Eileen Reid

For the Irish painter and musician, see Eileen Reid (painter).

Eileen Reid (born January 1943)^[1] is an Irish singer of the showband era.^[2]

Eileen Reid
Born	January 1943 (age 82) Dublin, Ireland
Occupation	Singer
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	1959–1980

She had an Irish number 1 on 29 May 1964 with "Fallen Star", the first official Irish number one single by an Irish woman,^[3] and was also known for her song "I Gave My Wedding Dress Away".

Career

Eileen Reid began singing as a teenager with the Melody Makers, later fronting the Cadets showband.^[4] She and the Cadets reached No. 42 on the UK Singles Chart dated 6 May 1965 with "Jealous Heart".^[5]

She tried out for the 1980 Eurovision with "The Saddest Show On Earth". In 1982, she appeared on The Brendan Grace Show. She appeared on a 1995 episode of Lifelines.

Later she turned to acting, appearing in the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin in pantomime.^[6]

In 2008, she appeared on The Podge and Rodge Show.

Personal life

Eileen Reid was the daughter of footballer Charlie Reid.^[7] Eileen Reid married Jimmy Day, another showband singer. Her daughter Claudine Day is also a singer.^[8]

In 2015, she admitted to multiple infidelities and a miscarriage.^[9][10][11]

Discography

Irish chart singles

• 1964 "Fallen Star" (number 1)

Bibliography

• Eileen (with Jimmy Day), Town House Dublin, 1995, ISBN 1-86059-011-X

Filmography

• Misses Quirke in The Commitments
• Mrs. Rock in A Man of No Importance
• Woman with smallpox in Moll Flanders (1996 film)
• The Late Late Show, 14 May 2004
• Inside 252, 14 May 2004
• The Journey Home, EWTN, 17 July 2006
• The Podge and Rodge Show, 26 February 2008