Shine originally started off a barman, he set up a pub in Baylough in Athlone, across from St.Comans Park, 'Shine's Bar', He let his wife run the pub, recently Shine has sold the pub but the name remains 'Shines Bar'. He lives now in Moore, on the main road to Shannonbride in an ordinary old two story farm house, with a large farm attached to it.
Shine has released more than fifty albums and has had over forty-five hit singles.He began by playing in his father's country band while still at school, played in Kieran Kelly’s Ceili Band along with schoolfriend Johnny Dawson (who still performs with Shine in the Brendan Shine Super Band), originally making his name as an accordionist before taking up singing and becoming one of Ireland's best-known entertainers. In 1971, he topped the Irish charts with "O'Brien Has No Place to Go", which stayed in the charts for five months.
In the 1970s he recorded a few number one hits in Ireland. These included "Where The Three Counties Meet" in 1973, "Abbyshrule" (1974), "All My Roads Lead Back To You" (1976), "How Much Time" (1977) and "Do You Want Your Oul Lobby Washed Down" staying at number one for over six weeks. The song stayed in the Top 50 for over 40 weeks and Shine performed the song to Pope John Paul II when the Pope visited Ireland.
He has also presented several television series in Ireland, including Nice and Easy and Shine On as well as appearing on The Late Late Show.
In 2004, Shine was banned from driving in the UK for a year after pleading guilty to drink-driving.
In late 2010, Shine toured across the UK playing a variety of venues such as the Theatre Royal, Lincoln on the 17 November. He now tours the UK every year, and is bringing out his DVD (Lily of the West) and single ("Where Did You Meet Her") in 2012. The album Where Did You Meet Her was released on 16 April 2012