Sinéad Sheppard

Early life

Sheppard is originally from Midleton Street in Cobh, County Cork. She is a fluent speaker of the Irish language, having been educated at Coláiste an Phíarsaigh, a gaelscoil in Glanmire, County Cork. Before being discovered by Louis Walsh, she was intending to pursue a career in public relations.

Six membership

Sheppard was nineteen when she was selected as a member of Six. Her first show as a member of Six was at the ChildLine Concert in the Point Theatre, Dublin, where she performed in front of 8000 people. Six released two multi-platinum selling singles, both of which reached #1 in the Irish Singles Chart, and also had a top five album in Ireland. Their first single, "There's a Whole Lot of Loving" is the 3rd fastest-selling single in Irish musical history. Six did an arena tour with Westlife in England, playing a total of sixty-six shows, and two nationwide tours of Ireland.

Other musical aspirations

Sheppard attempted to audition for the first series of the British-based talent show The X Factor in 2004 alongside fellow Six rejects Emma O'Driscoll, Andy Orr, Liam McKenna and the runner-up in the first season of the Irish-based talent show You're a Star, Simon Casey.

Television career

Sheppard featured on The All Ireland Talent Show which began in January 2009. She appeared in the 1 February 2009 episode to assist John Creedon in the selection of his five acts to represent The South in the competition, specialising in dance choreography. These were the experimental guitarist Barry Walsh, the hip hop and freestyle dancer Jack Lynch, the contortionist and contemporary dancer Moneeka Murkegee, Toby Bedell and the pianist Vlada Fitzgerald. They will compete against acts from Dublin, The North, The West and The East in the twelve-week televised competition.

Politics

In the 2009 local elections, Sheppard was elected to Cobh town council for Fine Gael. She was elected to Cork County Council for the municipal area of Cobh in the 2014 local elections.