John McCormack

One of Ireland's favourite sons, the famous tenor John McCormack actually became a naturalised American citizen in 1917 before moving back to Ireland in the late 1920s. His career as a tenor made him internationally famous and immensely rich - wealthy enough to own substantial amounts of real estate in London, Ireland and the USA as well as a string of racehorses and other trappings of success. His road to success began in 1905 when, as a young man of 21, local fundraising among the Catholic community enabled him to go to Italy to be voice trained by Vincenzo Sabatini. Just two years later he was appearing at Covent Garden and a year after that he left for America to seek fame and fortune. McCormack quickly became the most celebrated lyric tenor of his time making hundreds of recordings for the rapidly growing gramophone market. In 1914 he became known for his rendition of 'It's a Long Way to Tipperary', one of the most iconic songs of the Great War. He was a staunch Irish nationalist and supported efforts to achieve Irish home rule, a political standpoint which made him a popular figure in his homeland. McCormack enjoyed papal endorsement throughout his singing career and received three papal knighthoods and well as receiving the title of Papal Count. A long time emphysema sufferer, McCormack eventually succumbed to the disease in 1945; he was 61 years old.

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