- Born as Paul David Hewson on May 10, 1960, in Dublin, Ireland, the man who would later be known globally as Bono, is a true force of nature in both music and philanthropy. He is best recognized as the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the rock band U2, which was formed in 1976. The band, composed of Bono, The Edge (David Howell Evans), Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr., has become one of the world's best-selling music artists, with albums such as The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby significantly influencing the global music scene. Bono's distinctive voice and passionate songwriting, often addressing political and social issues, have been instrumental in U2's enduring success. His lyrics often embody an exploration of personal themes, stemming from his Irish background and his deep-rooted Christian beliefs. Bono's commitment to his craft earned him numerous accolades including 22 Grammy Awards and a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. He was also knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2007 for his services to the music industry and his humanitarian work. Beyond his music, Bono is renowned for his philanthropic efforts. He co-founded DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa) in 2002, an organization aimed at alleviating debt and preventing diseases in Africa. He also played a crucial role in the creation of the ONE Campaign and Product Red, which are dedicated to fighting extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. Bono's tireless activism and commitment to change have made him not just a rock icon, but also a leading figure in international human rights advocacy.
- Age: 64
- Birthplace: Republic of Ireland, Dublin
Brian Boydell
Brian Boydell (17 March 1917 – 8 November 2000) was an Irish composer whose works include orchestral pieces, chamber music, and songs. He was Professor of Music at Trinity College, Dublin for 20 years, founder of the Dowland Consort, conductor of the Dublin Orchestral Players, and a prolific broadcaster and writer on musical matters.- Age: Dec. at 83 (1917-2000)
- Birthplace: Howth, Republic of Ireland
Brian Byrne
Brian Byrne is a film score composer.- Birthplace: Ireland
- Brian Crosby (born 12 June 1973) is an Irish composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist working primarily in music for film and TV .
- Age: 51
- Birthplace: Republic of Ireland
Christopher Neil
Christopher Neil (born 1948) is a British record producer, songwriter, singer, and actor. He has produced records for A-ha, Amazulu, Bonnie Tyler, Celine Dion, Cher, Dollar, Edyta Gorniak, Gerry Rafferty, Jennifer Rush, Jose Carreras, Leo Sayer, Marillion, Mike + The Mechanics, Morten Harket, Paul Carrack, Paul Young, Rod Stewart, Shakin' Stevens, Sheena Easton, the Moody Blues, and Toyah Willcox. In 1973, his song "Help It Along" finished third in the BBC's annual A Song for Europe contest, performed by Cliff Richard. The track was a hit single later in the year for Cliff and the title of his 1974 live album. Neil started in the mid-sixties as a singer with Manchester group the Chuckles. In 1972 he released a solo album Where I Belong on RAK Records.He worked as an actor during the 1970s playing Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar and Ginger in Leaping Ginger at the Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester before working full-time as a record producer. His film roles included The Sex Thief (1973), Eskimo Nell (1975), and Three for All (1975), and in 1976 he starred in the British TV series Rock Follies. In 1977 and 1978 he starred in two of the three 'Adventures of...' British sex comedy films: Adventures of a Private Eye and the final film in the trilogy, Adventures of a Plumber's Mate. In addition to taking the lead role, he wrote and sang the theme songs to the two films. From 1976, Neil was the host of the BBC's children's programme "You And Me".- Age: 77
- Birthplace: Republic of Ireland, Dublin
Ciaran Hope
Ciaran Hope is a film score composer, actor and film producer.- Age: 50
- Birthplace: Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Debroy Somers
Debroy Somers is an actor and film score composer.- Age: Dec. at 62 (1890-1952)
- Birthplace: Republic of Ireland, Dublin
- Denis Leary, a prominent figure in the world of comedy, has carved out an enduring legacy through his extensive career as a stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer. Born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, Leary found his passion for comedy at Emerson College in Boston, where he founded the Emerson Comedy Workshop. This was a clear indication of his innate talent and dedication to the comedic arts, which would go on to shape his professional trajectory. Leary's breakthrough came in 1990 when he appeared on The Rascals Comedy Hour on MTV. His acerbic wit and signature rapid-fire delivery quickly garnered attention, leading to his own stand-up special, No Cure for Cancer, in 1993. This special solidified Leary's place in pop culture, with his satirical song Asshole becoming a runaway hit. However, Leary's talents weren't confined to the stage; he branched out into acting, starring in critically acclaimed films such as The Ref and Two If by Sea. Notably, he also lent his voice to animated characters in popular films like Ice Age and A Bug's Life. In addition to his work in front of the camera, Leary showcased his adeptness behind the scenes as well. He co-created the television series Rescue Me, where he portrayed a troubled firefighter grappling with post-9/11 trauma. The series was praised for its raw depiction of firefighters' lives, earning Leary Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor and Outstanding Writing. Beyond his professional achievements, Leary has made significant contributions to society with the Leary Firefighters Foundation, established after the loss of his cousin and a close friend in a devastating fire. Despite his fame and success, Denis Leary remains a dedicated artist and philanthropist, continuing to influence the entertainment industry through his distinctive comedic style and unwavering commitment to his craft.
