Bernie Nolan Loses Cancer Battle At 52

Singer and actress Bernie Nolan has passed away at the age of 52 after a three year battle with breast cancer.

Nolan, who was known as the lead singer of the Irish girl group The Nolans, died earlier today at her house with her family by her side. 

A spokesperson for the family said:

Bernie passed away peacefully this morning with all of her family around her. The entire family are devastated to have lost beloved Bernie, a wonderful wife, adoring mother and loving sister; she is irreplaceable. They kindly ask people to respect their privacy at this difficult time.

Bernie and her sisters Anne, Denise, Maureen and Linda formed the girl group in 1974 as The Nolan Sisters, however despite Denise's departure a year before, their big break finally came in 1979 when their single "I'm In the Mood for Dancing" became a Top 10 hit in their native Ireland, United Kingdom, New Zealand and the Netherlands. It eventually became a number one hit in Japan. 

After the success of the single, Anne left and their sister Coleen joined and the band renamed themselves as The Nolans. The group released successful singles and album in the UK and Ireland, however they were big in Japan, as their albums sold more successfully than their native Ireland. Anne soon returned to the group in 1982.

The band soon suffered departures: Linda departing in 1983, Coleen departing in 1993 and Bernie departing in 1994.

After an unsuccessful line-up comprising of Anne, Maureen, Anne's daughter Amy and unrelated singer Julia Duckworth, The Nolans split up in 2005, however the classic line-up reunited without Anne and Denise for a tour and a new album in 2009.

Bernie would later finish second in Popstar to Operastar in 2010, but soon after that, was diagnosed with breast cancer. After being in remission in October 2010, the cancer came back  in February 2012 and grew aggressively.

Her parents Tommy and Maureen predeceased her. She is survived by her sisters Anne, Maureen, Coleen, Denise and Linda, her brothers Tommy and Brian, her husband Steve Doneathy, her daughter, her nieces Amy (from Anne) and Ciara (from Coleen) and her nephews Shane and Jake (both from Coleen).