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Articles about Mickey Harte
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Articles about Mickey Harte updated 18-1-04
Harte is Tops
According to the Irish chart compilers Lifford, born singer and composer Mickey Harte, is the number one single seller of 2003. With his Eurovision entry 'We've Got the World' he out sold international rivals The Black-Eyed Peas and 50 Cent to hit the number one spot .
Only four Irish singles and five Irish albums made number one in the Irish charts last year. After winning RTE's nationwide talent contest 'You're A Star' Mickey Harte went straight into number one with 'We've Got the World' where it remained for five weeks, and was awarded four Platinum Discs for sales. He is currently recording in Stockholm and he awaits a European release date for 'We've Got the World'. His 'You're A Star' rival Simon Casey enjoyed 3 weeks at the number one spot singing 'A Better Plan', a number penned by Bryan McFadden of Westlife fame. The Special Olympics theme song 'May We Never Have to say Goodbye' sung by Rita Connelly and Ronan Tynan enjoyed two weeks at number one. Westlife were the only Irish act to spend one week at the top of both the British and Irish charts, singing their version of 'Mandy'.
In the album chart the ever-popular Thrills spent five great weeks at the top with 'So Much for the City'. Mickey Harte scored a number one also in the album's best sellers list where 'Sometimes Right, Sometimes Wrong' spent three weeks. David Kitt also enjoyed a three-week run at the top with his romantic album 'Square 1', while The Frames emerged with a winning collection entitled 'Set list' which enjoyed a two-week stay in top position. Westlife again were the only Irish act to hit number one in both the British and Irish charts with their current album 'Turnaround'.
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Tesco Ardkeen opens to customer bonanza
Report by Dermot Keyes
'You're A Star' winner Mickey Harte was besieged by adoring Waterford fans on Monday last while performing the official opening of Tesco's new 30,000 square feet store at Ardkeen.
The opening of the store, which has generated 150 new jobs, attracted a huge attendance on Monday and vacancies in the 520-space car park were few and far between. With that morning's lightning storm having thankfully passed as festivities got underway, it was only a matter of minutes before the 'ching' of the store's cash registers was echoing around the impressive store.
Said Tesco Ardkeen manager Peter Spratt: "We are absolutely delighted with the new store and are looking forward to welcoming our new customers. We are confident that they will really enjoy the new shopping experience here."
While inquisitive shoppers were checking out the store's extensive range of wares, Mickey Harte was busy posing for photographs with fans young and old alike. With a queue size normally reserved solely for hurling championship tickets in the city, the popular Eurovision singer was a picture of patience and good will. "I've been kept busy here today thank God, it's all going good," Harte told The Munster Express.
Had he anticipated such a huge turn out for his opening the store? "No, we weren't to be honest," he said. In the wake of chart success and with his debut album set to hit the charts on July 25, there appears to be no waning in the general public's popularity with the affable singer. The past few months have been something of a whirlwind for Mickey, who spoke while busily signing autographs outside the store.
Mickey Harte: 'It's been amazing'
"It's been great. We've had a great response. People are coming to the gigs, we're doing a lot of hard work, we've been travelling around, getting out to the people and getting out to different places...it's been amazing."
With his second single, 'Never Wanna Let U Down' going straight into the Irish charts at number two, his rise to stardom has been a delightful surprise to the man himself.
"My life has been changed by 'You're A Star' and the Eurovision," he added before the demand of his audience cut short our conversation. A man controlling the flow of the queue (perhaps Mickey's agent) hurriedly gestured in this reporter's direction to let his man get on with the task in hand.
In fairness, were it yours truly sitting in Mickey's position, I'd have been anxious to get on with things myself without the bother of babbling into a tape recorder. So after a warm handshake with the man himself, off I hot stepped with a few quotes secured and left him to greet his public.
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Mickey Harte earns top chart status for 2003
Lifford's Mickey Harte has capped off a remarkable musical year by seeing out 2003 with the best selling single in the country, 'We've Got the World'.
the You're A Star winner may not have won the Eurovision Song Contest, but it proved to be one of the songs of the Summer in Ireland, selling more in the first week of its release than any other single in 2003. It stayed at No.1 for seven weeks. Having signed with Sony UK back in April, Harte quickly began work on his debut album 'Sometimes Right, Sometimes Wrong', which was number one in the Irish album charts for three weeks following its release in July. Since then it has gone nearly four times platinum, which means it has sold nearly 60,000 copies. In January 2004, Hart's live show will be taken to Europe in the hope of gaining new fans across the continent. this will continue in March 2004 when he will play a number of gigs in the US, mainly in New York and Texas.
