Traditional Irish Singers
Encyclopedia
Some of the traditional Irish singers alphabetically listed below are known to have sung in both the Irish and English language and if so are listed in both sections below as well known singers of macaronic Irish songs.
Mainly English language songs
- Margaret BarryMargaret BarryMargaret Barry was a traditional Irish singer and banjo player.Born in Cork into a family of Travellers and street singers, she taught herself how to play the zither banjo and the fiddle at a young age. At the age of sixteen, after a family disagreement, Margaret left home and started performing...
- Born in CorkCounty CorkCounty Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Barry was a street singer before coming to prominence in London.- Paddy BerryPaddy BerryPaddy Berry is a traditional Irish singer from Wexford, Ireland. Born and raised in Scar, Duncormick, Paddy Berry now lives in Drinagh, on the outskirts of Wexford Town. Paddy is a well known performer of local Wexford ballads, as well as a songwriter and song and folklore collector...
- Paddy Berry
- Well known CCÉComhaltas Ceoltóirí ÉireannComhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann is the primary Irish organisation dedicated to the promotion of the music, song, dance and the language of Ireland. The name of the organisation is often abbreviated to Comhaltas or CCÉ...
singer who has been with the organisation for 50 years.- Eddie Butcher
- Phil Callery
- Karan CaseyKaran CaseyKaran Casey is an Irish folk singer, and a former member of the Irish band Solas.-Early years:Casey was born in Ballyduff Lower, Kilmeaden, County Waterford, Ireland. Her family encouraged her to sing in the house, in a church choir and at school. At Waterford Regional Technical College she...
- From WaterfordWaterfordWaterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
, Karan is a famous young singer and ex-singer of Solas.- Luke CheeversLuke CheeversLuke Cheevers is a traditional Irish singer from Ringsend, Dublin, now living in the north side of the city. He is one of the best known singers in the country and is one of the stalwarts of An Goilin Singers Club in Dublin which was founded by Tim Dennehy and Donal De Barra in 1980...
- Luke Cheevers
- From Dublin, Cheevers is the founder of the famous An GóilínAn GóilínAn Góilín Traditional Singer's Club is a traditional singing club in Dublin, Ireland. Founded in 1979 by Dónal de Barra and his brother-in-law, Tim Dennehy, the club serves as a meeting place for those who want to sing and listen to traditional songs...
cultural space.- Robert Cinnamond
- From AntrimCounty AntrimCounty Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, Robert Cinnamond was one of Ireland's best known singers and song collectors, one of his best known pieces being Dobbin's Flowery Vale. The song is synonymous with the late Frankie KennedyFrankie KennedyFrankie Kennedy was a flute and tin whistle player born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He was also the co-founder of the band Altan, formed with his wife Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh...
.- Elizabeth ("Bess") Cronin
- Cara DillonCara DillonCara Dillon is an Irish folk singer. In 2001, she launched her career as a solo artist in the UK with the eponymous Cara Dillon album...
- From DungivenDungivenDungiven is a small town and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is on the main A6 Belfast to Derry road. It lies where the rivers Roe, Owenreagh and Owenbeg meet at the foot of the Benbradagh. Nearby is the Glenshane Pass, where the road rises to over...
, Cara is an internationally acclaimed and award winning singer and arranger of traditional songs.- Patricia Flynn
- Len GrahamLen Graham (singer)Len Graham is a singer from Northern Ireland. He is one of Ireland's best-known traditional singers who has gained an international reputation for his inimitable singing style and also for the breadth of his knowledge of Irish Folk music.-Career and awards:...
- Graham is married to Padraigín Ní Uallacháin with whom he has recorded numerous albums.
- Con GreaneyCon GreaneyCon Greaney was a traditional Irish singer from Athea, West Limerick. He was renowned for having a huge store of songs and for having an unadulterated traditional style...
- Geordie Hanna
- Frank HarteFrank HarteFrank Harte was a traditional Irish singer, song collector, architect and lecturer. He was born and raised in Dublin. His father Peter Harte who had moved from a farming background in Sligo owned 'The Tap' pub in Chapelizod...
