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I got you, babe

The spark between Simon Casey and his wife Denise was even spotted in the primary school classroom, says Andrea Smith

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By Andrea Smith
Sunday Jun 1 2008

WHEN it comes to the sacraments of first communion, confirmation and marriage, there are very few of us who have completed the hat-trick of sharing them all with a romantic partner. Yet singer Simon Casey and his wife Denise managed it. Of course, it probably helped that they first met as junior infants in primary school in their hometown of Ballycumber, Co Offaly.

While meeting one's future in-laws for the first time is a potentially fraught occasion, Denise, then Denise Halligan, was spared that awkwardness as Simon's dad Len was principal of the local primary school she and Simon both attended, and actually taught their class at one point.

"I definitely didn't get any special treatment in class," smiles Simon, adding that the disadvantage to having your dad teaching you was the extra tuition that would follow at home if you appeared to be struggling with any subject in class.

"When my dad was making his speech at our wedding, he said that he noticed a special connection between Denise and me even back then."

Simon came from a musical family, and attended the Kevin Carroll School of Drama for 11 years. As a teenager, he thought he would like to ultimately do something in entertainment, or else in football, which are still his twin passions today, although modesty prevents him from saying whether he's any use on the pitch.

"I remember Simon singing when we were children," says Denise, "and he always had a solo part in any productions that were put on. I could never have imagined him doing anything else apart from music as a career, really."

While Denise and Simon were firm friends, and had a "few small flings" at Foroige discos as teenagers, romance didn't fully blossom until they were 19, and away in Gran Canaria with, ahem, 150 of their local GAA friends.

"They were all delighted for us," says Simon. "We come from a very close community, and have the same circle of friends, and Denise's brothers play on the same football team as me, so they've known me forever."

"Our parents were already friends, so we were nervous when we first got together, because it was a bit too close for comfort," adds Denise, who says that she was attracted to Simon because he's a very honest, genuine and caring person.

There was no need to worry, as everything ran smoothly, and Simon and Denise were married last September, exactly eight years after they first started going out. Denise works as a bank official with Bank of Ireland, having completed her degree in business studies at night, and enjoys playing the bodhran.

Simon went on to study business and marketing after school, but he also performed with his band, Church Mice, which he formed with friends in sixth year at Ard Scoil Chiarain Naofa in Clara. The band had three Top 30 chart hits, which introduced Simon to the world of touring and performing.

Having just missed out on a place with the ill-fated band Six, formed from the Popstars reality show in 2002, it was suggested to Simon that he enter the inaugural You're a Star competition in 2003. Encouraged by Denise, he entered, and in a nail-biting final, was placed second.

"I was a bit disappointed," he admits, "because when you get that far, you'd love to go all the way, but I was happy for Mickey [Joe] Harte who is still a good friend and came to our wedding.

The whole of Offaly got behind me, and the atmosphere when I came home was amazing. When I saw Brian Cowen's homecoming recently after he became Taoiseach, it brought back memories for me, because it was very similar, with flags and buses everywhere."

With two albums and a hit single with the song A Better Plan, Simon's music career has gone from strength to strength. In 2003, he had a platinum-selling version of Phil Coulter's Irish rugby anthem, Ireland's Call, and has performed this song to crowds of more than 80,000 people at international matches in several stadiums around the world.

In addition, he performed with his band at more than 100 gigs last year, in a nice mix of concerts, festivals, weddings and corporate events. Earlier this year, Simon was part of The Voice Within -- Songs of Hope concert filmed live at the INEC, Killarney. The concept behind the concert is that while sadness and dark times are an intrinsic part of the human condition, inner strength is what guides people through.

Featuring an uplifting and reflective collection of classic songs, all of which have thought-provoking and inspirational themes, the concert brought together the vocal talents of Simon, Belfast-based tenor Peter Corry, stunning Dublin model and singer Una Gibney, and the beautiful Brennan Sisters from Galway, backed by a 14-piece band and 70-voice choir.

Produced by Tony Deegan (Naked Camera) and directed by Patrick Cowap from the Late Late Show, for broadcast on the American channel PBS, a one-hour TV special from the concert will be shown on RTE 1 next Saturday at 5pm.

"I thought the concert was fabulous," says Denise. "I was blown away by it. Sometimes it's hard to believe it's Simon on stage, because he nearly becomes a different person. He's so shy normally, but when he's on stage he really comes into his own."

When he's at home, Simon can be found with his hard hat on, overseeing the construction of the new house he and Denise are building in Ballycumber.

"No matter where I am, I always try to get back home, even if it means arriving back at seven in the morning," he says. "It's really important to me to spend as much time with Denise as possible.

"She has been there for me through it all, and is very good at listening if I have a problem, and coming up with a solution. Without wanting to sound too soppy, I consider her to be my soulmate."

'The Voice Within -- Songs of Hope' double album and DVD is out now. Simon's website is www.simoncasey.ie

- Andrea Smith