Gary O’Shaughnessy

Early Life and Musical Background

Gary O’Shaughnessy is an Irish singer and songwriter, born into a very musical family. He grew up in Swords, County Dublin. From the age of 12, Gary began studying music under the guidance of jazz guitarist Eugene Macari. He learned to sing and to play multiple instruments, including guitar, bass, and keyboards. In 1989, he formed his first band with his brother Brian O’Shaughnessy. The brothers gained experience by touring around Ireland, the UK, and even Spain in their early years. By 1995, Gary and Brian performed as a musical duo called “Two of a Kind,” which became a popular act in Irish cabarets, clubs, and pubs. These early experiences set the foundation for Gary’s future in music.

National Song Contest Attempts in the 1990s

Gary O’Shaughnessy first attempted to reach the Eurovision Song Contest stage in the late 1990s. In 1997, he took part in Ireland’s National Song Contest (the country’s Eurovision selection show) for the first time. His entry that year was a pop song titled “Love and Understanding,” which finished in 3rd place out of eight finalists. Two years later, he tried again. In 1999 he entered the contest with a new song called “I’ll Be There,” but this time he placed 5th. Despite not winning in 1997 or 1999, these national finals gave O’Shaughnessy valuable exposure and experience. He remained determined and continued performing and writing music, hoping for another chance to represent Ireland. 

Eurovision Song Contest 2001

In early 2001, Gary O’Shaughnessy finally achieved his goal of winning Ireland’s national Eurovision selection. He competed in Eurosong 2001 with a soulful ballad titled “Without Your Love.” The song was written by Irish songwriter Pat Sheridan. The national final that year featured seven entries, and the winner was decided by a public telephone vote. O’Shaughnessy’s performance of “Without Your Love” won the televote, making him the Irish representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2001. At the time he earned this opportunity, Gary was actually working full-time as a salesman, playing guitar and piano in his spare time and even singing for TV and radio commercials. Winning the Eurovision ticket was a life-changing moment for him after years of effort.

At the Eurovision Song Contest 2001 in Copenhagen, O’Shaughnessy performed “Without Your Love” in front of a global audience. In the final scoring, Gary O’Shaughnessy finished in 21st place out of 23 participating countries. 

After Eurovision

After his Eurovision appearance, Gary O’Shaughnessy continued to be involved in music, though largely away from the international spotlight. In 2001 he had been working on a solo album of his own songs. In the years following Eurovision, he focused on personal music projects and live performances on a smaller scale. O’Shaughnessy did not return to the Eurovision competition in later years, choosing instead to concentrate on his family and local music endeavors. He remained active as a singer and musician in Ireland, performing in venues and events around the country. While he did not score any major chart hits after “Without Your Love,” he maintained a presence in the Irish music scene and continued to pursue his passion for songwriting and performing.

Personal Life and Family

Gary O’Shaughnessy’s musical career has deep roots in his family life. As noted, he performed early on with his brother Brian, who shared his musical ambitions. The O’Shaughnessy family’s love of music spans generations. In fact, Gary is the uncle of Ryan O’Shaughnessy, another Irish singer-songwriter who would go on to find Eurovision fame. Ryan O’Shaughnessy represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018, following in his uncle’s footsteps on the Eurovision stage.