Richie Kavanagh is an award winning entertainer from Carlow, Ireland. In 2011 at the age of 61 he announced in an interview with Sue Nunn of KCLR (Kilkenny & Carlow Local Radio) that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Despite the announcement Kavanagh continues to perform and launched his latest album, ‘My Girlfriend Has New iPhone’, in September 2015.
Richie Kavanagh was born in Raheenwood, Fenagh, Co Carlow, Ireland in 1949. He had his first hit with ‘Aon Focal Eile’ (One More Word). The song, which was first played on local radio, became a national runaway hit when the late Gerry Ryan began playing it on his morning show on RTE radio. It reached Number One in 1996 and stayed in the charts for 27 weeks. The song, which earned Richie an Irish Recorded Music Award (IRMA) caused some controversy and was banned by some of the BBC radio stations.
Kavanagh has gone on to have hits with songs such as ‘Mickey’s Buckin’ Ass’, ‘Me Girlfriends Pussy Cat’ and ‘If I didn’t get a Ride’. He also writes and records songs which celebrate the heritage of his native Carlow. Today Kavanagh is still writing, recording and playing to packed venues in Ireland, England, America and Monte Carlo. He has said that being diagnosed with Parkinson’s has made him determined to make the most of his life and that as long as his voice holds up he will continue to perform. His latest album My Girlfriend Has New iPhone was released at the National Ploughing Championships at Ratheniska Co Laois in September 2015.
Richie Kavanagh was born in the year 1949 On This Day.