Voice of Ireland winner Pat Byrne for Monroe’s

The winner of the 2012 Voice of Ireland, Pat Byrne, will take to the stage at Monroe’s Live on April 6.

Pat won the top prize in the most expensive talent show RTÉ has ever staged last May, when he defeated 1,800 hopefuls in an epic 17-week series. Since then the Carlow singer landed a one-album deal with Universal who are hoping to launch him as a rock artist. Pat is also a part-time music teacher who has taught guitar lessons and drums to members of the local Rathanna Marching Band.

The 22-year-old topped the iTunes chart last year with Louis Armstrong’s classic What a Wonderful World and since them, he spent time rehearsing for his album at a studio owned by Phil Collins and Genesis in England.

Pat’s debut album, which was written with Voice mentor Bressie and Danny O’Reilly from The Coronas, pays homage to his hero Bruce Springsteen, so much so that some friends have dubbed him “the Borris Bruce” – Pat is from Borris in Carlow.

In fact, it was Pat’s performance of Springsteen’s The River that won him the top prize in the final of The Voice of Ireland.

Meanwhile, the current series of The Voice is in its last stages, with Tuam’s Dylan Powell featuring strongly.

But for those who are fans of Pat Byrne, you can catch him at Monroe’s Live on April 6. Doors 9pm. Tickets €12. Details at Monroes.ie