 1976 - Queen of the Silver Dollar (Top Spin)
  • 1977 - Truckin' Queen (Top Spin)
  • 1978 - Nashville Country (Top Spin)
  • 1979 - Fireside Country (Top Spin)
  • 1979 - The Best of Philomena Begley (K-tel)
  • 1980 - Philomena's Country (Top Spin)
  • 1981 - My Kind of Country (Top Spin)
  • 1983 - Country Scenes (K-tel)
  • 1984 - You're in My Heart (Ritz Records)
  • 1985 - Simply Divine (with Ray Lynam) (Ritz)
  • 1987 - More About Love (Ritz)
  • 1988 - Silver Anniversary Album (Ritz)
  • 1991 - In Harmoney (Ritz)
  • 1993 - Simply Divine (Ritz)
  • 2002 - My Elusive Dreams (with Ray Lynam)(Prism Leisure Records)
  • 2003 - Irlands Qeen
  • 2004 - Once Around the Dancefloor (Prism Leisure)
  • 2005 - Village
  • 2007 - The Philomena Begley Collection (Voice Records)
  • 2009 - The Way Old Friends Do
  • 2009 - I'll Only Give This Up When It Gives Me Up
  • 2013 - How I Love Them Old Songs (H&H Records)
  • 2018 - From Then Till Now (H&H)
  • 2022 - The Diamond Collection

References

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  1. ^ Walsh, Kayla (20 October 2022). "Philomena Begley says she's still performing at 81 and has no plans to retire". RSVP Live. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Philomena Begley: Ireland's Queen of Country reflects on 60 years of stardom". BBC News. 2 January 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 209. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  4. ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011.
  5. ^ "Philomenabegley". Iangallagher.com. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  6. ^ "How I helped Philomena Begley pen her life story... and what the country music star taught me". Belfast Telegraph. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  7. ^ "Tribute to Billie Jo Spears – Philomena Begley". Spotify. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  8. ^ "All hail Philly – the Queen of Country". News Letter. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  9. ^ Martin McCarthy, James; O'Loughlin, Mikie (29 February 2024). "Inside Philomena Begley's 50-year marriage and family life". Belfast Live. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  10. ^ Townsend, Michelle (22 October 2020). "Country music star Philomena Begley on her life, career and family". RSVP Live. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  11. ^ "PHILOMENA BEGLEY: 'Why I'll always be country in my heart and soul'". News Letter. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  12. ^ "Will.i.am 'So Sad' At The Voice UK Final Result As Andrea Begley Wins". HuffPost. 23 June 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  13. ^ Philomena Begley and Emma Heatherington (6 November 2017). My Life, My Music, My Memories. The O'Brien Press. ISBN 9781847179876. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  14. ^ O'Loughlin, Mikie (17 June 2025). "Philomena Begley lifts lid on health scare and heart surgery". RSVP Live. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  15. ^ David Hennessy (11 September 2023). "Still the Queen". The Irish World. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  16. ^ "Philomena Begley lands first ICMA Hall of Fame award". RTÉ Entertainment. 12 December 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  17. ^ Campbell, Stanley (27 February 2023). "The Queen of Country Philomena Begley honoured by Mid Ulster Council". Northern Ireland World. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  18. ^ "Philomena Begley poses with family at Áras an Uachtaráin as she is honoured by President Michael D. Higgins". RSVP Live. 13 March 2025. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  19. ^ "Truck Drivin' Woman – Philomena Begley and The Country Flavour". Ward Irish Music Archives. Michael and Mary Comer Collection. 1972. Retrieved 17 October 2025.