Who knew? Irish mega star Colin Farrell was turned down by Boyzone.

With all the news about the heartbeaking death of Stephen Gately this week, this little offbeat morsel emerged.

Turns out that the then Hollywood hopeful Farrell responded to the 1993 ad offering auditions for the Irish version of Take That.

Colin probably thought he could be the Robbie Williams of Boyzone but Louis Walsh wasn't impressed.

More than 300 of Ireland's finest young men applied for Boyzone and Colin just didn't make the cut.

"Colin looked the part," said Walsh, "but he couldn't sing."

Given the way Boyzone took off, it's just as well they didn't pick him. Boyzone were mocked for many things in those early days but boy could those Boyz sing.
 
Older readers, like me, can still remember their first, hilarious performance on the "Late Late Show" in 1993.
 
Legendary TV host Gay Byrne famously said: "They can't dance, they can't sign, they should go far."
 
"These lads have decided to cash in on a particular market," he said.

"There's no talent whatsoever. Nothing. They don't sing, they don't write music and they don't play instruments."

Ah well. Just shows what Gaybo knew about showbiz!