24 Facts About Cara Dillon

The album was an unexpected hit in the folk world, with Dillon receiving four nominations at the 2002 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

In 2004, Cara Dillon received the Meteor Irish Music Award for Best Irish Female.

Also in 2006, Cara Dillon sang at the opening of the Ryder Cup in Ireland.

In 2009, Cara Dillon released her fourth album, the award-winning Hill of Thieves.

Cara Dillon has since embarked on several popular Chinese tours.

Cara Dillon is the sister of fellow folk singer Mary Cara Dillon, formerly of Deanta.

In 2024, Cara Dillon released a new album, Coming Home, that "[blurs] the lines between spoken word and song, featuring her original poetry and music, inspired by the daily lives of the people, places and ancestry she holds closest to her heart".

Cara Dillon comes from an area steeped in Irish traditional music.

Cara Dillon learned local folk songs from teachers and workshops held in the town.

Cara Dillon left Oige in 1995 after being asked to replace Kate Rusby in a so-called folk supergroup Equation; however, she guests on their second studio album, Bang On, playing fiddles on the last track, "Maids of Mitchelstown".

Cara Dillon left Equation with original band member Sam Lakeman because of musical differences and together they immediately signed a separate deal with the same label.

Cara Dillon recorded her first album in The Firs, Lakeman's parents' house.

The reaction to the album, according to Cara Dillon, was very unexpected.

In January 2004, Cara Dillon travelled to Japan on a promotional tour of the album.

The release of the Wanderer in 2017 saw Cara Dillon returning to Irish folk ballads, especially the themes of emigration, both historical and contemporary.

Cara Dillon sang on the tracks "Faith in Love" and "Sacred Touch of Beauty", the former being the album's lead single.

Also on the dance scene, Cara Dillon's award-winning version of Black Is The Colour was remixed by DJ Pete Devine and became an instant hit on the dance floors in 2005.

The year 2006 Cara Dillon was honoured with the invitation to perform at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Ryder Cup at the K Club in Ireland.

Cara Dillon sang the Irish song Mo Ghile Mear to an audience estimated at 500 million worldwide with Afro Celt Sound System vocalist Iarla O Lionaird, a 60 piece choir and 23 piece band.

In 2006, Judge Jules released his debut album, to which Cara Dillon provided vocals on the lead UK single Ordinary Day.

In 2009, Cara Dillon recorded the official Children in Need single, All You Need Is Love alongside Peter Gabriel, Terry Wogan, Hayley Westenra and others at Abbey Road Studios.

In 2010, Cara Dillon recorded the opening song "Summer's Just Begun" for Disney's Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue as well as narrating the opening sequence.

Cara Dillon sang a lullaby called "Come Flying With Me" featured during the credits for the movie.

Cara Dillon announced her illness and her strong Roman Catholic faith on Aled Jones' radio show in 2009.