Dolores Keane, born September 26, 1953, in Sylane, County Galway, Ireland, was an Irish folk singer. Raised by her musical aunts, she began singing at a young age. In 1974, she co-founded the traditional Irish folk band Dé Danann, which gained international recognition. Dolores Keane's solo career started with the album There Was a Maid in 1978. In 1989, she released Lion in a Cage, which included the hit "Lion in a Cage", a protest song against Nelson Mandela's imprisonment. Dolores Keane also participated in the successful folk anthology A Woman's Heart (1992). Other releases include Solid Ground (1993) and Night Owl (1997). In 2024, Dolores Keane received an honorary doctorate in Music from University of Galway. She died at her home of Caherlistrane, Ireland, on March 16, 2026, at the age of 72.
