Biography Noel Kelehan

Noel Kelehan (26 December 1935 – 6 February 2012) was an Irish musician, former conductor of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and former musical director of Radio Telefís Éireann. He retired as conductor in 1998.

Kelehan recorded several records, most notably the 1979 album "Ozone" by Noel Kelehan Quintet.

In 1984, Kelehan wrote the string arrangements for U2's album "The Unforgettable Fire".

As well as being an accomplished jazz pianist, Kelehan is remembered for being the conductor of many Irish entries to the Eurovision Song Contest, beginning in 1966 and ending in 1998. He conducted five winning Irish entries, in 1980, 1987, 1992, 1993, and 1996 (the 1994 winning song was performed without orchestral accompaniment though he did conduct the entry rated second that year, "To nie ja!" performed by Edyta Górniak from Poland). He also conducted the 1993 entry from Bosnia and Herzegovina. In total, Kelehan conducted 29 Eurovision entries, 24 of them Irish. In 1999, after Kelehan retired, the use of an orchestra was discontinued at the Contest.

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