Irish Folk Singer Dolores Keane Dies at 72

Irish folk singer Dolores Keane, a defining voice in the nation's traditional music tradition, has died at the age of 72. The Galway native passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home in Caherlistrane, County Galway, in the early hours of Monday.

Keane's death was confirmed by RTÉ, with funeral arrangements expected to be announced soon. She leaves behind two children, Joseph and Tara, as well as siblings Seán, Matt, and Theresa.

Born into a musical family in Caherlistrane, Keane was raised by her aunts, Rita and Sarah Keane, renowned local seannós singers. Music filled her early years; by age five, she made her first recording for Radio Éireann in 1958. In a 2023 interview on the Tommy Tiernan Show, she recalled, "There was always music in the house, always. I was never taught where the buttons were or where the strings were. It was just a way of life." She also shared how family circumstances, including her sister's death from tuberculosis, led her to live with her aunts from a young age, shaping her deep connection to Irish folk traditions.

Keane co-founded the influential band De Dannan in 1975, helping spark a revival in Irish folk and traditional music. The group...