Bono
Bono was born Paul David Hewson in Dublin. He's easily one of the most famous Irish singers.
If you don't know who he is, he's best known as the leader, singer and lyricist of the legendary Irish band U2.
He formed the band with his schoolmates in 1976 and, over the years, found success with classic albums like The Joshua Tree (1987) and Achtung Baby (1991).
Hit songs include “With or Without You”, “Where the Streets Have No Name”, and “I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For”.
Bono is also known for his activism, regularly campaigning for humanitarian causes and global poverty reduction.
U2 is one of the best-selling music artists in history, with over 150 million albums sold worldwide.
Brian McFadden
Brian McFadden is one of the most famous Irish pop singers. He became famous as a member of the boy band Westlife alongside Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, and Nicky Byrne.
Hits with Westlife included "Sweat It Again", "If I Let You Go", and "Flying Without Wings", and the band released four multi-platinum albums and 12 number-one singles in the UK.
In 2004, McFadden left Westlife and debuted his solo album Irish Son, which featured tracks like "Real to Me" and "Almost Here".
Christy Moore
Christy Moore is one of the most influential Irish male singers. He's from Newbridge, County Kildare, and is famous for his soulful voice and powerful storytelling.
His career took off in the late 1960s in the Irish folk scene. He co-founded two of Ireland's most iconic folk groups, Planxty and Moving Hearts, which were credited with revolutionising traditional Irish music with blends of contemporary folk and rock.
As a solo artist, he produced albums like Prosperous (1972), Ride On (1984), and Ordinary Man (1985). His songs like “Ride On”, “The Voyage”, and “Lisdoonvarna” are Irish folk music staples.
Damien Dempsey
Damien Dempsey is one of the most celebrated Irish musicians. The singer-songwriter from Donaghmede, Dublin, emerged in the Irish music scene in the late 1990s with a blend of traditional folk, rock, and reggae.
His 2000 debut album, They Don't Teach This Shit in School, helped set the stage, but his 2003 follow-up, Seize the Day, really established him.
Famous tracks include "It's All Good," "Apple of My Eye," and "Colony". His distinctive vocal style and honest and powerful storytelling have helped him gain a loyal fan base at home and abroad.
Damien Rice
Damien Rice is one of Ireland's most acclaimed singers, famous for his emotional ballads and raw acoustic sound.
He gained prominence with his debut album O, released in 2002, which featured tracks like "The Blower's Daughter," "Cannonball," and "Volcano", with the wonderful Irish singer Lisa Hannigan helping him with a lot of the vocals.
After his debut album went multi-platinum, he followed up with the album 9 in 2006, which included tracks like “9 Crimes” and “Elephant”.
His third album, My Favourite Faded Fantasy, was released in 2014. Given how infrequently he produces studio albums, we're surely due another one by now.
Glen Hansard
Glen Hansard is famous for being the frontman of the Irish rock band The Frames and part of the folk duo The Swell Season. His musical style is a blend of indie rock and folk.
The Frames were formed in 1990, and their albums For the Birds (2001) and Burn the Maps (2004) helped establish them in the Irish indie music scene.
In 2008, he won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Falling Slowly”.
Since then, he has released solo albums, including Rhythm and Repose (2012) and Didn't He Ramble (2015).
Hozier
Hozier, born Andrew John Hozier-Byrne, is a singer-songwriter from Bray, County Wicklow.
He rose to prominence with his debut single, "Take Me to Church", which combined soulful melodies with social critique.
His self-titled 2014 album Hozier blended indie rock, soul, and blues and included tracks like “From Eden”, “Cherry Wine”, and “Someone New”.
He's known for deep, reflective songwriting that touches on themes of love, faith, and social justice. His distinct musical style combines gospel and folk, often drawing comparisons to Van Morrison and Jeff Buckley.
Johnny Logan
Johnny Logan, born Seán Patrick Michael Sherrard, is an Irish pop singer known as "Mr. Eurovision".
He was born in Australia and raised in Ireland. He is the only artist to have won the Eurovision Song Contest three times, twice as a performer and once as a songwriter.