- Age: 67
- Birthplace: USA, Massachusetts, Worcester
- Photo:
- Metaweb (FB)
- Public domain
Dónal Lunny (born 10 March 1947) is an Irish folk musician and producer. He plays left-handed guitar and bouzouki, as well as keyboards and bodhrán. As a founding member of popular bands Planxty, The Bothy Band, Moving Hearts, Coolfin, Mozaik, LAPD, and Usher's Island, he has been at the forefront of the renaissance of Irish traditional music for over five decades. Dónal Lunny is the brother of musician and producer Manus Lunny. He has a son, Shane, whose mother is singer Sinéad O'Connor.- Age: 77
- Birthplace: Republic of Ireland, Tullamore
- Photo:
Geoff Hannan
Geoff Hannan is a British composer and musician born in London in 1972 to Irish parents. He studied composition privately with Michael Finnissy from 1987 to 1990 before reading Music at the University of Manchester. in 2006 he was awarded a PhD from Royal Holloway, University of London, where, with financial assistance from the Arts and Humanities Research Council, he studied composition with film composer Brian Lock. He has attended a number of composition classes in mainland Europe with composers such as Harrison Birtwistle and Helmut Lachenmann, and participated in Brian Ferneyhough's composition course at Royaumont Abbey (Fondation Royaumont) in 1994 and 1995. In 1998 he was joint winner of the Gaudeamus International Composers Award; in 2007 he was the recipient of the 5th Marenco International Composition Prize.In 2008 he won a scholarship to study film composition at the National Film & Television School. His teachers there included Annabelle Pangborn and Peter Howell. His music has been played by, among others, Ensemble Contrechamps, Ensemble Accroche Note, Tegenwind, Isabel Ettenauer, the Nieuw Ensemble, IXION, Noszferatu, the Ives Ensemble (NL), CONTINUUM (Toronto) and the London Sinfonietta. His work has been played at the London Sinfonietta's State of the Nation, the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, the British Music Information Centre's 'Cutting Edge' series, and SOUNDINGS, a platform event organised by the Austrian Cultural Forum. The Ives Ensemble toured Bubblegum in 2003 and Work / Bonk in 2007. He currently teaches composition and orchestration at the Birmingham Conservatoire.World Cinema, a commission from the orchestra of the UCE Birmingham Conservatoire, will be premièred in 2014.- Age: 52
- Birthplace: London, United Kingdom
- Thomas Joseph Gerard Victory (24 December 1921 – 14 March 1995) was a prolific Irish composer. He wrote over two hundred works across many genres and styles, including tonal, serial, aleatoric and electroacoustic music.
- Age: Dec. at 73 (1921-1995)
- Birthplace: Dublin, Republic of Ireland
- Glen Hansard (born 21 April 1970) is an Irish songwriter, actor, vocalist and guitarist for the Irish group The Frames, and one half of folk rock duo The Swell Season. He is also known for his acting, having appeared in the BAFTA-winning film The Commitments, as well as starring in the film Once, which earned him a number of major awards, including an Academy Award for Best Song.
