By Blathin de Paor

Copyright rsvplive

In the ever-shifting landscape of the music industry, few artists have shown staying power, but Derek Ryan not only saw great success once but twice in his musical career, and in the last 15 years he has redefined himself as one of the most respected singer-songwriters on the Irish country circuit.

Over the past 15 years alone since leaving his boyband days with D-side, Derek Ryan has toured relentlessly, performing at more than 200 shows a year, from rural parish halls to headline slots on The Late Late Show Country Special. Derek is also a regular in Nashville, the spiritual home of country music, where he writes, records and performs. “I have plenty of contacts out there,” he previously told us. “I’d love to spend three months of the year in Nashville, especially from a song writing point of view – but I also have to think about touring here in Ireland and keeping my band on the road.”

Despite his success, Derek has stayed grounded. Turning 40 prompted some soul-searching – and appreciation for how far he’s come. “It’s one of those ages where you start looking back a little bit,” he said last year. “You realise you’re lucky – you’re healthy, you’re working, and you’re doing what you love.”

And while social media and online commentary are an unavoidable part of fame, he’s developed a thick skin over the years. “I would have taken things more to heart when I started out. Now, I take constructive criticism from my peers, but I don’t let harsh comments get to me. If I don’t like a type of music, I won’t listen to it – but I certainly wouldn’t go online and slag someone off.”

Still, he admits the industry hasn’t always been welcoming to Irish country artists. “If national radio helped us out a bit, it would be fantastic,” he once said. “There are bands in cooler genres that don’t sell half as many albums as we do, but they’ll get radio play – and that is frustrating.” Yet he’s remained committed to his own sound – one that has evolved over the years – a blend of Irish country with a songwriting sensibility that resonates with a broad range of fans.

“People say I’ve got my own sound, and that’s the best compliment I can get,” he previously said.

That distinctive style has earned him respect from legends like Daniel O’Donnell and younger stars like The Tumbling Paddies, both of whom have recorded his songs. “It’s great to see your work reach other artists – that’s the beauty of writing songs that come from real experiences.”

Outside of music, Derek finds peace in the simple things – going out for dinner, watching shows, and the occasional handball match [his comeback to the court even got a mention on national TV]. “Two minutes on The Late Late and the amount of people who came up to me asking, ‘Did you win the handball?!’ It’s just brilliant.”

In recent years, life has brought more personal milestones, too. In 2024, he announced his engagement to longtime partner Stephanie, and shared a glimpse of his low-key 40th birthday celebration – a party in the back garden. “I didn’t really know what to do,” he admitted. “But it’s a milestone. It felt like a good time to look back and count my blessings.”

And with hit albums, sell-out tours, and the respect of his peers, it’s safe to say there are now many blessings for Derek. After a difficult start, the singer-songwriter has come a long way.

Looking back, Derek acknowledges that success in music is never guaranteed – but staying true to himself has made the journey worth it. “I naively got into the business for the music,” he once said. “And I quickly realised not everyone’s in it for the same reason. But for me, the music always comes first.”

So what drives him on after 15 years and his fair share of knocks? It’s simple: pure passion.

“I love what I do,” he told RSVP. “It’s addictive. The buzz of it never really goes away.”

This article appeared in full in the Autumn 2025 issue of RSVP Country.