He first won Eurovision in 1980 with "What's Another Year" and again seven years later with "Hold Me Now". He composed the song "Why Me?" which was performed by Linda Martin, bringing Ireland three Eurovision titles.
Outside of Eurovision, he's released numerous albums and singles, but his unmatched achievements in the competition and the nickname to go with them will always be talked about.
Luke Kelly
Luke Kelly is one of Ireland's most famous folk singers. He was born in Dublin in 1940 and is most famous for being the voice of The Dubliners, one of Ireland's most iconic folk bands.
His powerful, gravelly voice and emotive storytelling were used to great effect in many traditional Irish songs and helped bring new life to the genre.
Performances of “Raglan Road”, “The Auld Triangle”, and “The Wild Rover” are all considered some of the best versions.
Luke Kelly died in 1984, but his recordings are a staple of Irish folk music, and there's even a statue of him in Dublin honouring his impact on Irish culture and music history.
Mundy
Mundy, born Edmund Enright in Birr, County Offaly, is a famous Irish singer-songwriter who blends folk, rock, and indie.
Mundy became an essential figure in the Irish music scene with his 1996 debut album, Jelly Legs, which included the hit single "To You I Bestow". The song became famous when it was featured in the cult-classic film Romeo + Juliet.
His 2002 album 24 Star Hotel includes tracks like “July” and “Mexico”, which remain popular at festivals and live events.
His live version of “Galway Girl” became a massive hit in Ireland and a fixture at weddings, parties, and festivals.
Niall Horan
Niall Horan is originally from Mullingar, County Westmeath. He is most famous for being a member of the hugely popular boy band One Direction.
Popular songs by the group include "What Makes You Beautiful," "Story of My Life," and "Drag Me Down."
Following One Direction's hiatus in 2016, Horan launched a solo career with the album Flicker (2017), which featured tracks like "Slow Hands" and "This Town". He followed up the album with Heartbreak Weather in 2020.
Paddy Casey
Paddy Casey is a singer-songwriter from Dublin. A product of the city's vibrant music scene in the 1990s, Casey's debut album Amen (So Be It) in 1999 featured standout tracks like "Sweet Suburban Sky" and "Whatever Gets You True."
His second album, Living, was released in 2003 and went multi-platinum in Ireland. Its hit singles included "Saints and Sinners" and "The Lucky One."
Recognised for his contributions to Irish music, Casey is famous for his honest and reflective songwriting and continues to inspire the next generation of Irish singer-songwriters.
Phil Lynott
Phil Lynott is famous for being the charismatic frontman of the iconic Irish rock band Thin Lizzy.
Though born in West Bromwich, England, Lynott was raised in Dublin and became a key figure in Irish rock music. His stage presence and voice helped Thin Lizzy rise to fame in the 1970s and 1980s.
The band's 1976 album, Jailbreak, introduced listeners to Lynott's voice on hits like "The Boys Are Back in Town."
He also had solo projects like the 1980 album Solo in Soho and The Philip Lynott Album in 1982.
Lynott died in 1986, but his influence is still felt, particularly by rock musicians worldwide.
Ronan Keating
Ronan Keating is an Irish pop singer from Dublin who is famous for being a member of Boyzone, a hugely successful boy band from the 1990s. The band's hits included "No Matter What", "Love Me For a Reason", and "Picture of You".
In 1999, Keating launched a solo career with the album Ronan. This included the huge hit "When You Say Nothing At All" featured on the Notting Hill soundtrack.
He followed up with the albums Destination in 2002 and Turn It On in 2003, selling over 20 million records as a solo artist on top of the 25 million he sold with Boyzone.
Shane Filan
Shane Filan is a pop singer and songwriter from Sligo. He's most famous for being in the boy band Westlife, which had hits like “Sweat It Again”, “Flying Without Wings”, and “You Raise Me Up”.
Filan's solo career started with his 2013 album, You and Me, which featured singles like "Everything to Me" and "Knee Deep in My Heart".
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