Irish tenor Paul Byrom (28) is making sweet music with Phil Coulter's daughter Dominique (22).

The Diary can exclusively reveal the renowned singelton is hitting the right notes with the blonde beauty. And in addition to scoring big on the love front, the Dublin crooner is over the moon after going straight into the No. 1 slot in the Amazon charts with his Celtic Thunder CD - which is Coulter's brainchild.

Speaking from his publicity tour in New york, Paul confirmed that he has been dating the pretty student for the past couple of weeks but said it's "still early days".

The cautious crooner was keen to avoid stepping on anyone's toes though - he even called up her famous father before asking her out on a date.

"We first met last January while on a cruise on the Riveriera and the two of us were getting on great so a few weeks later, I rang Phil and asked him if it was OK if I asked her out on a date to the Have a Heart Ball," he explained.

"He said as long as I wasn't ringing him up to ask for her hand in marriage, he had no problem with it!"

And the former Fair City star admitted it feels great to finally relinquish his single status. He reckons that considering he's turning 29 next month, it's high time he settled down.

"I haven't gone out with someone for a long time. I wasn't even looking for a relationship before I met Dominique but I have to say, things are going great.

"It also helps a lot that she comes from a musical background as she understands if I have to go away for a few months. She's not one of those high-maintenance girls which is a huge bonus for me," he said.

He's now riding the wave of success after the Celtic Thunder act took the US by storm.

Devised by Coulter and Sharon Browne, the show was launched during the St. Patrick's Day parade in New York.

Paul said they kicked off the festival with an appearance on NBC's The Today Show, followed by a round of appearances.

This included singing for the Mayor of New York and a visit to the Irish Consulate to press the flesh with dignitaries like former Irish president Mary Robinson.

Paul will also be busy on his solo career. He's playing a starring role in the West end musical Sleeping Beauty, in the Gaiety in May, as well as performing at the National Concert Hall on 24th April.