Frances Black facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frances Black
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Black in 2025
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| Senator | |
| Assumed office 8 June 2016 |
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| Constituency | Industrial and Commercial Panel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 June 1960 Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party | Independent |
| Other political affiliations |
Civil Engagement group |
| Spouse | Brian Allen |
| Children | 2, including Aoife Scott |
| Alma mater | All Hallows College |
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Frances Black
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| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, addiction counsellor |
| Years active | 1988–present |
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Frances Patricia Black (born 25 June 1960) is a famous Irish singer and a politician. She became well-known in the late 1980s. At that time, she started performing with her family's band, The Black Family. They played both traditional and modern Irish music.
Frances Black was chosen to be a Senator in 2016. She ran as an independent politician, meaning she didn't belong to a specific political party.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Frances Black was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1960. She grew up in a very musical family. Her father, Kevin, loved playing the fiddle and mandolin. Her mother, Patty, was a singer in local dance halls.
Frances is the youngest of five children. Her sister, Mary Black, is also a very famous singer.
Musical Journey
Starting in Bands
Frances Black began her music career at age 17. She sang with her brothers and sister in their family group, The Black Family. This helped her become more confident in her singing.
In 1988, she joined a band called Arcady. They had popular songs like "After the Ball." However, Frances had a young family, and the band's busy touring schedule was too much. So, she decided to leave the group.
Later, Frances teamed up with singer Kieran Goss. They recorded an album together in 1992 called Frances Black and Kieran Goss. One of their songs, "Wall of Tears," was on a very popular album called A Woman's Heart. This album became the best-selling Irish album ever! Being part of this album helped Frances become even more famous in the music world.
Solo Success
In 1993, Frances Black toured Australia and New Zealand. She performed with many other Irish artists. This led to her signing a record deal with Dara Records.
Her first solo album, Talk to Me, came out in 1994. It was a huge hit in Ireland, selling over 100,000 copies. It stayed at number one for eight weeks! The album included songs by famous writers like Nanci Griffith and John Lennon. Her cover of "All the Lies That You Told Me" was especially popular. Frances also toured the UK and United States in 1994.
In 1995, she released her second solo album, The Sky Road. She won an award for 'Best Album by a Female' from the IRMA. She continued to tour in America because of her growing popularity.
Frances Black has released many successful songs and albums over the years. Her albums How High the Moon (2003) and This Love Will Carry (2006) also sold very well. Her latest collection of songs, The Essential Frances Black (2008), sold enough copies to go platinum.
Political Career
Frances Black started her political journey in 2016. She was elected to Seanad Éireann, which is part of Ireland's parliament. She ran as an independent candidate. This means she was not part of a major political party.
As a Senator, Frances Black has worked on important issues:
- Helping Families: In 2017, she helped propose a new law. This law aimed to make it easier for refugee families to reunite in Ireland. It suggested that "family" should include grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, children, and grandchildren.
- Public Health: She has spoken about making sure alcohol is not sold next to items like baby products in supermarkets. She also helped with the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018. This law introduced minimum prices for alcohol in Ireland to help public health.
- International Issues: In 2018, she proposed a bill called the Occupied Territories Bill. This bill aimed to stop Ireland from importing or selling goods from illegal settlements in areas considered occupied under international law. She also visited the Gaza Strip and the West Bank to learn more about the situation there.
In April 2018, Frances Black received an award from the Arab American Institute Foundation. This award recognized her work as the founder of the RISE Foundation. This foundation helps people and their families who are dealing with challenges related to addiction.
Frances Black was re-elected as a Senator in both the 2020 Seanad election and the 2025 Seanad election.
Political Beliefs
Frances Black is the leader of an organization called Ireland's Future. She strongly believes in Irish reunification. This means she supports the idea of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland becoming one country.
She also supports Palestinian nationalism. She is part of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel.
Personal Life
Frances Black has two children, Eoghan and Aoife. Her daughter, Aoife Scott, is also a well-known singer and songwriter in Ireland. Her son, Eoghan Scott, is a musician, songwriter, and producer. Frances is married to Brian Allen.
Albums and Music
- Frances Black and Kieran Goss (1992)
- Talk to Me (1994)
- The Sky Road (1995)
- The Smile on Your Face (1996)
- Don't Get Me Wrong (1998)
- The Best of Frances Black (2000)
- How High the Moon (2003)
- This Love Will Carry (2006)
- The Essential Frances Black (2008)
- Stronger (2013)
