Niall breslin

lufties · 10-01-2015 3:05pm #1

What's your opinion, a worthy role model or hyped up annoying, smug pratt?

Cue the 'who's he' replies..

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 10-01-2015 3:06pm

He's a ride.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 10-01-2015 3:07pm

Who's he?

Genuinely. I was going to look him up but as you left the door open...

Lisha · 10-01-2015 3:07pm

Ahh he's harmless . I dunno why he engenders such spite tbh.

Tugboats · 10-01-2015 3:07pm

Is he banging? Must be frustrating that all the One Direction fans are underage

shruikan2553 · 10-01-2015 3:08pm

I actually have no idea who he is. Googling has turned up some bressie guy I have heard mentioned by one or 2 people.

Why would he be a role model?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 10-01-2015 3:08pm

OK. Looked him up. No opinion, I'm afraid.

Exits.

The Backwards Man · 10-01-2015 3:11pm

Aniya Colossal Beefsteak wrote: »

OK. Looked him up. No opinion, I'm afraid.

Exits.

Done the same, never heard of him, seems to be a Daniel O'Donnell type character, no opinion here either.

FunLover18 · 10-01-2015 3:13pm

The Blizzards were ridiculously underrated imo.

Aidric · 10-01-2015 3:14pm

Lisha wrote: »

Ahh he's harmless . I dunno why he engenders such spite tbh.

Likewise. He should be commended for his honesty on the struggles he has experienced with depression.

Roanmore · 10-01-2015 3:17pm

Seems a nice guy I think why people (mostly male) can't stand him is because on every episode of The Voice RTE keep telling us how good looking he is, how much the girls love him, he's a ride, etc even dedicating sections of the show towards it and asking the female contestants on the show how good looking is he?

Lisha · 10-01-2015 3:19pm

Aidric wrote: »

Likewise. He should be commended for his honesty on the struggles he has experienced with depression.

Yes we are always quick to say that mental health issues are nothing to be ashamed of and should be talked freely about. Then Niall Breslin does and gets pilloried for it. .
Bressie has been successful in 2 different fields and uses his popularity to speak to a large and often young demographic about mental health issues.
If you don't like him , turn off the tv or radio station . I see No need to mock him.

lufties · 10-01-2015 3:20pm

Aidric wrote: »

Likewise. He should be commended for his honesty on the struggles he has experienced with depression.

True, but I wonder is it to keep him in the limelight? I struggle with depression and have donefor years but I don't tell all and sundry, not because I'm not brave..but because I don't feel my problems are any more important than other peoples'.

connundrum · 10-01-2015 3:21pm

<Wiki>

Niall Breslin (born 22 October 1980), known as Bressie, is an Irish musician and former Westmeath Gaelic footballer and Leinster Rugby player. Breslin found success as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter with pop band The Blizzards, as a co-writer and producer with XIX Entertainment and as a solo artist. He was the winning coach on the first and third seasons of The Voice of Ireland.

Recently noted for his speech on depression:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z82uTGTMwY8

Highflyer13 · 10-01-2015 3:22pm

Really dragging out his depression. Theres an article every week talking about it.

Tugboats · 10-01-2015 3:22pm

connundrum wrote: »

<Wiki>

Niall Breslin (born 22 October 1980), known as Bressie, is an Irish musician and former Westmeath Gaelic footballer and Leinster Rugby player. Breslin found success as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter with pop band The Blizzards, as a co-writer and producer with XIX Entertainment and as a solo artist. He was the winning coach on the first and third seasons of The Voice of Ireland.

Recently noted for his speech on depression:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z82uTGTMwY8

using the topic of depression to sell a few cds:o

D-FENS · 10-01-2015 3:25pm

Don't know any of his music, doubt I'd want to. Don't want to hear his opinions on music, either on that TV show or in general, but I rarely watch RTE so that's not a problem either.

What I do admire and appreciate about him is his involvement in mental health awareness.

For that alone, I say fair f*cks to him and wish him all the success in the world.

MagicMarker · 10-01-2015 3:28pm

Roanmore wrote: »

Seems a nice guy I think why people (mostly male) can't stand him is because on every episode of The Voice RTE keep telling us how good looking he is, how much the girls love him, he's a ride, etc even dedicating sections of the show towards it and asking the female contestants on the show how good looking is he?

I don't think you understand males very well.

Aidric · 10-01-2015 3:28pm

lufties wrote: »

True, but I wonder is it to keep him in the limelight? I struggle with depression and have donefor years but I don't tell all and sundry, not because I'm not brave..but because I don't feel my problems are any more important than other peoples'.

Ah that's harsh and in no way is that his motive imo. The main problem with depression is that not enough people speak out. Using his public profile to do so can only be a good thing.

D-FENS · 10-01-2015 3:29pm

Highflyer13 wrote: »

Really dragging out his depression. Theres an article every week talking about it.

That's a good thing.

Tugboats wrote: »

using the topic of depression to sell a few cds:o

Harsh. And untrue. He'd be making money regardless of his involvement in that topic.

Mr_Muffin · 10-01-2015 3:30pm

I have never seen him before. There are loads of 'famous' people these days it's hard to remember them all.

