Text Box:  Iris developed a love of music at an early age, playing piano from the tender age of 8. Her love for music began to blossom at the age of 14 when she wrote her first composition entitled ‘Why’. Realising that the music business was one of the most difficult businesses in which to achieve success, Iris quickly realised that she needed to knuckle down to earning a living  as much as enjoying the music.  She became a backing singer for show band singer Laurie Hartz in 1997 while also continuing to write and perform her own material. This aspect of the music business quickly showed her the highs and lows of gigging in Ireland and UK. From the overnight travelling from venue to venue to learning how to work the crowd, Laurie was a significant influence in guiding and training Iris to develop a career in music. Always the realist, Iris knew she needed to ensure she had the tools and knowledge necessary to earn a living from her chosen trade. To this end she also went to college during the day where she achieved a Diploma in Sound Engineering, while also gigging with Laurie at night. Iris's first significant success as a songwriter came in 1997 when she was a Finalist in the 2fm /Jacobs Songwriters contest at the age of 17. She saw the stars again in 1998 when she was chosen to perform on the RTE TV Talent Show “ Let me Entertain You” performing her own composition entitled “Don’t Say Goodbye”. Iris came 2nd on the show. Samantha Mumba debuted on the same series with a cover version. In trying to develop her profile as a songwriter, Iris continued to enter various industry song contests and was a finalist in the Dun Laoghaire Song Contest, Dublin in 1999 & 2001. She performed each of the songs she penned herself, on both occasions. During this time, Iris also recorded some well known jingles on Irish radio for clients including Johnston, Mooney & O'Brien. In October 2000, Iris appeared on the BBC's ‘Star for a Night’. Hosted by Jane McDonald and with a panel of Judges including Eastender's Barbara Windsor (Peggy Mitchell) and Take That Ex-Manager, Nigel Martin Smith. Performing a version of Christina Aguilera’s 'Genie in a Bottle' for the live show in Nottingham, Iris sang to an live studio audience and the show was aired to over 9 million viewers across Ireland and the UK. Iris was pipped to the post on the night by future X-Factor finalist Tabby Callaghan with his band Petronella. Following her TV appearances, Irish radio stations began to warm to Iris’ compositions. ‘Don’t Ever Wanna Go Back’ playlisted for Tony D's R’n’B show on Dublin's FM104 in October 2001, while ‘Addicted To Your Love’ playlisted on Ray D’arcy's Morning show on Today FM. Iris was also selected as a finalist by the listeners of Dec & Joan's show on FM104 in a competition to support Ronan Keating in Vicar St. in 2005. Iris spent the following 3 years gigging around Ireland with cover band 'Pick Up The Pieces' & 'Out of Reach'. Iris also went back to college and obtained another diploma, this time in Public Relations, while continuing to write and record her own songs and develop her own piano playing style. In 2009,  Iris came 4th place for the 21st Glinsk Song Contest with her composition “Love Story” in Galway July & in October of the same year, Iris came 2nd out of hundreds of entries in TodayFM’s ‘Beat the Original competition’ 2009, for her version of U2’s ‘One’. In 2010, Iris once again reached the final of the Glinsk Song Contest for her song “The Girl is a Lie” Iris gives Voice Coaching to students from all over Dublin, is in studio recording more original material and back on the road gigging across Ireland.