Tributes have been paid to Irish folk singer, Dolores Keane, who passed away aged 72.
The singer, who was a member of the renowned Keane family, died peacefully in her sleep at her home in Caherlistrane, Co Galway overnight. Dolores burst onto the Irish music scene with her aunts, Sarah and Rita.
In her career, Dolores Keane performed with De Dannan in the mid 1970s. She also recorded several albums with her then husband, John Faulkner, as well as embarking on a solo career.
One of her best known recordings was her rendition of Dougie MacLean's Caledonia.
Following the announcement of Dolores Keane's death, a number of Irish politicians have paid tribute to her.
In a statement, President Catherine Connolly said: "It is with profound sadness that I learned of the death of Dolores Keane".
She continued: "She was one of the great voices of this island, and of the world".
"Shaped from childhood by the tradition of her aunts Rita and Sarah, she carried that forward with fierce, joyful intelligence, and she made it new. With De Dannan, in her solo work, on A Woman's Heart, and in recordings that have become part of the fabric of Irish life, she showed what it means to bring the full weight of yourself to a song".
"Nanci Griffith once said she had a sacred voice. She was right. But what made it sacred was her honesty. She gave everything, without pretence", she added.
"My deepest condolences go to her son Joseph, her daughter Tara, her brother Seán, her sister Theresa, and to the wider Keane family. To all who loved her and were moved by her, and we are many, I say simply: a voice like hers does not leave us, it moves into the air and lives forever.
"Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis".
Elsewhere, Tánaiste Simon Harris hailed Ms Keane as "one of Ireland's greatest singer-songwriters".
"Dolores possessed a voice that could reach deep into your soul," he said in a statement. "A voice that could carry a sense of joy, but also sorrow in each and every note ...
"My deepest condolences to her family, friends and huge circle of fans".
Minister for Culture Patrick O'Donovan said he was "deeply saddened by the passing of Dolores Keane, one of Ireland's most soulful and iconic voices".
"A true pioneer of the folk tradition, her unique gift brought the beauty of Irish song to the global stage. Her music and her spirit will live on in the hearts of all who were moved by her incredible talent. May she rest in peace".
Meanwhile, The Wolfe Tones also paid homage to Dolores Keane.
"Our sincere condolences to the family, friends and many fans of Dolores Keane, one of the most iconic voices in Irish music, Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam", they wrote.
Our sincere condolences to the family, friends and many fans of Dolores Keane, one of the most iconic voices in Irish music, Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam ,,. https://t.co/00k5WQC6Eo
— The Wolfe Tones 🇮🇪 (@wolfetones) March 16, 2026
