Declan O'Rourke

Declan O'Rourke
Declan O'Rourke on stage at Sligo Live, June 2006.
Background information
Origin	Dublin, Ireland
Genres	Acoustic, folk, rock
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, harmonica, acoustic guitar, mandolin, ukulele, piano
Years active	2004-
Labels	N4, V2
Website	Declanorourke.com

Declan O'Rourke is a singer-songwriter from Dublin, Ireland.

At the age of 13, when living in Australia with his family, O'Rourke was given his first guitar by a priest in Kyabram who recognised his potential and love for music, hence the title of his debut album Since Kyabram, released in October 2004.

The album's launch took place over three sold-out nights in Whelan’s of Wexford St, Dublin and was broadcast live on national radio. Since Kyabram entered the official Irish album charts at Number 5 and was the only new Irish entry in the Top 75 album chart that week. Since Kyabram quickly went gold, then achieved double-platinum status. Since the release of the album, O'Rourke has completed multiple sell-out nationwide Irish tours, the second of these culminating in a full capacity show in Dublin's Olympia Theatre in March 2005.

O'Rourke has been among the few solo performers selected to appear on both the second and third TV series of Other Voices. O'Rourke tracks were included on the #1 selling compilations Even Better than the Real Thing Vol. 2 and Even Better than the Real Thing Vol. 3 in aid of The National Children's Hospital in Tallaght and Tsunami Relief Fund.

O'Rourke performed at the first Irish Woodstock in Inistioge, Kilkenny. He has played guitar on stage with Bic Runga on her European tour, Snow Patrol on the UK and Irish legs of their 2006 tour, including performances at Wembley Arena and their sold-out December performance at the old Point Theatre in Dublin. O'Rourke opened multiple shows for Planxty during the come-back concerts at Vicar Street, Dublin. He performed on the same bill as Bob Dylan for three consecutive shows while playing guitar with Paddy Casey. O'Rourke played guitar for Snow Patrol during their Oxegen Festival performance in Ireland in July 2007. Snow Patrol's lead singer, Gary Lightbody, gave a very positive review of O'Rourke's second album, a preview copy of which, he revealed, the band had been listening to backstage.