As a former member of The Three Irish Tenors, he has won many awards, including the Rose Bowl Award in Feis Ceoil and the John McCormack Society Bursary. Paul's father passed away, and he is very close to his mother and his sister, Amanda. He recently released a new album, Velvet, recorded with a 54-piece orchestra, and he will perform at the National Concert Hall on Thursday 16 February.

Paul's vocal coach, the renowned Dr Veronica Dunne, is synonymous with many of the finest voices in the country. A world-famous soprano herself in the first half of her career, Veronica began teaching at the DIT College of Music, as head of vocal studies. She now teaches both at the Leinster School of Music, and the Royal Irish Academy of Music.

Veronica's husband Peter passed away 11 years ago, and she has two children, Peter and Judy. Her daughter lives in Boston, and she makes regular trips there to spend time with her two grandchildren, Kevin and Aidan.

Veronica on Paul Paul starting coming to me for lessons about five years ago, and I thought he was a very nice, well-mannered boy with a lovely voice. He had no musicianship in the beginning, so that was something we had to get right, but his voice showed great promise. We had to do lots of scales, which he didn't like. He had about three hours a week with me, and I only found out recently that he didn't always go home and do his practice, the minx!

It's stressful at the level he's at, and if we have cross words because he hasn't studied his music for the lesson, he'd always ring up afterwards and say sorry, which is lovely. He has always been a little dote, and is really respectful. Paul always works very hard. He was supporting himself initially by singing at weddings and funerals, and he is doing so well now and I'm delighted. I wanted him to sing opera at first, but his type of music is classical jazz . . . it's the right sort of music for his voice, and it really suits him and he loves it.

Paul is excellent on stage, which is very important, and he has great movement.

He's good-looking too, so he has everything going for him, and he connects with the audience, which is a great plus. I would always go to see Paul when he performs, and I was with him when he did his first recording. I'd be very critical . . . not on the night itself, but when he comes in for the next lesson, I'd go through it all with him.

Paul and I had very much a teacherpupil relationship at first, but we became great friends, and he's part of the family.

It's the same with all of my students really . . . I love them dearly and consider them to be like my own children. He'd come up to my house regularly and have a meal. And he'd ring me up with all of his news. He's a very warm-hearted, nice young man, and will always surprise me, even down to bringing me in a cup of tea when I'm working. He really has a wonderful voice now, and it's getting better all of the time. I can see a great future for him. and I'm really proud of him.

Paul on Veronica The first time I met Veronica Dunne was when I doing a recital at 13 years of age, and was studying with the great Dal McNulty. Ronnie came over afterwards and congratulated me, and, with a reputation for excellence like hers, you could assume she'd be frightening, but she was so colourful and friendly and absolutely lovely.

My voice broke, and when it came back, I studied with a couple of different teachers, but I wasn't happy with how it was going, and I was losing confidence. I auditioned for Veronica and I was really nervous, but she put me at ease. She told me that there was a lot of work to be done but I had what it took, and she was really encouraging.

Ronnie has really high standards and doesn't tolerate any nonsense, and the great thing about her is that we could have a huge row, but by the end of the lesson, we'd be on great terms again. She never holds a grudge, and you know she always has your best interests at heart. We can talk about everything and anything. I started going out with a girl from Finland a few years ago, and was considering moving there for a year, which, in retrospect, would have been disastrous for my career. It happened during the summer holidays, and I think my mother secretly called Ronnie about it. She said to me, "Darling, don't be so stupid. In your line of work, you'll be in love every week!

You need to stay here and work on your voice, and you'll become hugely successful, and you'll have everyone in love with you."

It was probably the best advice I ever got . . .the romance didn't last.

I'm always very nervous when Ronnie's in the audience. If I do anything that's a little bit out of my league, she'll make sure I know about it, but having said that she's always hugely proud and encouraging. It's great to have someone like Ronnie who has done it all herself and been so successful, because I can go to her for advice, and can always be guaranteed that she will have my best interests at heart . . . there is no other agenda.

Ronnie is very warm and generous and caring, and she is someone I have been able to talk to about anything in my life over the years. It has been welldocumented that there are certain things I've gone through that have been very difficult, such as the death of my father [through suicide], but Ronnie would always be very supportive around things in my life. I could call up to her house any time, and she will always sit down over tea and listen to me. She's a really great friend, and I hope she will be for many more years to come.