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Mickey Harte is top of the pops
Mickey Harte's Eurovision Song, 'We've Got the World', is set to be the best-selling single in Ireland in 2003, ahead of all international acts. Up to last weekend, it was running 15% ahead of its nearest rival. Tthe You're A Star winner, who was signed by Sony Music last April, has gone nearly four times platinum, which means nearly 60,000 sales. He had the highest first week sales of any single. vying for second position were 'Where is the Love?' by Black Eyed Peas, and 50 cents 'In Da club'. Simon Casey and Westlife were also among the top 10, according to the Irish Recorded Music Association.
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I added this article on the 5/12/03
You’re a Star Winner Expecting New Baby.
You’re a Star Winner, Mickey Harte has announced that he and his wife Louise are expecting a new baby.
The singer, who represented Ireland in the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest already has 2 children: Kyle, who is 7 years old and Kayleigh who is 11.
Mickey, whose own father died six months ago, is delighted that their third baby will be arriving next year.
Mickey’s entry in the Eurovision Song Contest, ‘We’ve got the World’ made it to number 1 in Ireland.
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I added these articles on the 19/11/03
'You're a Star' returns
'You're A Star' hosted by Ray D'Arcy returns to our screens this Sunday night. At the end of the 18-week run the viewers will select the act to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest in Turkey next May.
The Sunday night show on RTE1 kicks off with interviews and a retrospective look at the first series, when our own Mickey Joe Harte emerged winner. The Lifford born singer has enjoyed a number one best selling single with his Eurovision entry 'We've Got the World Tonight' and a multi-Platinum chart-topping album 'Sometimes Right, Sometimes Wrong'. This Friday Mickey will release his new single 'There Must Be Love', and embarks on a nationwide tour, which includes a show at An Grianán in Letterkenny on Saturday 13th December. The runner-up from the 'You're A Star' series Simon Casey will be appearing at An Grianan on Sunday afternoon.
Joining Phil Coulter on the judging panel will be Louis Walsh and former Eurovision winner Linda Martin. The first live vote will be cast on Sunday 23rd, when the auditions from the Ulster region, staged at An Grianan last September will be screened. The act with the highest vote will go through to round two early in the New Year. RTE's Commissioning Editor, Entertainment and Music Kevin Lenihan, commented: 'People are still talking about the last series of 'You're A Star', and RTE are very enthusiastic about the second series. We're confident it will feature more excitement, drama and action than ever before and will be at the top of Sunday night viewing list for Irish viewers.'
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THEY WERE THE ROCK 'N' ROLL KIDS - BUT WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Mickey Harte....
Winning Youre A Star changed Mickey Hartes life. The 30-year-old father of two from Lifford, Co. Donegal, had been gigging for 15 years before his mother persuaded him to join the queue at the Derry heat last year. He already had a demo of his original material ready to hawk around the record companies and after winning he had no problem securing a record deal with Sony Ireland. His album Sometimes Right, Sometimes Wrong outsold the trendier debut by The Thrills, showing you have to do more than hang out on a beach in L.A. and wear second hand clothes to earn the love of the Irish public. HE SAYS: I think its nonsense when people critisise shows like Youre A Star. Every generation has a way of discovering new stars or talent; this happens to be the way we are discovering it at the moment.WE SAY:Dropping the Joe from Mickey Joe Harte was genius and gave him loads of credibility . He'll be big. In Japan.
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I typed up this article and added it 8-11-03
Battle for the top spot
A battle royal is set to commence for the coveted number one spot in the charts as former chart-toppers Westlife, Mickey Harte and Ronan Keating release their new singles.
Ireland's most successful boy-band, Westlife, will be seeking chart-buster number twelve in the British charts as they revive the former Barry Manilow hit 'Mandy'. The song is already a firm favourite with the radio dee-jays and also a track fro m their forthcoming album 'Turn Around'. Over a million fans attended Westlife's 'Unbreakable-Greatest Hits Tour', and highlights from the concerts will be featured in their new DVD and video.
Mickey Harte's single 'We've Got the World Tonight' is the biggest Irish single of the year, spending five weeks at the number one slot. The 'You're A Star' winner and Eurovision performer returns to the recording spotlight with a new single 'There Must Be Love' another sentimental romantic number.
Mickey will be promoting his new single via in store acoustic gigs with his new look band. On Saturday, December 13, Mickey and his band return to the stage of An Grianan, in Letterkenny for a special Christmas concert.
