The Conway Sisters
Encyclopedia
The Conway Sisters were a semi-professional singing group from County Sligo, Ireland
who achieved a measure of fame through their appearance in the final stages of the second UK series
of television talent show The X Factor
in 2005.
, Ireland
. The four sisters grew up with a love of music and performing, and in 2002 they formed The Conway Sisters. Throughout that year they wrote, produced, and recorded music, and played locally. In 2003, they released their first single, "What Do You Do?", which debuted in the Top 20 in Ireland, and launched a tour of Ireland. A second Top 20 single, "Now That It's Over", followed, and in 2005 their third single "Miss You", was released, which also entered the Top 20 in Ireland. Their self-financed debut album, Waiting for You, was released in May 2005.
in the hope that they would crack the UK market. Along with eleven other acts, they made it through to the final live stages of the competition in which viewers vote for their favourite acts.
In week 5 of The X Factor knockout stages, The Conways found themselves in the bottom-two sing-off for the first time, facing the judges' expulsion vote together with crowd favourite Maria Lawson
. Lawson was voted off on the casting vote of Louis Walsh
, prompting booing from the studio audience and fellow judge Sharon Osbourne
to claim that "he voted with his passport" (referring to the fact that both Walsh and the Conway Sisters are Irish). The decision provoked controversy in the UK media, especially when it was revealed that Walsh had known the Conways personally prior to the competition.
Following their nomination for expulsion and the generally negative comments of their mentor, Simon Cowell
, the Conways worked for the next episode of the show without Cowell's guidance, an action which the judge said earned the group more respect from him. Despite this, Cowell persisted with negative comments when he considered them appropriate. They were eliminated in week 7, their third consecutive week in the bottom two, after Cowell voted against them – the first and so far only time that an X Factor judge had voted off their own act despite not needing to as they only had one act in the bottom two. Upon their dismissal from the competition, the group claimed that Louis Walsh had been their true mentor.
Following the final of The X Factor, they performed with the other Top 7 finalists from the live shows on The X Factor Live tour at venues throughout the UK.
show The X Factor – One Year On, Laura Conway announced that the Conways had split up for good. On their official website they said: "We will be finishing up as the Conway Sisters for now, we've come to a place where we want to pursue individual career paths and now we feel ready to do that! For the record there have been no fall outs or fights, it's all been very amicable and as sisters we're closer now than ever!"
Their official website and forum have now closed, but their MySpace
profile can still be accessed.
channel.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
who achieved a measure of fame through their appearance in the final stages of the second UK series
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
of television talent show The X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
in 2005.
Beginnings
Laura, Marie, Sharon and Sinead Conway were born and raised in SligoSligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The four sisters grew up with a love of music and performing, and in 2002 they formed The Conway Sisters. Throughout that year they wrote, produced, and recorded music, and played locally. In 2003, they released their first single, "What Do You Do?", which debuted in the Top 20 in Ireland, and launched a tour of Ireland. A second Top 20 single, "Now That It's Over", followed, and in 2005 their third single "Miss You", was released, which also entered the Top 20 in Ireland. Their self-financed debut album, Waiting for You, was released in May 2005.
The X Factor
In May 2005 the sisters auditioned for the UK television programme The X FactorThe X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
in the hope that they would crack the UK market. Along with eleven other acts, they made it through to the final live stages of the competition in which viewers vote for their favourite acts.
In week 5 of The X Factor knockout stages, The Conways found themselves in the bottom-two sing-off for the first time, facing the judges' expulsion vote together with crowd favourite Maria Lawson
Maria Lawson (singer)
Maria Lawson is an English singer who finished in eighth place in the second UK series of television talent show The X Factor in 2005.-Early life:...
. Lawson was voted off on the casting vote of Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh is an Irish music manager and judge on the British television talent show The X Factor.-Band manager:...
, prompting booing from the studio audience and fellow judge Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Rachel Osbourne is an English television host, author, music manager, businesswoman and promoter as well as the wife of heavy metal singer-songwriter Ozzy Osbourne....
to claim that "he voted with his passport" (referring to the fact that both Walsh and the Conway Sisters are Irish). The decision provoked controversy in the UK media, especially when it was revealed that Walsh had known the Conways personally prior to the competition.
Following their nomination for expulsion and the generally negative comments of their mentor, Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
, the Conways worked for the next episode of the show without Cowell's guidance, an action which the judge said earned the group more respect from him. Despite this, Cowell persisted with negative comments when he considered them appropriate. They were eliminated in week 7, their third consecutive week in the bottom two, after Cowell voted against them – the first and so far only time that an X Factor judge had voted off their own act despite not needing to as they only had one act in the bottom two. Upon their dismissal from the competition, the group claimed that Louis Walsh had been their true mentor.
Following the final of The X Factor, they performed with the other Top 7 finalists from the live shows on The X Factor Live tour at venues throughout the UK.
Breakup
In August 2006 on the ITVITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
show The X Factor – One Year On, Laura Conway announced that the Conways had split up for good. On their official website they said: "We will be finishing up as the Conway Sisters for now, we've come to a place where we want to pursue individual career paths and now we feel ready to do that! For the record there have been no fall outs or fights, it's all been very amicable and as sisters we're closer now than ever!"
Their official website and forum have now closed, but their MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
profile can still be accessed.
Laura Conway
Following the split, Laura Conway announced that she intended to pursue a solo music career and had her own website and forum, but these have now closed. However, she does have an active MySpace profile and YouTubeYouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
channel.