Sarah Ann O'Neill

Sarah Ann O'Neill (19 August 1919 13 April 2012), was a well known and significant Irish traditional singer.

Biography

Sarah Ann O'Neill, sometimes given as Sarah Anne O'Neill, lived in Derrytresk, County Tyrone, where she was born Sarah Ann Hanna on 19 August 1919. She was the eldest child of labourer Joe Hanna and his wife, Elizabeth (née Hughes). There were five boys and four girls who were her full sisters. But her mother had been married before, her first husband Mr Campbell died young, and left her with three sons.

She attended Kingsisland primary school and left school at 14 to begin working. Her first job was in a cafe in Belfast before she went into service as a domestic servant to a wealthy family in her home district. She married local farmer John O’Neill when she was in her 20s.

O'Neill died on 13 April 2012 and was buried from Clonoe church.