- Joe HolmesJoe Holmes (Irish Singer)Joe Holmes was a fiddler, lilter and singer from Antrim, Ireland.His brother Harry had brought him home a present of his first fiddle on his return from the Great War. Joe's first job was carrying the red warning flag in front of the steam roller, which took him travelling all around the country...
- Joe Kavanagh
- Luke KellyLuke KellyLuke Kelly was an Irish singer and folk musician from Dublin, Ireland, notable as a founding member of the band The Dubliners.-Early life:...
- Con Greaney
- From Dublin, Kelly is best known for co-founding The DublinersThe DublinersThe Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962.-Formation and history:The Dubliners, initially known as "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group", formed in 1962 and made a name for themselves playing regularly in O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin...
.- Tim Lyons
- Sarah MakemSarah MakemSarah Makem a native of Keady, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, was a traditional Irish singer.She was the wife of fiddler Peter Makem, mother of musicians Tommy Makem and Jack Makem, and grandmother of musicians Shane Makem, Conor Makem and Rory Makem...
- A legendary source singer from ArmaghCounty Armagh-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
.- Kevin Mitchell
- Ann MorayAnn MorayAnn Moray was a singer and novelist. A native of Wales, Moray married Juan Lopez de Ceballos, a Venezuelan diplomat.While biographical information is difficult to find, according to liner notes on her recording, “The Love Songs of Robert Burns” , she studied music in Vienna. During World War II,...
- Con 'Fada' O'Drisceoil
- Sarah Ann O'Neill
- Jerry O'Reilly
- Niamh Parsons (www.niamhparsons.com)
- John ReillyJohn ReillyJohn Reilly may refer to:*John Reilly , Irish traveller and source singer*John Reilly , American lawyer, author and businessman*John Reilly , U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania...
- Bridget Tunney
- Paddy TunneyPaddy TunneyPaddy Tunney was an Irish traditional singer, poet, writer, raconteur, lilter and songwriter. He was affectionately known as the Man of Songs.-Early life:...
- Liam WeldonLiam WeldonLiam Weldon was a singer and songwriter in the Irish folk tradition.-Life:Born in Dublin, Ireland, Liam, like many people in inner city Dublin at that time, was moved out of the developing city to Ballyfermot, a suburb on the outskirts of the city.Liam had a lifelong interest in the songs of the...
- Róisín White
- White, who comes from Co Down, is a noted singer from Ireland who has passed on songs to ClannadClannadClannad are an Irish musical group, from Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal. Their music has been variously described as bordering on folk and folk rock, Irish, Celtic and New Age, often incorporating elements of an even broader spectrum of smooth jazz and Gregorian chant...
, Mairéad Ní MhaonaighMairéad Ní MhaonaighMairéad Ní Mhaonaigh is an Irish fiddler and the lead vocalist for the Irish traditional band Altan.-Biography:Ní Mhaonaigh grew up in Gweedore , County Donegal, on the northwest coast of Ireland....
and Altan.
Mainly Irish language songs
- Aoife Ní FhearraighAoife Ní FhearraighAoife is an Irish singer and composer, born in Gweedore , northwest County Donegal. She performs Traditional Irish and New Age music, in the style of other musicians native to the Donegal area like Clannad, Moya Brennan, Enya and Altan...
- Darach Ó Catháin
- Deirdre Scanlan
- Iarla Ó LionáirdIarla Ó LionáirdIarla Ó Lionáird is an Irish singer and producer well known for his involvement with the Afro Celt Sound System. He is one of the most prominent artists of the Irish Sean nós singing tradition, and has released three solo albums through Real World Records, the third being Invisible Fields,...
- Labhras O'Cadhla
- Lasairfhíona Ní ChonaolaLasairfhíona ní ChonaolaLasairfhíona , also known as Lasairfhíona Ní Chonaola, is an Irish singer/songwriter. She is deeply rooted in the sean-nós singing style of her home on Inis Oírr, one of the Aran Islands. She is a graduate of Celtic Studies from Trinity College Dublin....
- Liam Ó MaonlaíLiam Ó MaonlaíLiam Ó Maonlaí is an Irish musician best known as a member of the Hothouse Flowers. Ó Maonlaí formed the band in 1985 with his schoolmate Fiachna Ó Braonáin....
