Born January 16 1981 at Our Lady Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland to Conal, and Mary O'Shaughnessy Devin would become one of twelve siblings. Five brothers and six sisters.He had a normal childhood, living on Fair Street, across from the Drogheda Borough Counsel building which he would sometimes play in with his friends. Devin attended school like any other little boy and had bullies just like any other little boy, but in his case to get back at the bullies he would just tell his mom, because the bully would more than likely be an older sister or brother. He enjoyed sci fi movies, baseball cards and comic books but most of all he enjoyed music and working with his father.
Conal O'Shaughnessy had a small pub in town, and Devin would help stock, clean, and serve. He thought of the mixing of drinks like some mad scientist, always amazed at the many different concoctions. That's where Devin learned the trade of being a bartender and a drink mixer. Though his heart was not in the pub, it was in music. While watching the telly Devin saw a Guns and Roses music video. It was the year nineteen eighty seven and Dev had just turned six. His parents were always helpful in expanding their children's knowledge, so they bought Dev a acoustic guitar, and away he went. At the age of twelve Devin joined a band; The Irish Howlers. However at the age of thirteen, Devin accidentally burned down the family home after discarding a lit marijuana joint so he wouldn't be caught smoking it by his mother. The joint was given to him by the lead of the Howlers. At the age of thirteen Dev decided to leave the Howlers under some duress, and pressure.
At the age of sixteen, Devin met his future wife Jennifer Chambel when he and his current band Shamrock Battle Star played for her and others at her sixteenth birthday party, that was held at Mizzoni's Pizza on West St. Dev and Jenn were inseparable, she knew how he felt without him saying, and helped him many times through some hard life choices. Both went to the university of Dublin, and there he joined the band Sunday Survivors. Jenn would tell him how much he made that rusty penny of the Survivors shine, and that he should start his own band.
In two thousand and one, at the age of twenty, Jennifer and Devin became married, and soon after that, Devin's music group, The Magpies were born. The Magpies consisted of Dev on lead vocals and guitar, John O'Hara; his best friend from childhood and the ex leader of the Irish Howlers on bass, Kathrine MacBride on percussion, Donal MacBride; brother to Kathrine. On piano/keyboard, and Sesa Boniville, on violin ,fiddle and tin whistle. The group played most of the UK, Paris, Spain, and even some of Germany. They were a known and enjoyed group. In a short time they jumped from unknowns to hey have you heard about these guys? In two thousand and two the Magpies produced their first Album under the fly by night label. September tenth two thousand and two, the Magpies Album Fly Away hit number one on the UK Music Billboard, along with the Covers single making it to number one. The Magpies held the top position for four weeks.
With success, tours followed. Australia, Japan, Rio, United States, the next two years that followed would be a whirlwind of music, fans, and press. But none of it compared to the a night in June Two thousand and four when Jennifer told Dev they were going to be parents. Jenn and Dev had talked a lot about having a kid, with Dev having a big family and all, and they even had names already picked out if it was a boy or if it was a girl. Bliss turned to amazement when the couple discovered they were not just going to be raising one, but two babies, twins, two boys. William and Brian.
On the night of December 3 on the way back from a party, tragedy struck. A driver swerving to avoid a deer, swerved directly into the path of the car that Carried Dev, his wife Jenn, his best friend and band mate John, as well as his other friend and band mate Kathrine. Everyone but Dev died when the two vehicles collided and burst into flames.
After the funerals of his wife, friends, and children, Devin Fergus O'Shaughnessy vanished.
Five years went by without a word. It wasn't until his older brother Allen was on a book tour in Amsterdam that he found Devin in a small bar there. Devin was almost unrecognizable, thin, and almost sickly looking, Dev had spent the last five years in a small hotel room locked away, or buried in a bottle. This was not his brother Allen was looking at, but a creation of a tragedy. He watched Dev but did not approach till Allen had contacted the family. On the fifth year of his wife's death, Devin's Family came for him, surrounded him in love, and help, and brought their sibling home.
In need of a job, and a place to continue healing, Dev started working for his father again at the family pub. He no longer tried to lose himself in the bottle, but was always fond of saying in a nightly ceremonial toast. “ So I say raise a glass, salute what has past, or what may come, but just enjoy the whiskey for the moment. “
Dev picked up his music again but never had the want to start up a band, and would only play now and then at the family pub.
In two thousand fifteen the Magpies song Fly Away was used in a small ceremony to salute fallen heroes, and victims after a terrorist attack. The song became an anthem to those taken from families by terrorism. Fly Away became a hit single once again..
The press descended on a small pub in Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland seeking out the elusive lead singer with the tragic life. Once again, but this time with his parents and siblings knowledge, and with the promise to write and call. Devin Fergus O'Shaughnessy Vanished...
