Muriel Day (born 11 January 1942) is an Irish singer. Born in Newtownards, County Down, she was the first singer from Northern Ireland to represent the Republic of Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest. She was also the first woman to perform for Ireland, which had been competing since 1965. After making her name in the Irish showband circuit, and appearing in the British film Billy Liar in 1963, Day was chosen as Ireland’s Eurovision contestant with the song “The Wages of Love” in 1969. Though the song was a great hit in Ireland, it only finished seventh internationally, in a year with four winners. As a result of her performance, however, she was offered the chance to record with Peter Warne, producing the enduring hit “Nine Times out of Ten”. After moving to Canada in 1971, where she continued her career, Day eventually took up medicine and became a laser therapist. She returned to Belfast in the 1990s, where she has been performing regularly.

Muriel day belongs to an elite group of female vocalists like Dusty Springfield, Petula Clarke and Cilla Black. Not perhaps what you might expect from a humble girl from Newtownards, County Down. Irish singer Muriel Day is a special talent. Her beauty, sparkling personality, powerful, haunting voice, stage presence and her versatility to sing in so many genres of music, from massive diva pop numbers, jazz, blues, gospel and is now making regular appearances around Ireland singing country music performing with the Royalty of Country Music Philomena Begley, Susan McCann, Mike Denver, Nathan Carter and of course her show band comrades Brian Coll, Frankie McBride, Larry Cunningham to name but a few and was nominated to her surprise for the Best Female Country Artist at the 2011 Northern Ireland Country Music Awards.

The release of country song ‘shut up and drive’ a vocal performance to die for, and an unforgettable tune influenced by the contemporary country and pop scenes,proved to be a big hit on radio and not just in Ireland but also at the home of Country in Nashville and has been offered the opportunity to perform at the Grand old Opry. Late November 2010 Muriel had a Christmas song especially written for her entitled “Merry Christmas” which was too late to get released last year but his available to download on itunes.

Muriel has also been a highlight for so many at the “do you come here often” showbands shows in Belfast, Dublin and Derry that have been an annual fixture in so many peoples diaries for the last 16 years.

It’s the s…heer magnitude of Muriel’s talent that has endeared her to audiences for the last four decades. She’s impressed her fans over the years with a staggering three to four costume changes in each set, proving herself a dazzlingly natural stage presence at every turn. Many of her fans know and love her best for her appearance as the 1st female to represent Ireland in the 1969 Eurovision Song Contest in Madrid where she came fourth with “The Wages of Love” before moving to Canada for over 20 years where she performed. But Muriel has been singing blues and jazz since the age of 15 with such bands as The Saints and then fronted the popular Dave Glover Showband. She has performed in venues across Ireland, UK, USA and for illustrious audiences including the likes of Playboy’s Hugh Heffner. Muriel can also add supporting the late Dusty Springfield, performing in the 1963 film ‘Billy Liar’s, even Van Morrison supported her in the early 60′s.

Watch Muriel a few years ago in the waterfront hall in Belfast at “do you come here often” performing the massive hit by dusty Springfield “you don’t have to say you love me” who Muriel supported on tour plus “Proud Mary” and “Who’s Sorry Now ”

Clip of Muriel in the film “Billy liar” Muriel was asked to step in and mime this song in the film as the original singer was heavenly pregnant

Muriel singing a big northern soul song “nine times out of ten”

Muriels New Christmas Song especially written for her “Merry Christmas”

Muriel with the Dave Glover Showband in 1963 singing “Petal from a faded rose”