Over the past decade Ronan Keating has sold in excess of 17 million recordings with Boyzone and as a solo artist. The Dubliner is set to release 'Lost for Words' as his new single. The song was co-composed by Ronan with a little help from David Frank and Wayne Hector. The song is also included on Ronan's third solo album 'Turn it On'.
The single 'Lost for Words' is a melody-driven, guitar-based track that slowly builds throughout with an instantly memorable chorus. Ronan was recently awarded with a BMI Europe song-writing award for his song 'The Long Goodbye'.
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Mickey Joe Articles from differant papers on da 24th May-Eurovision Day!!!
Mickey Joe to do battle with the Russians
Joe Humphreys : The Irish Times
It is being billed as the boy-next-door versus the bad girls of pop. Clean-living Mickey Joe Harte takes on sultry teenaged rock chicks t.A.T.u. in a Eurovision clash of civilisations.
Where Harte is positively civil, the Russian "paedo-pop" duo of Yulia Volkova and Lena Katina are throwing tantrums, slagging competitors and describing everything as "awful" in the host city of Riga, Latvia.
t.A.T.u. - whose sexually-provocative videos feature them wearing school uniforms and passionately kissing - are favourites to win tonight's contest. But only just.
Ireland's entry, We've got the World, ranks a close second favourite in the European betting market at 5/1. At home, however, the odds are reversed with Harte's Donegal air priced as low as 9/4 favourite with some bookmakers.
Some 170 relatives and friends of the Lifford contestant flew out yesterday morning on a chartered flight for the event. Mickey Joe's mother Finola, wife Louise and children Kayleigh, (11) and Kyle, (8), were among those making the journey with what promised to be the largest ever travelling party to a Eurovision Song Contest.
Harte's song, which was written by other composers, had been embroiled in controversy due to its likeness to the winning Danish entry in 2000, Fly on the Wings of Love. The organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), investigated it for plagiarism after its release before giving it the all-clear.
Up to 160 million viewers are due to watch the event, more perhaps thanks to yesterday's rumours that t.A.T.u. are planning to appear nude tonight. No one was confirming or denying the story yesterday, and that suited the EBU just fine.
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24/05/03
Irish fans giving it loads in Latvia
By Neans McSweeney, Latvia
THE party-hardy Irish, draped in tricolours and wearing giant Guinness hats, arrived in Latvia in full voice yesterday.
Theyve even brought a priest along, to pray that Mickey Harte will truly have the world tonight.
Kilkenny-born priest Fr Michael Connolly flew out from Dublin to pray for divine intervention.
Ive just come because I like the Eurovision. I have no connection whatsoever with the competition. I just wish Ireland well and wanted to come over to see the competition and enjoy the break,
he said.
Donegal catch, Mickey Harte, was taking it all in his stride as he rehearsed in the magnificent Skonto Hall, ahead of tonights Eurovision song contest.
His wife Louise and children Kayleigh, 11, and Kyle, 7, arrived from Derry with 110 fans aboard a specially-chartered flight.
Mickey, 29, urged fans at home to join in the spirit of the Eurovision. Support the contest tonight, get together and have a party with friends or go down to the pub. Were going to party hard here and hope the fans at home do the exact same. Were going to give it absolutely everything. Theres nothing I want more than to bring that trophy home next week, he said.
Up to 300 supporters who made the three-hour trip to Latvia on 5am flights out of Dublin and Derry took over the five-star Radisson hotel in Riga, draping Irish flags from every balcony. Among them is an enthusiastic group of 50 from Drogheda, composer Keith Molloys home town.
I had a choice of having a few hours sleep or getting the vocal cords ready with a few whiskeys, Keiths dad, Oliver, said.
Im hoping we'll end up somewhere in the top five. Most of the group here which travelled has money on Mickey Harte. Ive not got a hapenny on him. Were going to have a good time, whatever the result, he said.
Nine-year-old Shauna Torsley from Sligo is the youngest of the Irish troop. Her parents, Gerry and Dolores, booked the trip for her a month ago.
All is not going well for bookies favourites Russian band t.A.T.u.
They were again booed off stage yesterday and are a 4/1 shot here to be disqualified for going too far with their raunchy on-stage antics.
