Here is a report copied last year form one of the Irish newspapers:

Bridie Gallagher was born in Ards, Ceesslough, Co Donegal, the second youngest of a family of ten. She recorded her first hit in 1956, *A Mother's Love is a Blessing. In July 1957 she recorded *The Boys from the County Armagh which launched her onto the world stage. She has performed in four continents, drawing a record 7,500 audience in the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1959. She lived in Belfast for most of her life. In 1976 she lost her 21-year-old son in a motorbike accident. She thought she would never sing again. But she did sing in July 10, 2000, when Donegal County Council honoured her at a special ceremony. "She never really got over that (accident)," said her son Jim, "but she just kept going." "Bridie blazed thye trail for many artists who followed after her and I'm sure that many of them looked upon her as a role model as they started their careers in the music world," council chairman Charlie Bennett said at the ceremony.

When she played the Hanger in Salthill, she drew 2,500 people, the biggest crowd thery ever had.