A native of Derry, Northern Ireland, Harkin began singing around age four. In 2005, he moved to London to pursue music and acting. Before joining Celtic Thunder, Harkin played various music festivals in Britain and nabbed the lead role in the 2006 BBC television production Dha Theanga, for which he also contributed music. A surfer, Harkin is often compared to the similarly inclined American musician Jack Johnson. In 2012, he released his self-titled solo debut album, which featured a mix of original songs and cover tunes, including a duet with Colbie Caillat on Van Morrison's "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You." Harkin returned in 2016 with his sophomore album, On Mercy Street. Produced by Andy Wright and Gavin Goldberg, the album showcased an even more personal, California folk-rock-influenced set of songs all written by Harkin. ~ Matt Collar