SLIGO BOY band I.O.U. are nothing if not well connected. Not only are they managed by Boyzone supremo Louis Walsh, but one of their number - Nicky - is "stepping out" with the Taoiseach's daughter, Georgina Aherne!

Kian, Nicky, Mark, Shane and Michael first got together during a school production of Grease, as Kian Egan explains. "After the show one night two of the lads started singing some songs, so the next night we did a couple of numbers during the interval which went down very well."

They then put out a CD on a local indie label and got a slot on the RTE programme Nationwide, where they first came to the attention of Louis Walsh. "We met him in the PoD and he was very helpful to us, giving us all kinds of advice. Things went on from there, and he now manages us which is absolutely brilliant."

Their first big break came last March when they got a phone call asking them would they be interested in supporting Backstreet Boys at the RDS. "It was like a dream come true," Kian says excitedly. "One minute we're all sitting in a room in Sligo, and the next night we're performing to over 9,000 people. We're really just five culchies coming into a pop scene in Dublin."

In recent weeks I.O.U. have been in negotiation with all of the major labels and a deal is expected to be inked shortly. "We've

already been offered deals by Polygram, Polydor, BMG and Parlophone, and we're meeting Virgin and MCA tomorrow," Kian explains. "Louis's great, he doesn't say 'you've got to be like Boyzone, you've got to do what they've done.' He allows us to

be ourselves."

Kian insists that I.O.U. will be a new style of boy band. "We write our own songs and we can all play instruments. We've written about 20 songs and we've already recorded two tracks with Steve Mac (Boyzone producer). Louis is talking about doing a cover version for our first single just to be on the safe side. It would give us confidence, singing a song that has already been a hit, but in the long run I think the fact that we write our own songs will be a big help."

How are their friends in Sligo reacting to their impending stardom?

"We get a lot of slagging, but Sligo basically has Indian and Dervish and not much else. Hopefully we'll be able to put it on the map in a much bigger way."

What if things don't work out for I.O.U.?

"I intend to do a degree in performing arts if it doesn't happen. I've done a bit of acting - I'm in the new Coca-Cola commercial. The next step is getting the record deal and then we're supporting Boyzone on their UK tour which should give us a boost. We love Boyzone. We love absolutely everything about them; we listen to their records all the time. And I'm not just saying it because we have the same manager."

And with their political connections, no doubt they'll be asked to pen the next Fianna Fáil campaign song?

Kian: "No comment!" n