President Connolly pays tribute to Dolores Keane, as book of condolence opens in Galway

A book of condolences for singer Dolores Keane will open in Galway County Hall.

Irish folk singer, Dolores Keane, passed away at her home in Caherlistrane, Co. Galway, on March 16 at the age of 72.

Galway County Council is opening a book of condolence at Galway County Hall, which will be accessible during normal office hours over the next few days. Councillor David Collins will officially open the book.

Catherine Connolly also paid a tribute to the late artist. 

“It is with profound sadness that I learned of the death of Dolores Kean,” said Connolly. "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," Connolly continued. "She was right. But what made it sacred was her honesty. She gave everything, without pretence. 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.”

The funeral mass will be held on Friday afternoon at 3pm at St Patrick and St Cuana Church, Kilcoona, followed by burial.