Roanmore · 10-01-2015 3:31pm

MagicMarker wrote: »

I don't think you understand males very well.

It is annoying though the way they keep it up, this is the fourth season and they're still at it.

D-FENS · 10-01-2015 3:33pm

Mr_Muffin wrote: »

I have never seen him before. There are loads of 'famous' people these days it's hard to remember them all.

Agreed, far too many. I didn't know his name was Niall before this thread, if that helps!

lufties · 10-01-2015 3:35pm

Roanmore wrote: »

It is annoying though the way they keep it up, this is the fourth season and they're still at it.

Lets face it, the blizzards were very average, he was/is a good rugby player but so is leo cullen.

He's basically famous for his looks and rte know how to use this to boost the ratings of a **** tv show.

AlanS181824 · 10-01-2015 3:35pm

Who is he?

Heard of his name but haven't a clue who he is.

SpaceTime · 10-01-2015 3:38pm

MagicMarker wrote: »

I don't think you understand males very well.

Oddly enough, I don't think that's how guys see other good looking guys at all. The 'I hate her - she's good looking!' bitchy complex is definitely more of a narrow % of women type thing.

There's a lot of marketing-related psychological research that shows guys will be more likely to identify with and buy products from a good looking bloke than an ugly one. So, 'rideyness' can actually be a positive thing in how you're perceived, even by other heterosexual men. They just won't necessarily admit that as they pretend that all lads look like grey concrete to them in case you might think they're gay.

The good looking sports legend tends to get idolised by other males, not hated.

mfceiling · 10-01-2015 3:40pm

FunLover18 wrote: »

The Blizzards were ridiculously underrated imo.

No they weren't...they were sh*te

KungPao · 10-01-2015 3:42pm

lufties wrote: »

What's your opinion, a worthy role model or hyped up annoying, smug pratt?

Cue the 'who's he' replies..

Are you him?

*your a ride lol, spit on meeee k bye

KungPao · 10-01-2015 3:43pm

mfceiling wrote: »

No they weren't...they were sh*te

As bad as Kerbdog?

SpaceTime · 10-01-2015 3:45pm

Aren't 99% of popular bands totally overrated?

Highflyer13 · 10-01-2015 3:50pm

99% of popular bands nowadays are over-rated. I don't think there's anyone out there at the moment whose music will be listened to in 50 years time.

pauliebdub · 10-01-2015 3:52pm

lufties wrote: »

What's your opinion, a worthy role model or hyped up annoying, smug pratt?

Cue the 'who's he' replies..

He speaks out about mental illness which is a scourge in this country, often amongst young people, which is good thing to do.

Seems like a genuine enough fella on TV. Don't know anything about his music. Wouldn't be my cup of tea looks wise.

thelad95 · 10-01-2015 3:52pm

I certainly wouldn't describe him as a 'smug prat'. He's overcome a lot of personal difficulties (and is still battling them) to get where he is today and is an excellent role model for young people to follow in my opinion. He's incredibly down to earth and unlike many musicians never got involved in drugs or alcohol in a negative way.

The 'banter' you see on the Voice (if anyone actually watches it) is heavily edited and often semi-scripted to create 'entertainment'.

In any one on one interviews I've seen of him, he's an incredibly decent chap.

RDM_83 again · 10-01-2015 3:56pm

KungPao wrote: »

As bad as Kerbdog?

Leave Kerbdog out of this :mad:

Actually the fact that people will still know who Kerbdog are says it all, give it another 5 years and nobody will know who The Blizzards were because they were bland cookie cutter pretty boy Landfill Indie

pauliebdub · 10-01-2015 4:00pm

lufties wrote: »

True, but I wonder is it to keep him in the limelight? I struggle with depression and have donefor years but I don't tell all and sundry, not because I'm not brave..but because I don't feel my problems are any more important than other peoples'.

It might be because he is in the limelight, appearing in a TV show popular with young people that he wishes to create awareness about a very important issue that can affect anyone, one that often has tragic consequences that can be avoided and how to deal with a manageable problem.

Some of the cynicism here is astonishing.

ceegee · 10-01-2015 4:05pm

KungPao wrote: »

As bad as Kerbdog?

Kerbdog released two of the best Irish rock albums of the 90s. Dont be putting them in the same category as the feckin Blizzards

10-01-2015 4:07pm

Its a shame he didn't pursue his rugby career. He was a good player in his day.

AboutaWeekAgo · 10-01-2015 4:09pm

I know he's a musician but I couldn't name one of his albums or songs if you paid me.

Highflyer13 · 10-01-2015 4:09pm

I thought Postcards by The Bizzards was a decent tune actually.

daRobot · 10-01-2015 4:10pm

I think what he's doing is great, and comes across as a decent and sincere chap.

Mental health is still such a taboo topic here, and for someone young and successful to admit to having had problems so publicly takes a lot of courage.

r93kaey5p2izun · 10-01-2015 4:11pm

I don't really have any interest in him either way. Not into his music and hate shows like The Voice. I find the frequent slagging and criticism of him as strange as the major hype around him. He's easily avoided. Most of the negative comments appear to be motivated by jealousy.

