Niall Breslin (born 22 October 1980), known as Bressie, is an Irish musician, former Westmeath Gaelic footballer and Leinster Rugby player. Breslin found success as the lead singer, guitarist, songwriter with pop band The Blizzards, as a co-writer and producer with XIX Entertainment and as a solo artist.
He was the winning coach on the first, third and fifth seasons of The Voice of Ireland.
Biography
Early life
Born in Dublin to father Enda, who was from Bundoran in County Donegal,[1] and mother Mandy, Breslin is the second youngest of five children,[2] including siblings Ronan, Laura, Julie and Andrea.[3] At the age of two, he and his family moved to Mullingar, and attended Coláiste Mhuire in the town. As a result of Enda's military deployment when Breslin was 13, the family relocated to Israel for five months.[4]
Breslin attended University College Dublin on a sports scholarship, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Sociology (2003) and a master's degree in Mindfulness Based Interventions (2019).[5] In 2022, Breslin was awarded UCD Alumnus of the Year in Social Sciences.
In 2015, Breslin published his first book Me and My Mate Jeffrey, a combination memoir/self-help book. "Jeffrey" is a personification of Breslin's anxiety disorder.[9] The book won the 2015 Irish Book Award for popular non fiction.[10]
Podcast
In July 2019, Breslin launched a podcast called Where Is My Mind? which focuses on mental health and wellbeing.[11]
In April 2020, Breslin followed up his previous podcast with another series focusing on mental wellbeing and meditation, this time exclusively for Spotify, called Wake Up / Wind Down (UK & IE).[12]
In 2011, Breslin released a solo album, Colourblind Stereo. Four singles were released from the album. During a performance at the Festival of Fires in Westmeath on 5 May 2012, he urged thousands of fans to vote against the government coalition of Fine Gael/Labour, saying before leaving the stage "I don’t normally do politics, but this Government is an awful bollocks. I want to make an appeal to all you people out there. Don't make the same mistakes we did by voting them in again".[14]
Through the end of 2012, Breslin began work on his second solo album "Rage and Romance".[20]
A music video was filmed for Show Me Love, featuring Moone Boy actors David Rawle and Ian O'Reilly. In 2014 Breslin appeared on the second series of Moone Boy as a PE Teacher.
In January 2014, Breslin announced putting his solo career as a recording artist on hold, with the intention to focus on his work as a judge on The Voice of Ireland and writing and producing music.[21]
Personal life
In late March 2013, Breslin opened up on his blog about his struggles with Generalized anxiety disorder.[22] Having experienced a severe panic attack on a live show taping during the first series of The Voice of Ireland, Breslin sought professional help and ultimately decided to manage his anxiety, by adopting a more active lifestyle. He began training for a triathlon, in support of Lakelands Area Retreat & Cancer Centre (LARCC),[23] a foundation on which his mother serves as director.[24]
Breslin is also an ambassador for Cycle Against Suicide (CAS),[25] an organisation that seeks to raise awareness and bring support to those dealing with mental health issues. In April and May 2013, Breslin participated as a cyclist with CAS, in a series of legs around Ireland, stopping at local schools to give mental health-related talks and also he was dating Miss Universe Ireland 2010 Rozanna Purcell.[26]