- Age: 54
- Birthplace: Republic of Ireland, Dublin, Ballymun
Jeremy Howard
Jeremy Howard is a film score composer, film producer and film editor.- Age: 40
- Birthplace: Donegal, Republic of Ireland
Kim Carroll
Kim Carroll (born 1970 in Cork, Ireland) is a film score composer and multi-instrumentalist. He attended Glenstal Abbey School where he studied music with pianist/composer Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin. After teaching music in Cork, he left for Los Angeles to concentrate on music composition and film scoring. He writes and records on over 40 instruments collected from all over the world, including Charango, Ronroco, fretted violin, Bowed guitar, Prepared piano, Prepared guitar, and bowed mandolin. In many of his compositions, Carroll performs all of the instruments. He uses live acoustic and electric instruments that are manipulated through vintage analog equipment. Carroll works out of his music studios in Los Angeles and Healdsburg, California. He is a 2009 Sundance Composer Fellow, and was awarded 'Gold Medal for Excellence' for his score to the thriller 'The Colony'. Carroll's film credits include the critically acclaimed documentary 'The Horse Boy', the crime drama 'Across the Line: The Exodus of Charlie Wright', and 'The Uninvited' co-composed with Harry Gregson-Williams. Carroll also composed music for the dark comedy 'Congratulations', the dramatic feature 'Gone Missing' along with the music for the short films 'Hellholes', 'Insex', 'The Pool', and 'La Carretera'. As a guitarist he has recorded with artists Sinéad O'Connor, Pat Monahan/Train, Gary Jules, Paul Buchanan/The Blue Nile, Colin Hay, as well as performing on the soundtracks for The Chronicles of Narnia:Prince Caspian, The Lincoln Lawyer, The Town, Domino, Gone Baby Gone, Veronica Guerin. Guest lectures: University of Southern California, University of California, Los Angeles, Musician's Institute, Alexander Hamilton High School (Los Angeles)- Age: 54
- Birthplace: Cork, Republic of Ireland
- Photo:
Lawrence Joseph Mullen Jr. (; born 31 October 1961) is an Irish musician and actor, best known as the drummer and co-founder of the rock band U2. Mullen's distinctive, almost military drumming style developed from his playing martial beats in a childhood marching band, the Artane Boys Band. Some of his most notable contributions to the U2 catalogue include "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "Pride (In the Name of Love)", "Where the Streets Have No Name", "Zoo Station," "Mysterious Ways", and "City of Blinding Lights". Mullen was born and raised in Dublin, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School, where he co-founded U2 in 1976 after posting a message on the school's notice board. A member of the band since its inception, he has recorded 14 studio albums with U2. Mullen has worked on numerous side projects during his career. In 1990, he produced the Ireland national football team's song "Put 'Em Under Pressure" for the 1990 FIFA World Cup. In 1996, he worked with U2 bandmate Adam Clayton on a dance re-recording of the "Theme from Mission: Impossible". Mullen has sporadically acted in films, most notably in Man on the Train (2011) and A Thousand Times Good Night (2013). As a member of the band, he has been involved in philanthropic causes throughout his career, including Amnesty International. As a member of U2, Mullen has received 22 Grammy Awards and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2016, Rolling Stone ranked Mullen the 96th-greatest drummer of all time.- Age: 63
- Birthplace: Republic of Ireland, Artane, Dublin, Dublin
- Martin Hayes (born 4 July 1962) is an Irish fiddler from County Clare. He is a member of the Irish-American supergroup The Gloaming.
- Age: 63
- Birthplace: Republic of Ireland, County Clare
- Photo:
Maurice Seezer (real name Maurice Roycroft, and previously known as The Man Seezer) is an Irish songwriter, musician, and film music composer. Born in 1960, he grew up in the Dublin suburb of Coolock, in a musical family. Film scores written or co-written by Seezer include Angel Baby (1995), The Boxer (1997), Disco Pigs (2000), In America (2002), Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2005), The Pier (2011). He collaborated on three albums with Gavin Friday for Island Records from 1989 until 1995, Each Man Kills the Thing He Loves, Adam 'n' Eve and Shag Tobacco, and toured widely in Europe and North America with Friday during this period.Since the early 90s Seezer contributed songs to soundtracks for Jim Sheridan, Baz Luhrmann and Michael Rymer: In the Name of the Father, The Boxer, In America, Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!, among others. He was a member of The Mohawks, Gavin Friday’s backing band in Neil Jordan’s Breakfast on Pluto. Collaboration and production credits also include work with Bono, Maria McKee, Andrea Corr, Camilla Griehsel, Sinéad O'Connor, Paul Tiernan, Interference (Fergus O'Farrell) and Colin Vearncombe (aka Black). In 2003, Seezer arranged a new version of Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf" for small ensemble with Friday narrating in aid of the Dublin-based charity, the Irish Hospice Foundation. The enhanced CD came with a 64-page cloth-bound book illustrated by U2′s Bono, with help from his daughters Jordan and Eve.Composition work for theatre include original scores for Corcadorca’s October 2012 production of Romeo and Juliet in Cork Opera House and the Corcadorca / Cork Opera House October 2013 joint production of Patrick McCabes play The Big Yum Yum, both directed by Pat Kiernan.A founding committee member of the Fastnet Short Film Festival, Seezer was Chair and Artistic Director of the festival from June 2009 until September 2013.A member of the Ibero-American Short Film Jury at Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG) 29, Mexico, in March 2014, Seezer also contributed to Talents Guadalajara at FICG 29.He has been nominated twice for a Golden Globe (1994, 2004), twice for an Ivor Novello Award (1995, 2004), once for a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award (2004). In 2003 he won the Phoenix Film Critics Society award for Best Original Song ("Time Enough for Tears" performed by Andrea Corr for the film In America).- Age: 64
