Sharon Shannon

Sharon Shannon

Sharon Shannon - Jo Cox - cc

Sharon Shannon is one of Ireland’s best-known musicians. Armed with her diatonic accordion, she plays traditional Irish music to perfection. Since the start of her career, she has collaborated with some of the greatest names in the music world, including the Chieftains and Galician artist Carlos Nunez.

Sharon Shannon’s career

An Irishwoman who’s collaborated with the greats

Sharon Shannon has always been steeped in traditional Irish music. Born into a family of musicians, she naturally took up the diatonic accordion at the age of 11. A few years later, she began composing and recording a solo album, which caught the eye of the Waterboys, a traditional music group, who invited her to join their ranks. Sharon Shannon accepted.

After releasing an album with this group, Shannon decided to write a new solo album, which would become one of her greatest successes: the album “Sharon Shannon”. This was followed by several collaborations with the Chieftains, as well as other major Irish musicians.

In 1992, Sharon Shannon released “Woman’s Heart”, the album that established her as the greatest Irish artist of her time. From then on, her success was so great that many musicians asked her to collaborate on huge concerts. His talent on the accordion gained national recognition, and began to spread beyond Ireland’s borders.

Older children will then ask him to play with them. Among them are Carlos Nunez, an outstanding Galician musician, the Woodchoppers and the Chieftains.

Sharon Shannon’s discography

  • 1991 : Sharon Shannon
  • 1992: Woman’s Heart
  • 1994: Out the Gap
  • 1997: Each Little Thing
  • 1998: Best Of Spellbound
  • 2000: The Diamond Mountain Sessions
  • 2001: Live in Galway (with the Woodchoppers)
  • 2003: Libertango
  • 2005: Tunes (with Frankie Gavin, Michael Mcgoldrick and Jim Murray)
  • 2005: Best Of The Sharon Shannon Collection 1990-2005
  • 2006: Live at Dolan’s
  • 2007: Renegade

So much more to discover...

Planning a trip? Download our free guide!

Free Ebook

Subscribe to our newsletter and receive our free ebook!

Discover the essentials of the country, its culture, history and must-see sights!