About
Biography
The Mullans are an Irish pop duo of sisters from Belfast. Bronagh and Karen Mullan are best known for representing Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest 1999. They began performing at a young age and built a musical career together.
Early Life and Musical Background
Bronagh and Karen Mullan grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Both sisters trained in music from an early age. They studied piano and clarinet at their local music school, developing classical skills. Karen also learned violin as part of her training. The sisters frequently performed in public as children. They sang both solo and together, often entertaining at cabaret events and local venues. This early exposure to live performance helped them build confidence and a distinctive duet style. By their late teens, music had become a full-time pursuit for both sisters.
Career as a Duo and Breakthrough
In the late 1990s, the Mullan sisters officially formed their duo, The Mullans. They worked steadily on the cabaret circuit and honed their pop sound. In 1999, they produced their first CD single, an independent release titled “Independent Woman.” The single marked their recording debut and earned them attention in Ireland’s music scene. Shortly afterward, The Mullans entered Eurosong 1999, Ireland’s national selection for Eurovision. Their original song “When You Need Me”,written by Bronagh Mullan, competed against other entries. Through a combination of regional televotes, The Mullans won the national final. This victory propelled the young duo to instant national fame and secured their spot as Ireland’s representatives at Eurovision 1999.
Eurovision Song Contest 1999
The Mullans went on to perform “When You Need Me” at the Eurovision Song Contest 1999 in Jerusalem. At the contest final, they took the stage representing Ireland among 23 participating countries. Bronagh and Karen delivered an uplifting pop ballad, with Bronagh not only singing but also having penned the song’s music and lyrics. On the night of the competition, The Mullans performed 17th in the running order. Their entry earned a total of 18 points, placing Ireland 17th overall that year. It was an uncharacteristically low placing for Ireland in the 1990s, a decade usually marked by strong Irish results. Despite the outcome, the sisters gained international exposure and a memorable experience on the Eurovision stage.
Post-Eurovision and Later Careers
After Eurovision, The Mullans’ pop duo activities gradually quieted. They did not achieve further chart hits. In fact, “When You Need Me” did not enter the Irish Singles Chart. In the early 2000s, Bronagh and Karen shifted focus to personal growth and new opportunities. Karen took a career break from music after getting marriedlisburn.com. She pursued higher education and successfully earned an Open University degree in psychologylisburn.com. Drawing from her desire to help others, Karen later worked on a family support initiative for autism called the Eagle Projectlisburn.com.
Bronagh continued her path in music, albeit off the pop star circuit. She attained a Master’s degree in Music and became a music teacher, sharing her passion and expertise with studentslisburn.com. Bronagh also lent her voice to studio projects: in 2008 she featured on a cinematic chillout album, contributing vocals to the track “Now We Are Free” on Reel Chill Vol. 2. In the years since, Bronagh and Karen have largely pursued their individual professional lives.
