Damien Leith with a voice like an angel

from W
We watched Australian Idol final - now they carry on a bit with it - but it was a pleasure to watch two great young people sing - a lass from Darwon with a cheerful smile - Dad from Indonesia, Grandma Aboriginal, and then Damien Leith the guy from Ireland who will become an Australian citizen early next year. He can sing songs that range from Nessun Dorma to Cohen's Alleluia and has a very sweet falsetto.

Damien Leith wins Idol By Erin Mcwhirter
November 27, 2006 01:36am
Article from: AAP

DAMIEN Leith may not be an Australian citizen, but the nation has adopted the Irishman as its own, crowning him this year's Australian Idol.

In one of the closest competitions in the history of the Network Ten program, the chemist and father of one beat Northern Territory schoolgirl Jessica Mauboy in tonight's finale held at the Sydney Opera House.

Scooping victory in the fourth series, an overwhelmed Leith said winning was going to take "a long time to sink in".

"Definitely the night of my life; it has been absolutely incredible," said the emotional 30-year-old at a press conference following his victory. "I am humbled to have had this to have happened to me."

Leith hails from Newtown in Sydney and is originally from Ireland's County Kildare, south-west of Dublin.

"I have found the last 10 to 15 minutes hard to take in ... very emotional."

Leith's spine-tingling version of Nessun Dorma, from the opera Turandot, was tonight met with a standing ovation from the 3000 guests inside the Sydney Opera House hall, including his parents, brother Darren and wife Eileen.

"Tonight, win or lose, that was definitely the moment for me," he said.