Paul Rocks BBC News Online

Irish artists like Westlife seem to be topping the charts at every attempt.

And in the longer term, U2 seem to have earned the title of the world's best band.

But the island as a whole has a population of just over five million. So is there an X factor involved?

The man whose vision brought together the likes of Boyzone and Westlife believes Ireland's showband history has been a major influence throught the years.

Louis Walsh's first job in the business was in a showband promoter's office in Dublin. This was no easy way to cut one's teeth in the music business.

LOUIS WALSH'S ACTS

Westlife Ronan Keating Samantha Mumba Lulu Bellefire Six

"In those days you had to be really good to survive because you had to go out every night, sing live, play all the hits and work around Ireland," said Walsh.

"That's where Rory Gallagher and Van Morrison came from because they played in showbands as well. We had Thin Lizzy at the same time."

A vision of Ronan Keating travelling from Belfast to Cork in the back of a Transit van is hard to imagine but Louis Walsh believes the same hard working principles apply - and of course, the talent and charm.

"You have to like them. There's no point in taking on someone that's an amazing singer if he's not a nice person or if he's not going to work hard.

"And I think the voices are there. For some reason, we have got great great singers in Ireland," he said.

"There are very few diva like acts in Ireland. They're all very lucky they got their break and they worked hard and charmed their way to the top. That's the best thing about the Irish acts."

Ambassadors

He said the good reputation of the Irish acts has been reflected in some of the work that is done outside of the music business.

"You just never hear of the Irish acts misbehaving. Ronan Keating is a great ambassador and so are The Corrs.

"Look at Bono, he's saving the world at the moment, it's brilliant."

Bono has been involved if the Africa debt relief campaign

The pop impresario has been involved in the recent ITV series Popstars.

Two people from Northern Ireland made it into the final bands while Sinead Quinn from County Fermanagh signed a substantial record deal after coming second in the BBC's Fame Academy.

But Louis Walsh believes the TV shows have their pitfalls.

"It's good because it shows just how tough it is and bad because these people become overnight successes just because they're on a TV show.

"Sometimes they get it too easy and they don't appreciate it. That can be a big problem with these shows, a bit like Hearsay."

So what about a New Year's resolution?

"I do want to break the Irish Popstars winners, Six, in the UK and I'm waiting for a window of opportunity. It's probably going to be early next year but I'm hoping to do that.

"But other than that, I'm very content at the moment."