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This article was in the Examiner after the Eurovision Song Contest
26/05/03
Irish hit high note at Eurovision party SO, we didnt win. But hey, nobody told the Irish. God only knows what the party would have been like if we had finished ahead of the rest. Chants of 'Mickey Joe, Mickey Joe, Mickey Joe' resounded around Skonto Hall, long after all the other supporters had left the building. And the 300-strong Irish troop burst into renditions of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' and 'You'll Never Beat the Irish' sending a clear message to Mickey Harte and the entire Irish contingent that everyone was proud of his performance. Not even coming 11th in the competition put a damper on the all singing, all dancing Irish supporters who partied all the way.Many even embraced the British, in a desperate bid to console their supporters on what was a crushing defeat and a 'nul points' performance. Clad in black tie and singing all the way, we certainly set the tone for what was a classy performance by the smiling man from Lifford, in Co Donegal. Everyone had a flag. Everyone sang. And absolutely everyone was geared up to party, regardless of the vote. However, despite the party atmosphere, both Mickey Harte and co-composer of his song, Keith Molloy, sounded a sour note about the long-standing competition. Both said the Eurovision won't survive in its current format."We did the best we could in the circumstances. If Ireland really wants to win this competition, we have to do a lot of work on our choreography. "The Eurovision is not so much about the song anymore. It's 50% song, 50% show. Ta Tu shows that. RTE didn't pump the finance we needed into the show. We have to get our act together for next year," Mickey Harte said. As he stood on a bar stool, addressing the massive Irish party, he said: "It's just as well we didn't win," given the level of celebrations. Keith Molloy was very disappointed. "It took a few minutes after the voting began for me to realise we weren't going to win. We're now dealing with a very different sort of Eurovision. "Ireland is such a small country that under the current arrangement, we're not in the running. The whole thing was so, so political, we didn't stand a chance. Even the presenters giving the votes admitted when they were announcing the points that the 10s and 12s were going to their near neighbours. "We really have to go back to a jury vote. Televoting was brought in to get the public on side. But the whole competition will fail if we don't reform how people vote. We should probably go back to a system of a jury vote, combined with televoting. If we don't, the Eurovision will fail," the Drogheda man warned. One little person was particularly thrilled the Eurovision was all over. Eight year-old Kyle Harte was absolutely delighted that he could finally have a chunk of his daddy's time. He clung on to Mickey Joe's left leg from the moment he arrived for the Irish party. And after a few pictures, autographs and an oration from a barstool, soaked in champagne, it was back to reality for the 29 year-old as he put his son to bed. When he returned, the sing-song around the hotel piano truly began. Mickey's mum, Fionnuala, was disappointed but immensely proud of her son."He was fantastic, absolutely fantastic. He didn't win tonight but that doesn't really matter. He's been a winner since the You're a Star competition began. He can now focus on what he's good at being a great musician."There was also a special toast, "to absent friends" as Mickey hugged his mum and pondered how proud his dad would have been to be there.The craic in the Irish camp was mighty, all the way. In the build-up to Saturday night's contest, the police and even an able crewman were enlisted to help with the preparations.A number of palms were greased to get the tri-colour hoisted on a statue in the centre of the massive lake outside the Irish hotel. A similarly generous token gesture was also offered, and accepted, to keep the bar open 'til the early hours on Sunday. It'll be back to reality with a bang as the Irish board flights in Latvia this afternoon with sore heads and even sorer throats for the three-hour journey home.
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By John McCusker & Declan doherty in latvia
"The biggest and best day of my life and a great occasion for Irish fans everywhere," was how Mickey Joe Harte described his performance after Saturday night's Eurovision showcase event in Latvia.
Moments after coming off-stage with his backing group Sweet Charity, the Lifford-born singer/songwriter spoke of his joy at getting the chance to represent his country at the songfest in the 6,000 seater Skonto Hall in Riga.
Despite the fact that the Irish entry finished just outside the top ten, the result failed to over-shadow the enthusiasm of either artists or fans. We' ve Got the World Tonight, written by Keith Molloy and Michael Brannigan, picked up a total of 53 points in the contest which was won by Turkish belly-dancing artist Sertab Erener. Hyped pint sized Russian popsters tATu failed to live up to pre-show expectations and only managed to pick up a third placed slot.
' I think our perfomance came across well,' Mickey said, surrounded by backing vocalists which included Sion Mills singer Catriona McGinty. ' The audience was really behind us. They were on their feet, clapping and singing. It was brilliant.
' We weren' t nervous. We just went for it. We really enjoyed it and I think that came across in the performance. We engaged the audience and got them behind us and at the end got one of the biggest cheers of the night.'
However, the 29-year-old believes a fresh thinking is called for over the format of future Irish entries in the Eurovision with more emphasis placed on the visual content as well as songwriting skill.
