Brian Kennedy, the singer, songwriter, author and Riverdance performer who represented Ireland in the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest, is currently touring Australia where he spoke to The Australian about his experience at the contest and his immediate plans.

Brian Kennedy placed 10th in Athens with his emotional ballad Every song is a cry for love. According to the artist, Eurovision was one of these things that he never imagined himself doing but he was proud to be able to represent his country. When the proposal was made to him he thought about it carefully and weighed the pros and cons "The overwhelming thing about it was representing my country. There are only a few things where you can do that, sport being one. I know it's a very kitsch, ridiculous element associated with Eurovision, but it's also a quite serious competition. I take away from it good things." Brian says adding that did manage to get Ireland directly in the 2007 final in Helsinki. "It hasn't done me any harm," he concludes as his participation made him known in other countries than his own, such as Slovenia and Belarus.

Brian's namehas been mostly associated so far with You raise me up, the legendary piece written by Secret Garden (winners of the 1995 Eurovision Song Contest), that has already been covered over 470 times in different languages. He reached 4th place with it in the UK charts, not with the original Secret Garden release though, but with the re-release dedicated to the passing away of George Best, the popular Irish football player.

Brian, who turned 40 last October 11th, says he is a real workaholic : "Last year was insanity. I seemed to be absolutely everywhere, and that's not a good thing. I keep getting offered things and I'm old school; I really like to work all the time. But I'm glad I turned a few things down, just to give me time to plan what I do next." he says.

Apart from touring Australia until the end of August, following that with an extensive tour schedule in the UK and Ireland till the end of the year, Brian is also busy writing his final third sequel of the Fergal Flynn trilogy. This is a sort of autobiographical story – according to Brian- about a gay young man in search of his identity. After returning from Down Under, he will be also finishing his 10th album which is to be released soon.

You can find Brian Kennedy's entire tour schedule for the months to follow, in Australia, the UK and Ireland here.