Ulster's Acclaim Academy Trivia Quiz

Answer: Enya

Eithne Patricia Ni Bhraonain was born in Co Donegal in 1961. Her musical career started when she joined family members who had formed the group Clannad. Enya played keyboards and provided vocals, but she left the group in 1982 to follow a solo career. Haunting lyrics and melodies are a trademark of this Donegal diva.

In her career, she has sold millions of records and earned four Grammy awards.

Answer: Phil Coulter

Phil Coulter was born in Derry/Londonderry, about which he wrote 'The Town I Loved So Well'. He also wrote 'Back Home' for the England 1970 World Cup squad, and 'Ireland's Call', unofficial anthem of the Ireland rugby union team. He has written/co-written several Eurovision songs, including 'Congratulations' (1968), for Cliff Richard and 'Puppet On A String' (1967), for Sandie Shaw. Coulter and his long-time collaborator Bill Martin wrote several hits for the Bay City Rollers. Feargal Sharkey was another Derry native and one-time lead singer with The Undertones. John Anderson was a broadcaster and big band conductor. Phil Ochs has been hailed as one of the most influential American folksingers/songwriters of his generation.

Answer: Frank Carson

Frank Carson was born in Belfast in 1926 and became a star of 'The Good Old Days' (1953) before he won the TV talent show 'Opportunity Knocks' (1956). Other shows followed, including 'The Comedians' (1971) and 'The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club' (1970s). His catchphrase was "It's the way I tell 'em". Brendan Grace and Jimmy Cricket were also both comedians. Frank Mitchell was a TV presenter.

Answer: Amanda Burton

Amanda Burton was born in 1956, brought up near Derry and made her name in 'Brookside' (1982). Her biggest role was as a crime-solving pathologist in 'Silent Witness' (1996). She also led the cast in 'The Commander' (2003) and had a stint in 'Peak Practice' (1993).
Frances Tomelty and Roma Downey were also Ulster-born actresses. Amanda Redman was an English-born actress.

Answer: Daniel O'Donnell

Daniel O'Donnell was born in 1961 into a musical family in Co Donegal and became renowned as a home-spun character who related easily to his audiences. O'Donnell was considerably younger than most of his siblings and, as a teenager, started singing with his sister Margo, who was a well-established performer on the Irish country music scene. Ten million record sales later, he became well entrenched as a popular 'easy listening' singer. In a 10-year spell, he had more hit records than Madonna! (Record industry figures)

Answer: Gloria Hunniford

Born in Portadown in April 1940, Hunniford was named Gloria after Gloria Swanson. She worked extensively as a singer in Ireland and Canada, before carving out a career as a much-respected presenter over a variety of genres. Her daughter Caron Keating was also a television presenter, but sadly died of cancer in 2004.

Answer: Dana

Although born in London in 1951, Dana (born Rosemary Brown) was brought up in Derry and shot to fame when she won the Eurovision Sing Contest with 'All Kinds Of Everything' in 1970. She had a lengthy singing career in Ireland, the UK and the USA before turning to politics.

She was elected as a member of the European Parliament in 1994, and was an unsuccessful candidate in 2004 for election as president of Ireland.

Answer: James Ellis

James (or Jimmy) Ellis was born in Belfast in 1931 and played the Irish sergeant Lynch in the gritty 1960s Liverpool-based cop show 'Z Cars'. Brian Blessed, Stratford Johns and Frank Windsor were also among the stars. "Waiting by the Liverpool tide" is a line from the song 'Johnny Todd', which, in instrumental arrangement, was the 'Z Cars' (1962) theme. The other Jameses in the answer were also all actors born in Northern Ireland.

Answer: James Galway

"Annie's Song" (1974) was the melody that brought chart success for Sir James Galway. He continued to tour extensively and contributed to the soundtrack of "The Lord of the Rings" (2001). He received his knighthood in 2001 for services to music. Brian Kennedy was a singer and Brian O'Driscoll a rugby player. James Kennedy was a songwriter.

Answer: Van Morrison

George Ivan Morrison was born in 1945 and formed the rhythm and blues band Them in 1964. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. As well as "Brown Eyed Girl" (1967), his hits have included "Gloria" (1964) and "Here Comes The Night" (1974). The other three are also singers, though Doonican was not born in Ulster.