List of traditional Irish singers
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of notable traditional singers from Ireland. Some of the 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.
Singers (by language)
Mainly English-language songs
Men
- Paddy Berry, a CCÉ singer
- Eddie Butcher of Magilligan, County Londonderry, singer, song collector and songwriter
- Robert Cinnamond of County Antrim, singer and song collector
- Len Graham, married to Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin, with whom he has recorded numerous albums
- Con Greaney, from County Limerick
- Frank Harte, seminal collector and singer in the English language tradition
- Joe Holmes
- Luke Kelly, from Dublin, best known for co-founding The Dubliners
- Ronnie Drew, another founding member of The Dubliners
- John Reilly
- Paddy Tunney
- Liam Weldon
- Tom Lenihan, Irish sean-nós singer
- Tommy Makem, The Bard of Armagh; sung multiple of his traditional Irish songs with the Clancy Brothers
Women
- Margaret Barry, Irish Traveller from County Cork, came to prominence in London after starting as a street singer
- Karan Casey from Waterford, formerly a singer with Solas
- Elizabeth "Bess" Cronin
- Cara Dillon from Dungiven, singer and arranger of traditional songs
- Rita Connolly from County Dublin, known for her work with Irish composer, Shaun Davey
- Rosie Stewart from County Fermanagh
- Sarah Makem, source singer from County Armagh
- Sarah Anne O'Neill from County Tyrone, sister of Geordie Hanna
- Caitríona O'Leary
- Niamh Parsons from Dublin, formerly singer with Arcady
- Róisín White from County Down, singer from Ireland who has passed-on songs to Clannad, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, and Altan
- Rita Gallagher from County Donegal, singer with three All-Ireland senior titles and a TG4 Gradam Ceoil as Singer of the Year in 2017
Mainly Irish-language songs
Men
| Name | Dialect |
|---|---|
| Tomás Mac Eoin | Connacht Irish (An Cheathrú Rua, Galway Gaeltacht) |
| Darach Ó Catháin | Connacht Irish (Lettermore, Galway Gaeltacht) |
| Seán 'ac Dhonncha | Connacht Irish (Carna, Galway Gaeltacht) |
| Seosamh Ó hÉanaí (Joe Heaney)[1] | Connacht Irish (Carna, Galway Gaeltacht) |
| Iarla Ó Lionáird | Munster Irish (Muskerry, Cork Gaeltacht) |
| Liam Ó Maonlaí | Raised in Dublin |
| Nioclás Tóibín | Munster Irish (Ring, Waterford Gaeltacht) |
| Diarmuid Ó Suilleabháin | Munster Irish |
Women
| Name | Dialect |
|---|---|
| Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh | Munster Irish (Kerry Gaeltacht) |
| Máire Ní Bhraonáin | Ulster Irish (Gweedore, Donegal Gaeltacht) |
| Niamh de Búrca[2] | Raised in Dublin |
| Treasa Ní Cheannabháin[3] | Connacht Irish (Carna, Galway Gaeltacht) |
| Lasairfhíona Ní Chonaola | Connacht Irish (Inis Oírr, Galway Gaeltacht) |
| Maighréad Ní Dhomhnaill | Connacht/Ulster Irish (raised in the Meath Gaeltacht, where Connacht Irish is spoken, but her father was an Irish-speaker from Donegal) |
| Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill | Connacht/Ulster Irish (raised in the Meath Gaeltacht, where Connacht Irish is spoken, but her father was an Irish-speaker from Donegal) |
| Róisín Elsafty[3] | Connacht Irish (Galway Gaeltacht) |
| Aoife Ní Fhearraigh | Ulster Irish (Gweedore, Donegal Gaeltacht) |
| Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh | Ulster Irish (Gweedore, Donegal Gaeltacht) |
| Caitlín Maude (also a poet) | Connacht Irish (Casla, Galway Gaeltacht) |
| Nóirín Ní Riain | Raised in Limerick |
| Nan Tom Teaimín de Búrca[4] | |
| Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin[5] | Raised in Louth |
| Nell Ní Chróinín | Munster Irish |
See also
- Lilting, a traditional singing mode; sometimes called "mouth music"
- Traditional Irish singing
- Celtic music