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***NEW*** THE NOLANS

The Nolans Image Name: The Nolans Copyright: RTE
The Nolans - early days in Blackpool Image Name: The Nolans - early days in Blackpool Description: This picture was taken at the gig in Blackpool where they were spotted by BBC producers and offered their first appearance on TV. Left to right in the back row, Maureen, Anne and Denise - left to right in the front, Linda and Bernie.
The Nolans performing in the early days Image Name: The Nolans performing in the early days

THE NOLANS

“There were six Nolan sisters – and they were one of the first pop acts from Ireland to achieve international success. In the early 70s, they appeared frequently on the BBC’s top entertainment shows – with regular slots on The Two Ronnies, Morecambe and Wise, and Cliff Richard ‘s TV series. In the following decade, they had hits across Europe, in Australia and New Zealand. They were particularly popular in Japan – where their records outsold even the Beatles. Their best-known single, I’m in the Mood for Dancing, is considered a pop classic, and still receives a huge amount of airplay.

The roots of the Nolan family are in Raheny, in north Dublin. Their parents, Tommy and Maureen, worked for many years as professional singers – before moving to Blackpool in Lancashire. The Nolan sisters began performing in the working men’s clubs of northern England while they were still children. Eventually, they went on to sell more than 30 million records worldwide. For many, the group seemed to epitomise all that was best in the traditional Irish family. In more recent years, it has emerged that the squeaky -clean image that the Nolans presented to the world was far from the whole truth. There was a darker side to their story which involved abuse and personal tragedy.

In 2013, it was revealed that the Nolans’ lead singer, Bernie Nolan, was suffering from terminal cancer, and she succumbed to the disease in July of last year.This hour–long documentary, charts their international success  – as all of the six  sisters describe the ups and downs of their extraordinary career.