Niall Breslin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Niall Breslin
Bressie with The Blizzards at Junction 7.08, June 2008
Background information
Birth name	Niall Breslin
Also known as	Bressie
Born	(1980-10-22) 22 October 1980 (age 44) Artane, Dublin, Ireland
Genres	Soft rock, pop
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, television personality, former footballer
Instruments	Guitar, drums, piano
Labels	Sony Music
Associated acts	The Blizzards Brendan McCahey Michael Bohan
Rugby career
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker, Second row Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2002–2004 Leinster 14 (0) Correct as of 6 May 2015

Niall Breslin (born 22 October 1980), known as Bressie, is an Irish musician, former Westmeath Gaelic footballer and Leinster Rugby player. Breslin found success as the lead singer, guitarist, songwriter with pop band The Blizzards, as a co-writer and producer with XIX Entertainment and as a solo artist. He was the winning coach on the first, third and fifth seasons of The Voice of Ireland.

Biography

Early life

Born in Dublin to father Enda, who was from Bundoran in County Donegal, and mother Mandy, Breslin is the second youngest of five children, including siblings Ronan, Laura, Julie and Andrea. At the age of two, he and his family moved to Mullingar, and attended Coláiste Mhuire in the town. As a result of Enda's military deployment when Breslin was 13, the family relocated to Israel for five months. Breslin attended University College Dublin on a sports scholarship, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Sociology (2003) and a master's degree in Mindfulness Based Interventions (2019). In 2022, Breslin was awarded UCD Alumnus of the Year in Social Sciences.

Sports career

Breslin represented Westmeath, in Gaelic football at Minor, and U-21 Championship levels. He won a Leinster Under-21 Football Championship medal with Westmeath in 2000. He was also a professional rugby player with Leinster Rugby. He had a scholarship in UCD for rugby and also represented Ireland at Under-21 level in the World Cup.

Writing career

In 2015, Breslin published his first book Me and My Mate Jeffrey, a combination memoir/self-help book. "Jeffrey" is a personification of Breslin's anxiety disorder. The book won the 2015 Irish Book Award for popular non fiction.

Podcast

In July 2019, Breslin launched a podcast called Where Is My Mind? which focuses on mental health and wellbeing.

In April 2020, Breslin followed up his previous podcast with another series focusing on mental wellbeing and meditation, this time exclusively for Spotify, called Wake Up / Wind Down (UK & IE).

Music career

The Blizzards

With childhood friends, Breslin formed The Blizzards in 2004. They released two albums that achieved commercial success, A Public Display of Affection in 2006 and Domino Effect in 2008. The band split up in 2009. Following the band's split, Breslin joined Simon Fuller's XIX Entertainment as a songwriter and producer in 2010.

Solo career

In 2011, Breslin released a solo album, Colourblind Stereo. Four singles were released from the album. ..... I want to make an appeal to all you people out there. Don't make the same mistakes we did by voting them in again".

In 2012, he was a coach on the inaugural season of The Voice of Ireland, mentoring the winner, Pat Byrne.

Through the end of 2012, Breslin began work on his second solo album "Rage and Romance". A music video was filmed for Show Me Love, featuring Moone Boy actors David Rawle and Ian O'Reilly. In 2014 Breslin appeared on the second series of Moone Boy as a PE Teacher.

In January 2014, Breslin announced putting his solo career as a recording artist on hold, with the intention to focus on his work as a judge on The Voice of Ireland and writing and producing music.

Personal life

In late March 2013, Breslin opened up on his blog about his struggles with Generalized anxiety disorder. Having experienced a severe panic attack on a live show taping during the first series of The Voice of Ireland, Breslin sought professional help and ultimately decided to manage his anxiety, by adopting a more active lifestyle. He began training for a triathlon, in support of Lakelands Area Retreat & Cancer Centre (LARCC), a foundation on which his mother serves as director.

..... In April and May 2013, Breslin participated as a cyclist with CAS, in a series of legs around Ireland, stopping at local schools to give mental health-related talks and also he was dating Miss Universe Ireland 2010 Rozanna Purcell.

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

Guest appearances

• 2012 – "Rocky Road to Poland"