Irish singer Mary Black was born in Dublin on May 22, 1955. We celebrate one of Ireland's favorite vocalists with a look at some of her best songs.
Mary Black is widely regarded as Ireland’s premier female vocalist and today, May 22, is her birthday! What better way to celebrate than by looking at her fan's favorite performances?
From “A Song for Ireland” to “No Frontiers," Black’s stunning vocals and beautiful songs have made her the first lady of the Irish music industry.
It's been said of Mary Black that she rarely gets a bad review, and listening to her top tracks, you can see why.
Of her 2011 album, “Stories from the Steeples,” Ireland's Hot Press said: "Mary Black instinctively makes a song her own, and her voice here is more expressively fragile than before. The musicianship is impeccable.”
In her long and successful career, Black has recorded dozens of albums. Her breakthrough “No Frontiers” in 1989, featuring the haunting track "Columbus," brought her rich, clear voice and gift for storytelling to the attention of US audiences for the first time.
You can listen to some of Mary Black's top songs here:
Black's musical roots run deep, and it’s evident in her own children. Her own father was a fiddle player from the small island of Rathlin, off the coast of Co Antrim. By the age of eight, Black was singing folk songs her brother, Shay, had taught her.
As she grew up, she started performing with her siblings in small clubs around Dublin for the fun of it. Soon her hobby turned into a career.
Music is at the center of Black’s life and her family’s. Her husband, Joe O’Reilly, worked for Dara Records. She has three children, Conor, Danny, and Roisin. Danny O’Reilly is the frontman of the popular rock band The Coronas, and Roisin O is a talented and highly acclaimed singer-songwriter herself.
Mary Black and her daughter Roisin O performing for Pope Francis in Dublin in 2018 (RollingNews.ie)
Black and her family live in Dublin but spend a great deal of time in Co Kerry. The singer has admitted that while she still loves to tour, she also wants to be a hands-on grandmother.
In September 2025, Black announced - after "thinking long and hard about retiring" - that her next tour, The Slán Tour, would be her last.
"It’s been an incredible journey over the past 45+ years, full of highs, some challenges, and many unforgettable moments," Black said at the time.
"While it’s not easy to say goodbye, I know the time is right to close this chapter."
She went on to release "Anthology" in March 2026, a triple album spanning her career in music and a new single, "Light of Day."
Black was featured in a special 'retirement' special on RTE's The Late Late Show that same month:
What's your favorite Mary Black song? Let us know in the comments!
* Originally published in 2016, updated in May 2026.
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