For a small island, Ireland certainly packs a punch when it comes to music. This is particularly true when you look at some of the women who, armed with nothing more than their voices, have made their way to the top. In this article, we've put together a list of the most famous female singers who have come from Ireland.
We hope to celebrate their work and give them the flowers they deserve, while putting you on to a few names you mightn't be familiar with along the way. Throughout your reading, you'll realise just how diverse the country's singers are and will definitely be adding a few singles to your current rotation wherever you stream your music!
Enya
There are countless ways to define the success of an artist. Given that nowadays, most of us get our music from streaming platforms, it's hard to look past Enya's over 5 million monthly Spotify listeners. To put that into perspective, that's the same number of people as the Republic of Ireland listening to her music each month on Spotify alone! This alone makes her a more than deserving mention on our list of the most famous female Irish singers. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg for Enya.
She's the kind of artist who is recognisable from the moment you turn on a single one of their tracks. She has this ethereal sound that's unlike anyone else and has trademarked a blend of Celtic, new age, and ambient music.
If you haven't checked her out already, you might want to check out her breakthrough album "Watermark", featuring the hit single "Orinoco Flow,". You'll see firsthand the composition that catapulted her into the world-renowned artist she is today. There's no stamp of reason, quite like having over 80 million albums sold and four Grammy Awards to go with it, so you know it will be worth it!
Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad O'Connor is another artist who extended beyond the incredible and distinctive sound that she conjured. She was an Icon in every sense of the word, and will always be treasured and appreciated for using her platform for good. She wasted no time bursting onto the music scene in the late 1980s with her powerful voice and uncompromising attitude.
Doing a cover of another singer's song is always a bold move as an artist, especially when they're as monumental as Prince. Well, Sinéad took the bull by the horns by releasing a cover of his "Nothing Compares 2 U" in what would be one of the biggest successes of her career.
Unfortunately, Sinéad O'Connor wasn't as celebrated as she should have been until her passing due to the backlash she received in the media for being such a vocal activist for human rights and various social issues. She had the most amazing voice and will be remembered just as much for the impact that she had off the stage as she did on the stage.
Dolores O'Riordan
Another mark of a truly famous singer would be how recognisable their music is, something that Dolores O'Riordan takes the biscuit in. If you throw on any one of Dolores' songs, you'd easily be able to distinguish that it was her voice behind the mic. What's even more impressive is that this is likely the case all across the world, as her music has travelled more than any of the biggest global artists. You could be in any city in the world, and you'll likely come across a busker jamming to her band's classic "Zombie" and "Linger".
Her sound was loved not just here in Ireland, but far beyond, with her band, the Cranberries, becoming one of the biggest-selling rock bands of the '90s. Unfortunately, Dolores passed in 2018, but her voice lives on, as does her place in history as one of the best female singers ever.
Andrea Corr
Andrea Corr was the leading vocalist of The Corrs, and is another name that our list simply can't go without. She had a unique and defining sound with her delicate yet expressive voice. There's something very wholesome about the singer that made loving her such an easy task, not just among the Irish but around the world.
She formed the Celtic folk-rock band alongside her siblings, who blended traditional Irish music with pop and rock elements around her magical voice. If you want to give her a listen, then we suggest starting off with the Corrs' biggest hits like "Breathless" and "Runaway" as they really show off the band's innovative approach to music.
You could definitely see that she was designed for success, as she really took to anything that she applied to herself. She was no stranger to the stage, having taken on various solo projects and acting roles too. Many of these talented women have performed alongside Ireland's most famous singers throughout their careers.
CMAT
There's something really special going on in Ireland at the moment when it comes to its music scene. It would seem that for the first time in a long time, the country is truly bursting at the seams when it comes to homegrown talent.
CMAT, whose real name is Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, is next on our list. It's definitely refreshing to see that some of the biggest names and most famous singers in the country still have plenty more to offer in their careers.
Even if you haven't had a chance to dive into CMAT, you might remember her debut single "Another Day (kfc)" went viral, doing a great job of making everyday situations into a witty pop anthem. You can see all sorts of influences wrapped up into the artist's unique sound, from country to '90s pop. CMAT's unique style and bold personality make her a rising star in the Irish music scene.
