30 Facts About Phil Coulter

Philip Coulter was born on 19 February 1942 and is an Irish musician, songwriter and record producer from Derry, Northern Ireland.

Phil Coulter was awarded the Gold Badge from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors in October 2009.

Phil Coulter is one of the biggest record sellers in the island of Ireland.

Phil Coulter was born in Derry, Northern Ireland where his father was one of a minority of Catholic policemen in the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

Phil Coulter was the fourth child with two older brothers and a sister and one younger sister, each born with a year's difference between them, in a two-up two-down terraced house.

Phil Coulter played the fiddle whilst his wife played the upright piano.

The younger Phil Coulter recalls this piano, made by Challen, as "the most important piece of furniture in the house".

Phil Coulter spent his secondary school years at St Columb's College.

Phil Coulter later studied music and French at Queen's University Belfast.

Phil Coulter started his first band at Queen's University, playing early rock and roll music despite studying classical music.

Phil Coulter was founder of the Glee Club, which staged music events for the university.

Phil Coulter wrote "Foolin' Time", a hit for the Capitol Showband.

Phil Coulter conducted the orchestra for the song, which came fifth.

In 1975, Martin and Phil Coulter were joint recipients of an Ivor Novello Award for 'Songwriter of the Year'.

Phil Coulter produced, arranged and wrote most of Joe Dolan's 1983 album, Here and Now.

In 2007, Phil Coulter joined with Sharon Browne, one of the originators of the successful Celtic Woman production, to collaborate on formation of a male version of that production called Celtic Thunder.

In 1984, Phil Coulter launched himself as an artist in his own right and began by releasing a solo instrumental album called Classic Tranquility.

The follow-up album, Phil Coulter's Ireland reached No 86 in the UK.

Phil Coulter moved from London back to Ireland, where he established his music publishing company on the grounds of his house in Bray, south of Dublin.

On 28 October 2009, Phil Coulter was presented with a BASCA Gold Badge Award in recognition of his unique contribution to music.

Phil Coulter's first marriage was to Angela Phil Coulter; their second child was born with Down's Syndrome and died aged four.

In 1974, Phil Coulter was approached by Luxembourg to write a song for the 1975 Eurovision Song Contest, following his success with "Puppet on a String", which won for the UK in 1967, and his "Congratulations", which nearly won in 1968.

Phil Coulter went on to represent Luxembourg and came in fifth place.

Phil Coulter later said in an interview on Miriam Meets.

In November 1998, Phil Coulter married Brannigan in a low-key ceremony at Wicklow registry office, witnessed by their six children, Danielle, Dominique, Alexandra, Daragh, Ryan and Georgina, and 16 guests.

In 2002, Phil Coulter was encouraged by the Save the Swilly organisation to run for the Dail to protect Lough Swilly from aquacultural destruction.

Phil Coulter is a former president of Derry City Football Club.

In 1995, the Irish Rugby Football Union commissioned Phil Coulter to write a politically neutral anthem for the Ireland national rugby union team, which represents both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Phil Coulter has received honorary doctorates from the University of Ulster, Dublin Institute of Technology, and The Open University.

Phil Coulter was awarded the Freedom of the City of Derry on 5 April 2022.