Noel Kelehan

Noel Kelehan(26 December 1935 – 6 February 2012) was anIrishmusician,conductorof theRTÉ Concert Orchestraand musical director ofRadio Telefís Éireann.He retired as conductor in 1998.

Life and career

As well as being an accomplishedjazzpianist, he was most famous for being the conductor of many Irish entries to theEurovision Song Contest,beginning in 1966 and ending in 1998. He conducted five winning Irish entries, in 1980, 1987, 1992, 1993, and 1996. In 1994, the winning song was performed without orchestral accompaniment. However, an entry rated second that year, "To nie ja!"performed byEdyta GórniakfromPoland,was also conducted by Kelehan. He also conducted the entry fromBosnia and Herzegovinain 1993. In total, Kelehan conducted 29 Eurovision entries, 24 of them Irish. In 1999, after Kelehan retired, the use of an orchestra was discontinued at the Contest.

He died at the age of 76, inDublinon 6 February 2012, after a long illness.His funeral took place in Dublin on 9 February 2012.

Performance credits

Kelehan had several records to his credit; most notably, with the Noel Kelehan Quintet he recorded the album "Ozone" in 1979. In 1984 he wrote the string arrangements for songsThe Unforgettable FireandBadfromU2's albumThe Unforgettable Fire.