Did your favourite singer make it onto the list? Read on and discover who we believe are the 10 best Irish singers of all time, ranked.
Ireland is steeped in musical talent; we have a lot of incredible singers on our fair green isle. So many that it is challenging to select only ten for a list. That said, we have tried our best to compile the perfect list of the best Irish singers.
Some have been around for a while and some are fairly new to the scene, but what they all share in common is an incredible grasp of music. Discover who we believe to be the best Irish singers of all time, ranked.
10. Hozier – a modern-day icon in the world of Irish music
This Wicklow-born singer rose to stardom in 2013 with his iconic hit ‘Take Me To Church’, which went viral after the actor Stephen Fry shared it.
Since then, Hozier has gone from strength to strength and has been nominated for and won an overwhelming amount of awards. We can’t wait to see what the 32-year-old songwriter will achieve in the future.
9. Róisín Murphy – the voice of the 90s
Róisín Murphy achieved significant success with the duo Moloko, with many of their songs becoming instant 90s anthems. The Arklow singer has achieved remarkable success in her solo career recently, and we consider her the queen of electropop.
8. Shane McGowan – one of the most recognisable Irish voices
Shane McGowan is easily one of the best Irish singers of all time. Although he grew up in the UK, McGowan’s parents were Irish immigrants from Dublin and Tipperary. McGowan now lives in Dublin with his wife, Irish journalist Victoria Mary Clarke.
He has many memorable tunes from his career with The Pogues. Still, anyone who doesn’t know The Pogues will instantly recognise his voice at Christmas when ‘Fairytale of New York’ plays on the radio.
7. Colm Wilkinson – one of the most distinguished voices in musical theatre history
Any fan of musical theatre will instantly recognise Colm Wilkinson’s voice. He was the first person to take on the role of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables in the West End and on Broadway, a role that has stayed close to his fans’ hearts throughout his career.
It may come as a surprise to some that Wilkinson is Irish, hailing from Drimnagh in Dublin.
6. Andrea Corr – a voice of a generation
Another iconic voice of the 1990s is, of course, Andrea Corr. As the lead singer of the Celtic pop-rock group, The Corrs, this Dundalk-born singer is one of the best Irish singers of all time.
The Corrs, comprised of Andrea and her three siblings, have achieved international success and awards over the years.
5. Luke Kelly – one of the best Irish singers of all time
Despite having passed away in 1984, Luke Kelly remains one of the most celebrated Irish singers of all time. Originally from Sheriff Street in the North inner city of Dublin, Kelly was one of the founding members of The Dubliners and famous for his incredible rendition of the Irish rebel song, The Foggy Dew.
4. Dolores O’Riordan – one of the most recognisable voices of the 1990s
The 1990s was a big time for Irish female singers. Dolores O’Riordan fronted The Cranberries, a band that saw significant success from the 1990s to the Limerick singers’ untimely death in 2018.
Younger readers may recognise her voice from the theme tune of the acclaimed television show Derry Girls.
3. Daniel O’Donnell – we couldn’t leave wee Daniel off the list
Did you think we’d forget about Wee Daniel? Of course not; our grannies would never forgive us if we did.
Daniel is such a brilliant singer that he has had a different album in the Official Albums Chart for the last 33 years. Now that’s impressive stuff. Here’s to 33 more – up Donegal!
2. Sinéad O’Connor – the heart of Irish music
Sinéad O’Connor has one of the most distinguishable singing voices of all time. There’s no denying the talent coursing through this Glenageary woman’s veins.
At times a controversial figure, all Sinéad has to do is open her mouth and use her vocal skills to win us back every time. Her most iconic number is her chilling version of ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’, written by Prince.
1. Enya – the best voice Ireland has to offer
Nobody can deny the beauty of Enya’s voice. Born to an incredibly musical Donegal family, Enya started her music career playing keyboards in Clannad, a highly prominent Irish band composed of her siblings and uncles.
Enya eventually pursued a solo career and is today the best-selling solo artist in Irish music history. Enya has won numerous awards throughout her solo career, including four Grammy Awards for Best New Age Album.
