Ireland’s Biggest Hitmakers in the UK Charts

Rockapedia | 26th Oct, 2025 theBeat.ie

Over the decades, Ireland has given the world unforgettable voices and timeless hits, from U2’s stadium rock and Sinéad O’Connor’s haunting vocals to Boyzone’s boyband magic and Enya’s otherworldly soundscapes.

But when the dust settles on the UK charts, who stands tallest?

With just one UK No.1 to her name, Sinéad O’Connor still holds an incredible record, she’s the biggest-selling artist to have only one UK No.1 hit.

Her 1990 classic Nothing Compares 2 U wasn’t just a hit, it was a phenomenon, selling over 3.5 million copies. That kind of emotional power doesn’t come around often.

Coming in just behind her are Dublin lads The Script, whose Hall of Fame sold around 1.78 million chart sales in the UK. Other Irish artists who’ve had a single UK No.1 include Enya (Orinoco Flow / Sail Away), The Corrs (Breathless), and Chris de Burgh with his timeless slow dance anthem The Lady in Red.

While Bob Geldof is best known for organizing Band Aid and Live Aid, he and his band The Boomtown Rats also made serious chart history.

Their first UK No.1, Rat Trap (1978), was followed by I Don’t Like Mondays in 1979, a track that’s still instantly recognizable.

They came close again with Banana Republic in 1980, which peaked at No.3, but never quite hit that top spot again. Still, two No.1s and a global humanitarian legacy? Not bad for a Dubliner.

B*Witched, the denim-loving Dublin girl group, burst onto the scene and immediately took over the charts. Their first four singles C’est la Vie, Rollercoaster, To You I Belong, and Blame It on the Weatherman, all went straight to No.1 in the UK.

They even popped up on the ABBA tribute single Thank You for the Music which reached No.4. Four consecutive No.1s out of the gate?

Managed by Louis Walsh, Boyzone became one of Ireland’s biggest boybands, and they had the hits to prove it.

Formed in 1993, the lads scored six UK No.1 singles, including Words, A Different Beat, All That I Need, No Matter What, When the Going Gets Tough and You Needed Me.

Their early singles like Love Me for a Reason and Father and Son didn’t quite make it to No.1, but they set the stage for massive success. By the time the band split in 2000, they’d cemented their place in Irish pop history.

What’s left to say about U2 that hasn’t already been said? With seven UK No.1s, they’re one of the biggest bands the world has ever seen, not just Ireland.

Their first UK No.1 came with Desire in 1988, after several iconic near-misses like New Year’s Day and Pride (In the Name of Love).

They hit the top again with The Fly (1991), Discothèque (1997), and Beautiful Day (2000). A few unexpected chart-toppers came through remixes and collaborations, like LMC’s Take Me to the Clouds Above, which sampled With or Without You, and Whitney Houston's 1986 hit How Will I Know.

Their final No.1s, Vertigo and Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own, rounded off an incredible chart run. Even their near misses, City of Blinding Lights, One (with Mary J. Blige), The Saints Are Coming, still hit No.2.

Taking the crown as Ireland’s most successful act in UK chart history is Westlife.

With 14 UK No.1 singles, they’re second only to The Beatles in total UK chart-toppers by a band. That’s right, they’ve outperformed The Rolling Stones, Queen, and Oasis.

Formed in 1998 under Louis Walsh’s guidance, Westlife perfected the pop-ballad formula. Their debut single Swear It Again hit No.1 in 1999, and the hits just kept coming, If I Let You Go, Flying Without Wings, I Have a Dream and Fool Again.

The 2000s were pure domination: My Love, Uptown Girl, Against All Odds (with Mariah Carey), Queen of My Heart, World of Our Own, Unbreakable, Mandy, You Raise Me Up and their last No.1 The Rose.

Fourteen No.1s later, they’re still one of Ireland’s proudest musical exports, and proof that heartfelt pop never goes out of style.

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From Sinéad’s haunting ballads to Westlife’s pop perfection, Irish artists have left an undeniable mark on the UK charts. Whether it’s emotional storytelling, powerful vocals, or pure pop charm, Ireland’s musical magic just keeps on giving.