With the help of Mickey' s fans in the North, Britain awarded Ireland a maximum 12 votes for their performance, despite the fact their own entry failed to garner a single vote. But the artist himself thinks the switch from jury panels to home voting has now altered the Eurovision forever.
' I think we' re going to have to change our gameplan in Ireland as far as the Eurovision is concerned,' he said. ' Countries like Turkey this year had a well choreographed and very flamboyant sort of act and because of the tele-voting system it has to be like that in future.
' From now on I think we' re going to have to work on that end of things. It' s not all about the song any more, there now has to be more emphasis on the visual content of the package overall' .
A 300-strong legion of Irish fans travelled to Riga to lend vocal support to the Lifford artist. Two plane loads joined Mickey' s wife Louise, daughter Kayleigh, 11, Kyle 7, and mother Finola as they shouted, clapped and cheered on the Irish representative. They made up the largest - and loudest - vocal support on the night.
' I don' t think there has ever been that kind of support for any Eurovision act,' Mickey laughed. ' Myself and the girls are just so privileged and so proud that the Irish had come here and given us the kind of support we had. ' It' s just been amazing. We can' t begin to thank them enough. It made a big difference for us on the night.
' When you come here and see the support other countries have, it' s only then you realize that we have the best support in the world.'
As fans were preparing for the trek home on Monday. Mickey flew to London to put finishing touches to a new album due for release on Sony later in the summer. Meanwhile another single could also be in the pipeline to follow on the success of We' ve Got the World Tonight which has topped the Irish charts for four weeks.
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Fans treasure their Eurovision moment
By John McCusker
Mickey Joe Harte' s wife, Louise will always treasure the moment her husband emerged onto the Eurovision stage as the cheers of supporters echoed around the hangar-like Skonto concert hall.
Louise had travelled with fans the previous day and was based with daughter Kayleigh and son Kyle at the city' s five-star Radisson Hotel.
' I think one of the most memorable points of the whole event was when Mickey came out on stage and everyone started shouting and cheering,' Louise said afterwards.
' It was a great experience just to be there and see the whole spectacle of the competition. It was fantastic. We had a ball and everybody enjoyed a brilliant time.
' Mickey was in great form when we met up after the show and we' re delighted with the performance and also the support he got in the lead up to the Eurovision,' Louise added.
The high-spot of the trip for Lifford man Patsy Tolan was just being among 6000-strong audience in Riga. Patsy, who is originally from Ramelton, was there to cheer on Mickey Joe on behalf of his wife, Eileen, a cousin of the singer.
' It was a privilege just to be there with all the others from Lifford and for me the highlight was being there with Mickey Joe Harte to represent Ireland,' he added.
Leading the ' Mickey Joe, Mickey Joe' choruses was Valerie Flanagan, a night manager at Letterkenny General Hospital. From her vantage point in the centre of the auditorium, Valerie watched in anticipation as the votes were cast.
' We knew he was behind from early on,' she said. ' But that didn' t matter, he' s still a great ambassador for Ireland and we didn' t care if he won or lost, we were all going to party on anyway.'
Monica McGettigan, from Strabane, was an ardent follower of the Eurovision for years. She praised Mickey Joe' s ability to bond together everyone from the border towns of Strabane and Lifford.
Monica had travelled to Latvia with her daughter Julie, her sister-in-law Evelyn Green, Evelyn' s daughter Erin Scanlon and Mickey Kelly. ' Mickey Joe is a young fella with charisma and this was a phenomenal once-in-a-lifetime experience just to be there cheering him on,' she added.
For a split second during Saturday night' s performance, Mickey Joe raised a hand to wipe his eye. Missed by most, the action was interpreted by the singer' s uncle, Don Harte, as a message to his family that, with a hint of a tear, the song was devoted to his late father, Jim. Jim Harte died after a long illness shortly after his son won RTE' s You' re a Star Eurovision qualifier.
Don said: ' I was with Jim the day he died, and Mickey later said to me he was going to dedicate this performance to him. I think that, by that action, he was sending me a message that this was for his dad.'
Don' s family watched the Eurovision from around the world. His two sons, Donal and Conor, tuned in on the Internet, while his daughter, Siobhan, watched it in Boston. Accompanying him on the trip were his wife Anna, daughter Marie and her husband Declan Gallen. Back home in Ireland, Don' s other daughter Fiona and her husband Noel travelled from Dublin to watch the spectacle in Harte' s Bar in Lifford.
