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Eileen Reid (born January 1943) is an Irish singer of the showband era.

She had an Irish number 1 on 29 May 1964 with "Fallen Star", the first official Irish number one single by an Irish woman, and was also known for her song "I Gave My Wedding Dress Away".

Career

Eileen Reid began singing as a teenager with the Melody Makers, later fronting the Cadets showband. She and the Cadets reached No. 42 on the UK Singles Chart dated 6 May 1965 with "Jealous Heart".

She tried out for the 1980 Eurovision with "The Saddest Show On Earth". In 1982, she appeared on The Brendan Grace Show. She appeared on a 1995 episode of Lifelines.

Later she turned to acting, appearing in the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin in pantomime.

In 2008, she appeared on The Podge and Rodge Show.

Personal life

Eileen Reid was the daughter of footballer Charlie Reid. Eileen Reid married Jimmy Day, another showband singer. Her daughter Claudine Day is also a singer.

In 2015, she admitted to multiple infidelities and a miscarriage.

Discography

Irish chart singles

• 1964 "Fallen Star" (number 1)

Bibliography

• Eileen (with Jimmy Day), Town House Dublin, 1995, ISBN 1-86059-011-X

Filmography

• Misses Quirke in The Commitments
• Mrs. Rock in A Man of No Importance
• Woman with smallpox in Moll Flanders (1996 film)
• The Late Late Show, 14 May 2004
• Inside 252, 14 May 2004
• The Journey Home, EWTN, 17 July 2006
• The Podge and Rodge Show, 26 February 2008

References

1. "Showband queen Eileen Reid". Farmersjournal.ie. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
2. "Singer Eileen Reid reveals she lost out on work because she refused to sleep with a director". Independent.ie. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
3. https://irishnumberones.com/2023/07/27/eileen-reid-and-the-cadets-fallen-star/
4. "Cadets Showband". Irish-showbands.com. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
5. "CADETS WITH EILEEN READ | full Official Chart History". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
6. "Singer settles injury claim". The Irish Times. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
7. "Eileen Reid Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
8. "Dancehall days return". The Irish Times. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
9. Brophy, Daragh. "'I never heard the word abortion': Singer reveals anguish of unplanned pregnancy". Thejournal.ie.
10. "Eileen Reid Reveals Extramarital Affair". Rsvpmagazine.com. 24 September 2015.
11. "'Faith and forgiveness' saved showband star's marriage". Irish Examiner. 16 December 2016.

External links

• Eileen Reid at IMDb

• 1943 births
• Living people
• Irish women singers