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Fans of Irish traditional music are mourning the loss of one of its most distinctive voices after folk legend Dolores Keane died at the age of 72. The acclaimed singer - a founding member of trailblazing group De Dannan before launching a celebrated solo career - passed away peacefully at her home in Co Galway. Keane was widely regarded as one of the defining voices of modern Irish folk, with recordings that helped bring traditional music to global audiences. Among her best-known songs were her haunting 1988 version of Dougie MacLean's Caledonia, featured on the landmark compilation album A Woman's Heart, along with Lion in a Cage and My Love Is in America.

Tributes quickly began pouring in from fellow musicians and fans alike. One fan wrote: "This is the saddest news. We've lost an absolute legend in Dolores Keane. Such talent and integrity, a lady whose feet were always firmly on the ground. You lived through many heartbreaking times, may you now live in eternal happiness, Dolores Caledonia."

Speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime, renowned fiddle player Frankie Gavin described her passing as an enormous loss to Irish music and to those who knew her personally.

He said: "Her voice was so distinctive. "She was a big-hearted and super generous lady. It's just heartbreaking."

Keane's powerful, emotional delivery and deep connection to traditional song made her a revered figure both in Ireland and internationally. Over decades, she influenced countless performers and helped shape the modern folk revival.

Keane first rose to prominence as a founding member of Dé Dannan, one of Ireland's most celebrated traditional groups, before going on to forge a hugely successful solo career in her own right.

Her haunting vocals became a defining sound of Irish folk, winning fans around the world.

She also featured on the landmark compilation A Woman's Heart, a showcase of leading female Irish musicians that went on to sell more than a million copies - becoming one of the biggest-selling albums in Irish history.

Tragedy had already struck the family in recent years. Dolores' sister, Christina Mangan, died unexpectedly at her home in Caherlistrane, Co Galway, in 2023.

Her life away from the stage was marked by both joy and profound challenges. She married fellow musician John Faulkner in 1977, a collaborator on many of her recordings, and the couple welcomed a son, Joseph, following a difficult pregnancy.

Joseph was born with Bardet-Biedl syndrome, a rare condition that can cause obesity and progressive vision loss. The marriage later broke down, ending in 1988.

Dolores went on to have a long-term relationship with Barry "Bazza" Farmer, with whom she had a daughter, Tara, in 1994.

However, the late 1990s saw the singer step back from recording and touring as she battled depression and alcoholism, undergoing extensive treatment during that period.

She also faced serious health struggles later in life, but was given the all-clear after developing cancer, offering a measure of relief to fans.

In recognition of her immense contribution to Irish music, Dolores was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Music by the University of Galway in November 2024.