Marina Doherty, from Upper Corky, Letterkenny and Caroline Laird, from Castlefin, both enjoyed the presentation event held in the Radisson Hotel on Sunday evening. On the previous night' s performance, Marina said: ' From the first song, we knew it was going to be great because the standard was so high. As it went on and on, it just got better and better.
' I had lways watched the Eurovision at home but never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever get to see one live,' Marina added.
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'Part-y'Harte-y' for Mickey Joe and Co.
A MONTH' s supply of drink lasted just a weekend at the Radisson Hotel in Riga where the bulk of the Irish support for Eurovision entrant Mickey Joe Harte from Strabane was based.
Despite the fact that Ireland only managed an 11th position overall after the votes were cast on Saturday night, bystanders at the exit gates from Skonto Hall could have been forgiven for thinking the Lifford-born singer had scooped the title. And for the influx of Irish support, it was World Cup atmosphere all over again.
Things looked auspicious for a Harte victory as early as Friday morning after Mickey Joe' s brother Jim picked up first prize in an in-flight talent competition high above the skies of Europe.
Jim was one of four contestants who helped entertain the 162 entourage from the north-west aboard flight LF5551 from Derry airport headed to lend vocal support to the singing father-of-two. The Riga-bound group - and a similar flight load from Dublin - were organised by Letterkenny travel agent Deirdre Grant.
En route, the flight touched down at Edinburgh for a one-hour re-fuelling stopover, offering the opportunity of a live link-up with the Gerry Ryan Show on RTE Radio 1 when Seamus McBride led a chorus of voices with his own personally written tribute, We' re Off to Follow Mickey Joe.
Flags fluttered from the windows of the nine-storey Riga Radisson as the contingent settled in for a four-day packed programme, the highlight of which was the Eurovision itself in the city' s specially constructed Skonto Hall. For many, the trip replaced this year' s summer holiday. But the chance to sing along with Mickey Joe and Co. more than made up for a blistering beach on the Med.
Decked out in frocks and dinner suits - Lifford' s Rodney Porter completing his outfit with fluorescent pink nail varnish - the grouping was treated to a lavish gala buffet dinner before boarding buses for the night' s performance. A few over-enthusiastic supporters, meanwhile, rowed their way to a statuette mid-river opposite the hotel, and, to the cheers of on-lookers and bewilderment of locals, they draped it in an over-sized Tricolour.
In Skonto Hall, the Irish supporters - who had snapped up the Greek' s supply of tickets - drowned out all other entrants' backing. Calls of ' Mickey Joe, Mickey Joe' rang around the massive concert hall and as the artist himself came on stage in third slot, fans were dancing in the aisles.
Following a brief appearance at the after-show disco party, Mickey Joe returned to the Radisson Hotel where celebrations were in full swing. From a table-top vantage point he thanked fans who had made the occasion so special.
Sunday afternoon saw further partying when a reception was hosted in the hotel' s ballroom. Compered by Highland Radio' s Packie Keeny, the event was organized to pay tribute to the star.
The youngest member of the Irish supporters, Emmett McLaughlin, in white suit and red bow, presented Mickey with a watch on behalf of all who had travelled, Songwriters, Keith Molloy and Michael Brannigan was also presented with gifts, while Mickey' s mother Finola handed out presents to younger members of the travelling entourage and Deirdre Grant.
A book of well-wishes, signed by members of the public in the Strabane Chronicle office as well as those travelling on the trip, was also presented to the singer as a memento of his Eurovision experience.
At Mickey' s request, a collection was organised which raised over £1,000 for an orphanage in the Latvian capital and the evening rounded off with a chorus of We' ve Got the World Tonight.
Following the success of the trip, Mickey' s mother Finola now plans to produce a booklet documenting, in pictures and stories, the journey to the Eurovision in Latvia. And those who travelled are destined for a reunion party in the Radisson Hotel in Letterkenny which is due to open mid-summer.
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Euro winner (almost)
Just before the Eurovision Contest, in which he came 11th, Ireland's entrant Mickey Harte discussed his success in winning You're a Star, his massive number one single and the problems his success has brought.
Just one week before the Eurovision Song Contest, Mickey Harte was busy rehearsing and gigging in preparation for the showdown. Last year Mickey Harte decided to enter the RTE contest, You're a Star and, though he had no expectations of the show, he won the heart of Ireland and became the country's representative in the Eurovision.
"I had no expectations of You're a Star at all. I got involved in it and I didn't really know what the whole thing was all about. I got through and it was a rollercoaster from there. I didn't expect to win, but hoped to get exposure and to raise my profile a bit. Luckily enough, it worked.'
