The Irish Representative for Cardiff Singer of the World 2007, baritone Owen Gilhooly was born in Limerick. He trained at the Royal College of Music and the National Opera Studio supported by the Belfast Classical Music Bursary, the RVW Trust and the Sibyl Tutton Trust. Operatic engagements have included include Don José de Santarem Maritana for the Royal Dublin Society, Dancairo Carmen for Castleward Opera and Cork Opera 2005, Mr Gedge Albert Herring for Opera Project, Dreamweaver Bug Off!!!, Mercury The Coronation of Poppea, Marcello La bohème and Dandini La cenerentola for OTC, Dublin, Elder Ott Susannah and Don Parmenione L’occasione fa il ladro for Wexford Festival Opera, Valentin Faust for Opera Ireland, Count Almaviva Le nozze di Figaro for Lyric Opera Productions, Dublin, Figaro The Barber of Seville for Savoy Opera, Poulenc’s Burning Mirrors for the ENO Studio, Schaunard La bohème for Scottish Opera Go Round and Co-Opera Ireland, Philoctetes in the world première of Edward Rushton’s Trojan Trilogy for The Opera Group, Froila Alfonso und Estrella for University College Opera, Dr Falke Die Fledermaus and Harlequin Ariadne auf Naxos for English Touring Opera.

He made his début at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, singing the Fauré Requiem for the Royal Ballet, and concert engagements have included La Poigne Margot la Rouge with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Mozart Mass in C Minor at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, Anthony Powers’ From Station Island at the West Cork Chamber Music Festival, Marcello La bohème for the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, his BBC Proms début as Bill Bobstay HMS Pinafore and performances with the Frideswide Ensemble, the Irish Baroque Orchestra and the Ulster Orchestra. He has broadcast for BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night is Music Night and his recordings include Joyce Songs - James Joyce's Musical Dublin with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.

Most recently, he has sung Eckbert Blond Eckbert for The Opera Group, and current engagements Don Fernando Fidelio with the Ulster Orchestra,, Peter Hansel and Gretel and Figaro The Barber of Seville for OTC, Dublin, Capellio I Capuleti e I Montecchi for Grange Park Opera, Ping Turandot for Opera Ireland, Falke Die Fledermaus for Scottish Opera On Tour, Joseph L’Enfance du Christ with the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the Spitalfields Festival, The Kingdom in Rochester Cathedral, Messiah for the Irish Baroque Orchestra, Andrew Miller’s The Birth of Christ in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, a Mozart Gala at the Freemason’s Hall, Dublin, Carmina Burana at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, and a return to Friday Night is Music Night.

“Baritone Owen Gilhooly as Don Jose combined spontaneous expression with luxuriously mature tone”.
Don José de Santarem: Maritana / Royal Dublin Society / Irish Times

“...among the Elders and their wives, (Owen) Gilhooly (Ott), Frances McCafferty (Mrs Ott) and Anna Burford (Mrs McLean) stood out as perfectly etched cameos.”
Elder Ott: Susannah / Wexford Festival / Opera

“...Chantal Mathias sang splendidly as Marguerite, as did (i.a.) Owen Gilhooly (Valentin)...
Valentin: Faust / Opera Ireland / Opera

“...a powerful presence who gave the evening some glorious moments.”
Messiah / Irish Baroque Orchestra / Munster Express

“Alison Roddy and Owen Gilhooly were equally good as the second pair of lovers. Gilhooly’s Marcello was well sung and acted. His warm baritone was the strongest of the male voices.”
Marcello: La bohème / RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra / Irish Times

“…his Italianate high baritone is rich in timbre and exciting in prospect.”
Dandini: La cenerentola / OTC, Dublin / Irish Times

“Vocal standouts were (inter alia) Gilhooly as the con man Don Parmenione...”
Don Parmenione: L’occasione fa il ladro / Wexford Festival Opera / The Sunday Times

“Owen Gilhooly really created a flesh-and-blood being out of the bitter and twisted Philoctetes…”
Philoctetes: Birds.Barks.Bones / The Opera Group / Opera

"Owen Gilhooly found nobility in the deposed Froila..."
Froila: Alfonso und Estrella / University College Opera / The Observer

“Owen Gilhooly is a sexy, impudent Figaro.”
Figaro: The Barber of Seville / Savoy Opera / The Guardian

“...compellingly sung by Owen Gilhooly...”
Eckbert: Blond Eckbert / The Opera Group / The Times