Una
Board walk: You gotta be a multi- talented multi-tasker to make it in Irish showbiz these days. It's not enough to sing - you also have to be able to do note-perfect impressions of disco divas such as Gloria Gaynor, Yvonne Elliman and Donna Summer, and convince punters that you really are one of the girls from Abba. You've got to be familiar with such Irish indie bands as Something Happens and The Devlins so you can join them on backing vocals at the drop of a hat. You have to be available to appear on various TV shows as a guest presenter or stylist, and you have to be willing to worship at that venerable altar of cheese, The Lyrics Board. You've got to have the looks, so you can become a successful model and feature in the fashion pages of Ireland's top mags. And finally, you have to have the legs, so you can hold your own onstage with the Lord of the Dance himself, Michael Flatley. Who could this veritable Ms Versatility be? Who else but Una Gibney.
Popping out: Dubliner Una is already a familiar face to us all, having graced numerous fashion supplements as one of Assets Modelling Agency's top assets. She's modelled on Off the Rails Live and at the Irish launch of House of Fraser. If there's a photo opportunity to be had, chances are that'll be Una posing in a skimpy bikini alongside the Minister for Getting his Mug in the Papers. Una is also well known to Abba and disco fans, having fronted tribute band Boogie Nights and starred in the West End show, Singa-Longa-Abba. She also sang in girlie trio The Divas, dressing up to the nines and doing disco and soul classics. Later this month, Una launches a new single, Givin' Up, a dancefloor stomper written by her, with help from Billy Farrell and Ed O'Leary, both of whom have worked with Westlife and The Corrs. The single coincides nicely with her latest job: singing in Flatley's new stage show, Celtic Tiger.
Leg wax: Una recently reached the No 4 in Social and Personal magazine's top 100 sexy legs poll. Politeness prevents us from revealing Una's age, but this isn't the thirtysomething's first crack at the singles market. Back in 1998, the Northside girl released a version of Shola Ama's You Might Need Somebody, but the spotlight eluded her, so she continued with her modelling, and developed her afro-haired alter-ego, the fabulous Fifi, lead singer with disco tribute band Boogie Nights.
Tiger feet: Una's return to the recording studio comes at the same time as Flatley's return to the stage. Celtic Tiger is a celebration of Ireland's history, from its struggles against famine and oppression to its triumphs with Riverdance and Feet of Flames. Among its highlights is Una's showstopping performance of Forever Free. Givin' up? Sure, Una's only startin'.