Following the contest, he signed a record contract with Sony. Originally the winner of the contest was supposed to sign a contract with Universal, but Mickey decided that Sony were offering a better deal. "Sony spoke in a better language, were offering a better deal and had better personnel."
Mickey has spent the past few months gigging all around the country from Killarney to Derry. He is delighted with the reception he has been getting from fans. "It has been great. All of my gigs have been sold out. The fans are great and some of them make a bigger deal out of me than others".
With the Eurovision is looming on the horizon, Mickey was looking forward to performing 'We've got the World' in Latvia. The song jumped to the number one spot in Ireland knocking rival contestant Simon Casey from the top spot and went on to become the year's biggest selling single so far.
"Simon had his few weeks and now I have mine. It's good that we weren't released at the same time, as that would've been worse. At least we both got a go at it. It's a really great song and it has been good to me. It's fantastic that it got to number one."
On the music scene, Mickey has done well. However, he feels unhappy that he doesn't see his family as often as he would like to. "We're taking one day at time. They're dealing with it great and taking it on the chin. I don't get to see them as much as I'd like to, but that's the nature of showbusiness. We try to arrange to see each other as often as we can, but that doesn't always work out."
He believes that another You're a Star contest would be great and hopes that rumours of RTE's plan to launch another one next year will go ahead. "Let them at it. I think there'll be another show and I hope it works out," he said with a laugh.
by Nicola Rowan
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Mickey Not Taking Rumours to Harte
By Ian Starrett
IT was a little after the scheduled 2pm starting time when Mickey Joe Harte finally took to the stage at the sun-splashed Guildhall Square on St Patrick's Day.Blame me for his late start. It was my fault entirely that Strabane-based singer/songwriter Mickey kept the Londonderry audience waiting in a state of high excitement as backstage he told me the latest news about the doubts over his Eurovision song We've Got The World, written by Keith Molloy and Martin Brannigan.It had been reported that Mickey, who will be representing Ireland and RTE in Eurovision in Latvia on May 24, might have to drop the song after it was suggested that it was too much like the Danish entry Fly On The Wings Of Love by the Olsen Brothers, which won the 2000 Eurovision Song Contest.But Mickey told me: "I believe it's OK. I've heard the Danish song myself and I don't think that there's going to be any problem with it at all. But it remains to be seen. I haven't been in touch with RTE and RTE haven't been in touch with me so no news is good news. If there was a fuss, they'd be straight on the phone to me."If the worst comes to the worst, Mickey Joe Harte, instead, will be singing Westlife idol Bryan McFadden's runnerup entry A Better Plan.
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Mickey Harte Wows Home Crowd
IRELAND'S MOST popular Eurovision singer, Mickey Harte, received a homecoming fit for a king in Strabane at the weekend.The 29-year-old singer/ songwriter gave a sensational concert for his local fans on Saturday night, his first public appearance in the town since his return from Latvia.Mickey had been billed to appear in concert with Brian Kennedy at the open-air gig in the SCORE site as the closing highlight of the annual Strabane Fair Day Carnival.Brian Kennedy's appearance was cancelled by the promoters at the 11th hour, but Mickey Harte lived up to the title of his new single, "Never Wanna Let You Down" to wow an adoring audience.What was originally a £12.50 ticket affair became a free show and 2,000 passes handed out by Strabane District Council last Friday were snapped up by the public within a couple of hours.Mickey Harte fans queued in the rain outside the town's Tourist Information Centre from 10 a.m. and there wasn't a spare ticket for the concert to be had by noon.The outdoor summer evening concert was the perfect climax to the hugely successful fair day which featured all the traditional stalls and musical attractions culminating in the Mardi Gras parade.The pageant spectacle was an amazing kaleidoscope of colours and costumes, featuring circus performers from stiltwalkers to fire jugglers. There was great excitement among local schoolchildren who made their own samba instruments to perform in the parade which wound its way from Melvin Hall through the town centre watched by thousands of spectators who lined the streets basking in the glorious sunshine.Party revellers continued to soak up the all-day carnival atmosphere at the open air concert where support act, the Backbeat Beatles - a Beatles tribute band from Liverpool --went down a real treat, particularly among the slightly older members of the audience.But, it was Strabane/Lifford's own Mickey Harte who proved to be the real showman and had the audience all but eating out of the palm of his hand with his winning combination of great music and charisma which never fails to charm his fans.Mickey is Ireland's best selling artist this year after spending five weeks at Number One in the singles charts with "We've Got The World," co-written for the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest by Keith Molloy and Martin Branningan.Mickey is keen to promote his own self-penned material and his concerts are providing more focus on what he and his music are about, as well as giving a display of his musical ability.The fans who waited patiently to hear 'We've Got The World' were not left disappointed when he sang a remodelled more chilled out version and he saved the Undertones classic, 'Teenage Kicks,' for his final parting with members of the crowd still rocking in the aisles.Concert-goers were slightly bemused by the bevy of security staff on duty during the event, some donning dark glasses well after the sun had gone down. It was to Strabane's credit that the stewards enjoyed a relaxed night as the behaviour of the crowd was impeccable throughout the two-and-a-half-hour gig.Prior to the concert, Mickey received a rock-star style civic reception. Speaking on behalf of Strabane District council, the vice-chairman Councillor Brian McMahon, paid a glowing tribute to the local singing hero before presenting him with a Tyrone Crystal bowl.Mickey Harte will be out on the road for a two-month nationwide tour this summer promoting his 'Sometimes Right, Sometimes Wrong' album which will finally be released this month.The album contains songs with a soundscape somewhere between Coldplay, Travis and David Gray. With Instant melodic hooks and choruses such as in 'Never Gonna Let You Down', 'A Chance For Me' and 'Flow' as well as deep meaning, emotive lyrics, it's easy to see that his single success will translate into mega album sales.
