Sarah Ann O'Neill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sarah Ann O'Neill
Born	Sarah Ann Hanna 19 August 1919 Derrytresk, County Tyrone
Died	13 April 2012

Sarah Ann O'Neill (born August 19, 1919 – died April 13, 2012) was a very important and well-known Irish traditional singer. She was famous for keeping old Irish songs alive.

About Sarah Ann O'Neill

Early Life and Family

Sarah Ann O'Neill was born Sarah Ann Hanna on August 19, 1919. Her home was in a place called Derrytresk in County Tyrone. She was the oldest child of Joe Hanna, who worked as a labourer, and Elizabeth (Hughes).

Sarah Ann had five brothers and four sisters. Her mother, Elizabeth, had been married before. Her first husband, Mr. Campbell, passed away young. He left Elizabeth with three sons, who were Sarah Ann's older half-brothers.

School and First Jobs

Sarah Ann went to Kingsisland primary school. She finished school when she was 14 years old. After school, she started working to help her family.

Her first job was at a cafe in Belfast. Later, she worked as a domestic servant. This meant she helped with housework for a wealthy family in her local area. When she was in her twenties, Sarah Ann married a local farmer named John O’Neill.

Discovering Her Talent

Sarah Ann O'Neill's amazing singing talent was discovered in the 1950s. Two people who collected songs, Seán Ó Baoill and Gerry Hicks, heard tapes of her singing. These tapes were from an evening of music at one of her family's homes.

Sarah Ann knew many old Ulster songs. She also knew the special way they were traditionally sung. Her style was similar to sean-nós, which is an old Irish way of singing without musical instruments.

Music Career and Awards

Sarah Ann O'Neill often went to music events called fleadhs and festivals. She shared her songs with many other singers. She also learned new songs from them.

Her first recording was made in 1974 with her brother Geordie. This recording helped her become famous around the world among traditional musicians. In 2009, she received a special award for her lifetime of music. This award was called Gradam Ceoil TG4.

Sarah Ann O'Neill passed away on April 13, 2012. She was buried from Clonoe church.