Gilbert O'Sullivan with Bill Shanley announced for Cork Opera House and National Concert Hall

Gilbert O'Sullivan is on his way back to Ireland for a series of four concerts! Fans can put the following dates in their diaries: September 10 and 11 at the Cork Opera House and September 14 and 15 at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, Gilbert O’Sullivan will be joined by the renowned multi-instrumentalist Bill Shanley for live performances.

In a career which has spanned over 50 years, O’Sullivan has seen enormous success, as well as considerable heartache, since the release of his first single, the iconic ‘Nothing Rhymed’, in 1970. That single achieved Top 10 status on the UK and Europe charts.

O’Sullivan has since been recognised as one of the greatest singer-songwriters of all time – despite the fact that his career was hugely interrupted by a drawn-out legal case against his manager and producer, and owner of MAM Records, the label to which he was signed, Gordon Mills – which O'Sullivan eventually won. His second album, released while still under Mills' management and recording control, and entitled Back To Front, contained a number of Top 10 singles and No.1s around the world, including the classic ‘Alone Again (Naturally)’, which topped the US Charts for six weeks, sold over 2 million copies in the US alone and earned him three Grammy nominations; and 'Clair', which reached No.1 in Ireland, Canada and the UK, and No.2 in America. 'Alone Again, Naturally' has become a much revered standard, recorded by dozens of artists, including stars as big as Pet Shop Boys feat. Elton John, Michael Bublé and Diana Krall, Johnny Mathis, Andy Williams, Shirley Bassey, Neil Diamond, Neil Sedaka, Aslan and, most recently, Irish sensation, CMAT.

Gilbert, who was born in Ireland and lived in Co. Waterford until he was seven years of age, then released the album I'm A Writer, Not A Fighter, which included the single ‘Get Down’ – which itself reached the top of the UK singles charts. At the 18th Ivor Novello Awards, O’Sullivan was named Song Writer of the Year.

In all, he has won three Ivors and performed on stage at BBC Proms in the Park. He has also played on the Glastonbury main-stage and toured extensively through the UK, Ireland, Europe, Japan and Australia. In 2023, he was awarded the Freedom of the City & County of Waterford.

In his sometimes turbulent career, O’Sullivan has played with the likes of Paul Weller, Nina Simone, Mick Hucknall, Neil Diamond, Empire Of The Sun and many more.

O’Sullivan will be at the Cork Opera House on September 10 and 11 and then in Dublin at the National Concert Hall September 14 and 15. Tickets are on sale from ticketmaster.ie and NCH.ie and prices start at €49.