- Birthplace: Republic of Ireland, Dublin
- Photo:
Mundy
Edmond Enright (born 19 May 1975), known professionally as Mundy, is an Irish singer-songwriter and founder of the independent record label Camcor Records.- Age: 48
- Birthplace: Birr, Republic of Ireland
Niall Byrne
Niall Byrne is a film score composer.- Age: 57
- Birthplace: Dublin, Republic of Ireland
- Photo:
- Harry (Howard) Potts
- Flickr
Rory Gallagher, hailing from the Emerald Isle, was a titan in the world of blues and rock music. Born in Ballyshannon, Ireland, on March 2, 1948, Gallagher was a self-taught guitarist who began his journey into music when he won a plastic ukulele at a carnival at just nine years old. This initial love for music fueled his passion and, by the age of fifteen, he formed his first band, "The Fontana Showband", which later changed its name to "The Impact". Gallagher's passion for the guitar was so profound that he would often use a bottle neck or a knife as a makeshift slide, further exemplifying his dedication to creating unique sounds in his music. Gallagher's extraordinary talent eventually propelled him onto the international stage as a solo artist. In 1971, he released his self-titled debut album Rory Gallagher, which received overwhelming critical acclaim. His distinctive blend of blues, folk, and jazz, combined with an innate ability to connect with audiences, set him apart from his contemporaries. Throughout the 70s and 80s, Gallagher released a series of successful albums including Tattoo, Against the Grain and Photo-Finish, truly establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. Despite his meteoric rise to fame, Gallagher remained grounded and dedicated to his craft. He was well-known for his down-to-earth demeanor and tireless work ethic, often playing up to six hours a day on his well-worn, iconic Fender Stratocaster. His commitment to his fans was equally impressive, as he would often perform despite being ill or injured, reflecting his unwavering dedication to delivering electrifying performances. Rory Gallagher's untimely death in 1995 left a significant void in the world of blues and rock, but his legacy continues to inspire musicians and fans globally. His life and career remain a testament to the power of passion, dedication, and raw talent in music.- Age: Dec. at 47 (1948-1995)
- Birthplace: Ballyshannon, Ireland
- Photo:
Stephen McKeon
Stephen McKeon is an Irish composer of film and television soundtrack music. He has received two Irish Film and Television Awards both for John Boorman films, Queen & Country in 2014 and The Tiger's Tail in 2004 and was previously nominated for Blind Flight, Savage and the children's animated feature Niko 2 - Little Brother, Big Trouble. His other works include: The Nephew (1998) and Borstal Boy (2000). He scored the 2011 biopic Hattie. McKeon has written the scores of over 80 films, plus a number of Hercule Poirot TV movies, as well as many TV drama series including Black Mirror. He has also scored the fourth and fifth seasons of the British fantasy drama, Primeval. He is a multi-instrumentalist whose work covers a wide spectrum from large orchestral scores to ambient guitar based music such as that written for the Scottish BAFTA winning film Summer.Stuart Michael Thomas
Stuart Michael Thomas (born November 17, 1970, in Los Angeles) is an American guitarist, bassist, music composer, producer and arranger for film and television. He has been a credited contributor to dozens of films including the Oscar nominated film Michael Clayton, Snow White & the Huntsman, The Dark Knight and Iron Man 3 as well as TV films such as High Noon, Northern Lights, and Angels Fall. He is briefly interviewed in Peter Jackson's King Kong Production Diaries.In addition he arranged and performed tracks for the feature film Gnomeo and Juliet alongside Elton John’s band which were performed at Abbey Road Studios. He’s shared bills with bands such as Cake, The Melvins, Papa Roach, The Circle Jerks, The Deftones, Toad the Wet Sprocket among many others.- Age: 54
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
- Thomas Nöla (born December 31, 1979) is an Irish and American artist from Boston, responsible for several low-budget films and experimental pop albums. His musical acts have toured the US and Europe and released recordings on the Portland-based Soleilmoon/Caciocavallo label, Punch Records in Italy and on his own Disques de Lapin.
- Age: 45
- Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts
Vinny Murphy
Vinny Murphy is an actor, a film director and a film score composer.- Age: 64
- Birthplace: Republic of Ireland, Dublin
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