Meangadh · 10-01-2015 4:25pm

I have no idea why people get so animated about him. He doesn't impact on tv and online so much that he's always there- the very fact so many here don't even know who he is proves that. So why people call him every name under the sun baffles me.

I guarantee if he wasn't good looking (although I wouldn't fancy him myself personally, but I can see he's a good looking fella), in great physical shape and wasn't going out with a model, these people wouldn't care less.

We're not always going to like those in the media, but people sometimes rally go way OTT with the hatred.

As for his talks on depression, even if it helps one person, I think it's worth it. If he gets some good press out of it, who cares. Anything that gets people talking can only be a good thing.

lufties · 10-01-2015 4:26pm

Lillianna Vast Quagmire wrote: »

I don't really have any interest in him either way. Not into his music and hate shows like The Voice. I find the frequent slagging and criticism of him as strange as the major hype around him. He's easily avoided. Most of the negative comments appear to be motivated by jealousy.

He could be the new dickie rock...spit on me bressie

SpaceTime · 10-01-2015 4:29pm

He seems grand to me anyway.

This is a very strange thread tbh!

Timmyctc · 10-01-2015 4:31pm

Its absolutely brilliant how people lament the scourge of mental illness in the country, then let typical oul Irish spite get in the way of praising a popular public figure from discussing it. Any time he is mentioned the "OH I'm depressed and I don't go round telling everyone that therefore he is probably making it up" and "Sure he's well off he's just saying that to stay relevant" comments come out and tbh I've seen less retarded comments under porn videos.

Daisy03 · 10-01-2015 4:32pm

Who would start a threat ridiculing someone they have (presumably) never met and who admits they have suffered from depression? People saying he is doing it to sell cd's are sick. It is Irish begrudgery at its finest.

He has done fairly well for himself over the years and at least he is doing something to take the stigma away frim mental health issues unlike some of the keyboard warriors in this thread questioning if in fact he did suffer from depression.

SpaceTime · 10-01-2015 4:33pm

To be honest, I think the guy did the place a favour by talking about mental health issues.
Ireland (and actually most of the English-speaking world) has a terrible history of pretending that such problems don't exist and talking about them in euphemisms like "his nerves" and so on.

These things need to be talked about and he's got a profile and talked about them
Not everything's just about being self-promoting! It was actually a fairly big risk as he could have found the reaction to it might not have been as positive as it was.

lufties · 10-01-2015 4:43pm

SpaceTime wrote: »

To be honest, I think the guy did the place a favour by talking about mental health issues.
Ireland (and actually most of the English-speaking world) has a terrible history of pretending that such problems don't exist and talking about them in euphemisms like "his nerves" and so on.

These things need to be talked about and he's got a profile and talked about them
Not everything's just about being self-promoting! It was actually a fairly big risk as he could have found the reaction to it might not have been as positive as it was.

I've had no problem getting help for my depression and anxiety here in the uk, getting free therapy and medication that isn't expensive. There is still stigma around depression but if I am experiencing a problem I seek help. Things would change if ireland if there was less celebrities massaging there inflated egos, and more access to therapy thats not going to leave you broke.

Timmyctc · 10-01-2015 4:48pm

lufties wrote: »

I've had no problem getting help for my depression and anxiety here in the uk, getting free therapy and medication that isn't expensive. There is still stigma around depression but if I am experiencing a problem I seek help. Things would change if ireland if there was less celebrities massaging there inflated egos, and more access to therapy thats not going to leave you broke.

Youre saying that like its the celebrities' fault for there being a misallocation of funds in this particular health sector. Its really not. The more people that the masses associate with that can break down the stigmas attached to mental illness the better. People might actually take a bit more notice when someone famous comes out with issues like this.

r93kaey5p2izun · 10-01-2015 4:55pm

lufties wrote: »

I've had no problem getting help for my depression and anxiety here in the uk, getting free therapy and medication that isn't expensive. There is still stigma around depression but if I am experiencing a problem I seek help. Things would change if ireland if there was less celebrities massaging there inflated egos, and more access to therapy thats not going to leave you broke.

Improving access to therapy and improving the public profile of mental health issues are not mutually exclusive. How would less celebrities have any effect on treatment options? That's a bizarre statement tbh and just reads as an attempt to justify another petty dig at Bressie. Fine if you don't think his (or other public figures) speaking out about mental health is helpful to you, but it's clear lots of others feel differently. I don't personally find his story or opinions helpful to my own mental health issues but I realise that others do.

lufties · 10-01-2015 4:57pm

Timmyctc wrote: »

Youre saying that like its the celebrities' fault for there being a misallocation of funds in this particular health sector. Its really not. The more people that the masses associate with that can break down the stigmas attached to mental illness the better. People might actually take a bit more notice when someone famous comes out with issues like this.

No, I'm saying bressie loves the sound of his own voice like most celebrities. I know its cynicism on my part and fair dues for his 'coming out', I just think he's milking it to boost his profile, which seems to be solely based around his looks and appeal to women.

Also I don't get this speaking out thing, and don't need a two bit 'celebrity' to influence my actions.

Niall breslin

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