- Maighréad Ní DhomhnaillMaighread Ní DhomhnaillMaighread Ní Dhomhnaill is an Irish traditional singer from Kells, County Meath. Known for her work with the short-lived, but very highly regarded Skara Brae and her collaborations with sister Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, as well as other traditional musicians...
- Mairéad Ní MhaonaighMairéad Ní MhaonaighMairéad Ní Mhaonaigh is an Irish fiddler and the lead vocalist for the Irish traditional band Altan.-Biography:Ní Mhaonaigh grew up in Gweedore , County Donegal, on the northwest coast of Ireland....
- Máire Ní Bhraonáin
- Máire Pheitir Uí Dhroighneáin
- Muireann Nic AmhlaoibhMuireann Nic AmhlaoibhMuireann Nic Amhlaoibh is a musician and singer from County Kerry, Ireland. She is the lead singer from the traditional music group Danú. Her name is pronounced MWI-ren Nick OWL-eve.-Biography:...
- Nan Tom Teaimín de Búrca
- Niamh de Búrca
- Nioclás TóibínNioclas ToibinNioclás Tóibín was a Sean-nós singer from the Déise tradition of County Waterford in Ireland. Nioclas was winner of Corn Chomhlucht an Oideachais consecutively from 1961 to 1963. The corn is the principal national singing competition in Ireland....
- Nollaig Brolly
- Nóirín Ní RiainNóirín Ní RiainNóirín Ní Riain is an Irish singer, writer, teacher, theologian and an authority on Gregorian Chant . She is primarily known for spiritual songs, but also sings Celtic music, Sean-nós and Indian songs. Nóirín plays an Indian harmonium , Shruti box and Feadóg...
- Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin
- Peatsaí Ó Ceannabháin
- Róisín Elsafty
- Séamus Begley
- Seán 'ac Dhonncha
- Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh
- Seosamh Ó hÉanaí
- Tomás Mac Eoin
- Treasa Ní CheannabháinTreasa Ní CheannabháinTreasa Ní Cheannabháin is a notable Irish singer in the sean-nós tradition. She was born in Cill Chiaráin in Carna, Conamara, an Irish-speaking area, and three of her daughters are also well known as singers...
- Tríona Ní DhomhnaillTríona Ní DhomhnaillTríona Ní Dhomhnaill is an Irish traditional singer, pianist, and composer, considered one of the most influential female vocalists in the history of Irish music. She is famed for her work with traditional Irish groups such as Skara Brae, The Bothy Band, Relativity, Touchstone, and Nightnoise.-...
See also
- Traditional Irish singingTraditional Irish singingTraditional Irish singing is the singing of traditional songs in the native styles such as sean nós. Though some people consider sean nós to particularly refer to singing in the Irish language, the term 'traditional singing' is more universally understood to encompass singing in any language, as...
- An Góilín - Traditional Singer's ClubAn GóilínAn Góilín Traditional Singer's Club is a traditional singing club in Dublin, Ireland. Founded in 1979 by Dónal de Barra and his brother-in-law, Tim Dennehy, the club serves as a meeting place for those who want to sing and listen to traditional songs...
- Lilting - "mouth music"LiltingLilting is a form of traditional singing common in the Gaelic speaking areas of Ireland and Scotland. It goes under many names, and is sometimes referred to as "mouth music", diddling, jigging, chin music or cheek music), puirt a beul in Scottish Gaelic, Canterach, or portaireacht bhéil in Irish...
- Sean-nós songSean-nós songSean-nós is a highly ornamented style of unaccompanied traditional Irish singing. It is a sean-nós activity, which also includes sean-nós dancing...
- Sean Nós and Sean-nós ActivitiesSean Nós and Sean-nós ActivitiesSean Nós and Sean-nós Activities refers to the Irish traditional activities in the "Old Style," such as Sean-nós song and Sean-nós dance. When the words Sean Nós are used in isolation, the general connotation is to anything Irish in an "old style"—as opposed to the "new way." However, when...
- Comhaltas Ceoltóirí ÉireannComhaltas Ceoltóirí ÉireannComhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann is the primary Irish organisation dedicated to the promotion of the music, song, dance and the language of Ireland. The name of the organisation is often abbreviated to Comhaltas or CCÉ...