Editing Colm Wilkinson (section)

== Early life ==
Born in [[Drimnagh]], in 1944, in the downstairs room of his parents' house, Wilkinson was one of ten children. He recalls a home that resonated with singing, poetry, and musical instruments. Both of his parents were skilled musicians. His mother, a native of [[Crossmolina]] in [[County Mayo]], was a singer, and was involved in amateur dramatics, while the banjo and mandolin formed part of his father's extensive repertoire. Wilkinson worked with his father, who was an asphalt contractor, and was playing in bands part-time. At 16 years of age, he went to the US on a tour, and soon after quit the family business to become a full-time professional musician.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wicklow Resident being Born to Sing|url=http://www.braypeople.ie/news/colm-wilkinson-2664573.html|work=Bray People|access-date=28 December 2012|archive-date=17 February 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217180919/http://www.braypeople.ie/news/colm-wilkinson-2664573.html|url-status=live}}</ref>