Biig Piig
Another incredible singer that we've yet to mention is Biig Piig. Jessica Smyth is the name behind the alias, and her electric sound has her flying the flag for female Irish singers at a young age, pushing the boundaries of contemporary music.
She's an incredible singer who separates herself with the unique blend of hip-hop, R&B, and jazz she combines in the music. No matter what album you start with, you'll likely hear her explore themes of love, loss, and personal growth with those enchanting vocals. If you want to catch her live, you'll have to book yourself a flight to London as the Cork native currently resides there, where she continues to develop her sound as an artist.
As a member of the creative collective NiNE8, she represents the collaborative and innovative spirit of Ireland's new music scene and is definitely one that you'll want to add to your current playlist. Some of these artists have also made as famous Irish country singers, showcasing their versatility.
Denise Chaila
While she wasn't born on the island of Ireland, Denise Chaila was raised in Limerick, where she currently resides and has done her fair share in the ongoing revival we're witnessing in Irish music. Chaila's music explores themes of identity, race, and gender in contemporary Ireland and combines her vocals with rap.
If you're looking to listen to some truly impactful music that offers a deep dive into the artist's experience growing up in Ireland, then we'd like to point you in the direction of 'Go Bravely'. The album offers an insightful commentary on the black Irish female experience, and will leave you with plenty to ponder once you're done listening.
Denise’s debut mixtape, Go Bravely, won Irish Album of the Year, highlighting her impact on the Irish music scene.
Denise Chaila has really exploded over the past five years, and despite still being in the early stages of her career, she's already considered one of the best female talents out there. Several of these female vocalists have been key members of Ireland's top bands throughout history.
Imelda May
Imelda May is one singer who can be heard in the kitchens across the country. She's also no stranger to the Late Late Show, which always helps capture that domestic exposure. While she might have been labelled for her rockabilly revivalist beginnings, she continues to evolve artistically and has her fingers in a number of different genres.
Almost as if she's stepped out from a time machine, her music offers a subtle reminder of a time before, often through rock, blues, jazz, and traditional Irish music, showcasing her versatility as an artist. So, how do you get your toes wet if you're interested in listening? Well, you could start with her albums like "Love Tattoo" and "Life Love Flesh Blood" as these both do a great job of demonstrating her growth as a songwriter and will also show off those vocals we've been talking about.
Lisa Hannigan
Being a singer is a transformative process, and the growth is going to look different from one artist to the next. Lisa Hannigan is the next incredible talent that we've decided to feature, and her journey to become such a successful singer came after her collaborations with Damien Rice. A star that shines as bright as she does is impossible to contain, and her ethereal voice, coupled with the poetic lyrics she became known for, not only got people listening to her but also resulted in her capturing a devoted fan base.
Similar to how she got the light shone on her in the first place, she continues to collaborate with plenty of artists, working on albums or even movie soundtracks, showing her versatility as a singer. These artists have played a crucial role in performing Ireland's most beloved songs over the years.
Mary Black
In the interest of rounding off our list on a strong note, we're concluding our article with one of the greatest singers whose career has been anything but an overnight success. Mary black is one of the most famous Irish singers out there, and it's thanks to decades of work and her incredible vocals.
She's not your typical singer, and you wouldn't turn on the car radio and head to any pop stations playing her music. Her voice and Irish folk are perfect complements to each other, and she's released some of the most incredible traditional songs that will leave you feeling proud to be Irish. We're more than honoured to put you onto her if you've never come across her voice before. Let her be our gift to you.
Learning About Ireland's Best Female Singers
All this talk of the great female talent that exists here in Ireland clearly makes us feel excited, and we hope it evokes a similar feeling within you. Not only has Ireland produced some of the most prominent women singers in the world in the past, but their influence has seemingly left quite an impression on the next generation.
You'll see from some of the younger names that feature on our list that they've been paving their own way and crafting their own unique sounds with those beautiful voices.
It's quite exciting to think that the golden days of Irish music could very well still lie ahead of us, with the incredible female singers who have captured such fame in the early stages of their careers.
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