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Harte takes break after bereavement
Filming of a promotional video for the Irish 2003 Eurovision Song has been postponed following the death of Mickey Joe Harte's father.
Mr Harte lost his battle with cancer on Monday, he had been ill for some time. His son was with him when he died.
Harte has cancelled plans for a concert at Vicar Street scheduled for Wednesday and is taking a few days off from the attention of the press.
Filiming of the video for the Eurovision Song will now take place in Dublin on April 22, the location remains the same as previously advised to those who had volunteered to act as extras in the audience.
Harte's father had put up a long battle against his illness. During the week prior to the live final of You're A Star, which saw Mickey Joe win a place in Riga, there were fears that he may not live to see his son perform at the end of the week.
The date for commercial release of We've Got The World remains as April 25, the promotional CD has already received several plays on Irish radio. Harte's album will appear the day before Eurovision.
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AM I ANNOYING????
Vocalist : MICKEY HARTE
The Resume
Born in Lifford, Co. Donegal, Ireland
Recorded 'Never Wanna Let U Down,' 'You are A Star,' 'We Have Got the World (2003)' and the album 'Sometimes Right, Sometimes Wrong (2003)'
11th in Eurovision Song Contest in Riga, Latvia (2003) with the song 'We Have Got the World'
Why he might be annoying
He left his band, 'Kryptic,' to go solo, leaving other members behind.
His website advises visitors to 'tell your pets to buy his single.'
His Eurovision song 'We've Got The World' was investigated by European Broadcasting Union due to allegations of plagiarism.
He said that if other contestants won, he would eat his hats (he never made good on his promise).
Why he might not be annoying
When he was a child, he was nearly drowned when his two friends threw him into a pool, knowing he could not swim.
His band sold out over 40 venues during their very first tour.
In Ireland, he holds the record for most singles sold for the song 'We Have Got the World.'
He allows fans to participate in his music videos.
Credit: Annoy Rock
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Mickey the purr-fect support for Kittens
KERRY fans of Irelands representative at the recent Eurovision will be glad to hear that Mickey Harte is headed in this direction again this summer.
Already a house-hold name, the Donegal crooner and winner of RTEs Youre a Star has announced that he is to support Atomic Kitten at their Millstreet Arena gig on July 4. Mickeys debut single "We've Got The World" is the biggest selling single this year so far and is now topping the charts for the fifth week.
Mickey Hartes manager, Shay McNeilis, said that it was a significant show for the singer.This will prove that hes a rock artist as well, not just a pop artist," he said. Mickey is currently putting the finishing touches to his debut album Sometimes Right Sometimes Wrong" which is scheduled for release in mid July.
"It was hard work getting Atomic Kitten but once we confirmed them, Mickey was very happy to play," said James Hyland, director of Noodle Promotions, which is staging the event. "He is the highest profile act in Ireland right now and its not very often you can get a number one selling artist to agree to play as a support act."
After successfully playing over 40 soldout shows in March and April, Mickey will take to the road for a nationwide 'Sometimes Right, Sometimes Wrong' album tour, playing festivals and theatres across Ireland. Tickets for Atomic Kitten supported by Mickey Harte cost 44.50 (subject to booking fee) and are available from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide www.ticketmaster. ie or call 0818 719300.
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