Munster Express 
2006


Finbar Wright [ at the Waterford Theatre Royal ]



With a dreamy, romantic, Some Enchanted Evening, Finbar Wright got a capacity audience in the 
Theatre Royal off to a great easy-listening start. This gentle and very laid-back Irish tenor, 
in the Frank Patterson style, captivates his audience with a lazy, languid style where popping 
out of tune or holding a note a shade longer than the backing band is part of his considerable 
charm. His charm extends to welcoming Old Friends and 40 Shades Of Green, some Jimmy McCarthy 
songs, a shade of Percy French with Little Bridget Flynn. There is nothing over-sweet or 
insincere in this world-class performer who has managed to hang on to a genuine charm. He 
delights with Whatever You Believe, impresses with an unexpected Miss Otis Regrets and wows with 
Moon River, Blue Moon, Don’t Fence Me In and a beautiful Stevie Wonder, Universal Song.



His show is great value for money with a splendid four-piece backing band led by Andy O’Callaghan 
on keyboards. Opening the second half with Blaze Away, you get a touch of the Joseph Locke attack. 
He followed this with a relaxed, Old Rustic Bridge and a cracking Nell McCafferty joke about Men 
and Contraception - Nell has no interest in either. Then he wows with Tennessee Waltz and get the 
audience singing along to Wise Men Say.



His South Of The Border was excellent and a dreamy Arrivederci Roma put me in mind of Dean Martin. 
Concluding the show with Whatever You Believe as a reprise, he came back for a crowd-pleasing Irish 
Medley and a genuine standing ovation.



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Irish Emigrant 



April 29, 1991



"Finbar Wright is a young Irish tenor who is making a name for himself. He is considered important 
enough to have an advertisement on the front page of the Irish Times, for a concert with the Irish 
Chamber Orchestra in the National Concert Hall."