Top 10 Best-Selling Irish Artists of all time
For a small country, Ireland has produced some of the biggest names in music. From legendary rock bands and chart-topping boybands to traditional Irish musicians, our artists have sold millions of records and built huge fanbases around the world.
Some have filled stadiums for decades, while others have written songs that are still played on the radio today. Here are 10 of the best-selling Irish artists of all time, counting down to Ireland's biggest musical export.
The Chieftains
When it comes to traditional Irish music, few groups have made a bigger impact than The Chieftains. Formed in Dublin in 1962, they helped bring Irish folk music to audiences around the world, winning six Grammy Awards along the way. They've also worked with some huge names, including The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison and Sting. Their success helped introduce a whole new generation to traditional Irish instruments and music.
The Script
Dublin band The Script burst onto the scene in 2008 with their self-titled debut album and quickly became one of Ireland's biggest modern rock acts. Songs like The Man Who Can't Be Moved, Breakeven and Hall of Fame became massive international hits. Led by Danny O'Donoghue, the band built a loyal following with their catchy songs and relatable lyrics, selling millions of records and regularly playing sold-out arenas around the world.
Boyzone
Boyzone were everywhere during the 1990s, becoming one of Ireland's most successful pop groups. Put together by Louis Walsh in 1993, the five-piece scored huge hits with songs like No Matter What, Words and Love Me for a Reason. With Ronan Keating and Stephen Gately leading the vocals, the group enjoyed enormous success across Ireland, the UK and Europe, selling over 30 million records worldwide during their career.
Rory Gallagher
Rory Gallagher might not have chased chart success like some of the other artists on this list, but his reputation as one of rock's greatest guitarists is hard to beat. Born in Ballyshannon and raised in Cork, Gallagher built his career through relentless touring and incredible live performances. Albums like Irish Tour '74 helped cement his legendary status, and his influence can still be heard in countless blues and rock guitarists today.
Van Morrison
Belfast-born Van Morrison has been making music since the 1960s and remains one of Ireland's most respected singer-songwriters. After finding early success with Them and their classic Gloria, he launched a solo career that produced unforgettable songs like Brown Eyed Girl, Moondance and Into the Mystic. With millions of records sold worldwide, Van the Man has built an incredible catalogue that continues to attract new listeners decades later.
The Corrs
The Corrs brought something a little different to the pop charts in the late 1990s, mixing catchy pop songs with traditional Irish instruments. The Dundalk siblings, Andrea, Sharon, Caroline and Jim, enjoyed massive international success with hits like Runaway, What Can I Do and Breathless. Their album Talk on Corners became a huge seller, particularly in the UK, helping the family group sell tens of millions of records worldwide.
The Cranberries
Limerick band The Cranberries became international stars in the early 1990s, thanks largely to the unmistakable voice of Dolores O'Riordan. Their breakthrough album Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? produced classics like Linger and Dreams, while Zombie became one of the decade's most recognisable rock songs. With over 50 million records sold worldwide, The Cranberries remain one of Ireland's most loved and successful bands.
Westlife
Westlife dominated the pop charts throughout the late 1990s and 2000s, becoming one of the most successful boybands ever to come out of Ireland. With hits like Flying Without Wings, Swear It Again and You Raise Me Up, the group scored an incredible 14 UK number-one singles. Their popularity stretched far beyond Ireland and Britain, with huge audiences across Asia and elsewhere helping them sell tens of millions of records worldwide.
Enya
Enya might be one of Ireland's most successful artists, but she's also one of the most private. Born in County Donegal, she found worldwide fame with Orinoco Flow in 1988 and went on to sell an estimated 80 million records. Albums like Watermark, Shepherd Moons and A Day Without Rain made her a global star, all without the constant touring and publicity usually associated with major international music acts.
U2
Taking the top spot is Dublin rock band U2, Ireland's biggest-selling musical act. Formed in 1976, Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. went from playing small Dublin venues to selling out stadiums around the world. Albums like The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby helped make them international superstars, while songs such as With or Without You and One became rock classics. With estimated worldwide sales exceeding 170 million records, U2 are comfortably Ireland's biggest musical export.
Final Verdict
Ireland has certainly punched above its weight when it comes to producing successful musicians. From The Chieftains bringing traditional Irish music to the world to U2 becoming one of the biggest rock bands in history, there's no shortage of talent on this list.
What's interesting is just how different these artists are. Whether it's the pop hits of Westlife, the guitar playing of Rory Gallagher or the unmistakable voice of Dolores O'Riordan, each has left a lasting mark on music.
And with new Irish artists continuing to find success internationally, there's every chance we'll see a few more names challenging this list in the years ahead.
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