Fionnuala Sherry
Fionnuala Sherry (born 20 September 1962) is an Irish violinist and vocalist. Together with Norwegian musician Rolf Løvland, she makes up the Celtic-Nordic group Secret Garden, which won the Eurovision Song Contest 1995 with the predominantly instrumental piece "Nocturne". In 2010, she released her solo album Songs from Before.
Fionnuala Sherry

paddynapper · FIONNUALA SHERRY · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Name
- Fionnuala Sherry
- Born
- 20 September 1962
- Birthplace
- Naas, County Kildare, Ireland
- Occupation
- Musician
- Nationality
- Ireland
- Fields
- new age music
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Documentary summary
Fionnuala Sherry (born 20 September 1962) is an Irish violinist and vocalist. Together with Norwegian musician Rolf Løvland, she makes up the Celtic-Nordic group Secret Garden, which won the Eurovision Song Contest 1995 with the predominantly instrumental piece "Nocturne". In 2010, she released her solo album Songs from Before.
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Fionnuala Sherry (born 1962) is an Irish musician. The musician was born in Naas. Genres include new age music.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 01 October 2026
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Documentary evidence
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Authority files
wikidata · Q1868188 · wikipedia · Fionnuala Sherry
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Fionnuala Sherry • Born — 20 September 1962 • Birthplace — Naas, County Kildare, Ireland • Instrument — Violin, vocals • Genre — New-age • Occupation — Musician • Years Active — 1984–present • Website — fionnualasherry.com
Background
Background
Sherry's violin playing started at the age of eight. She graduated with honours from the College of Music of Trinity College, Dublin having moved to Dublin at the age of fifteen in order to continue her musical education. Her professional career started with a ten-year stint as a member of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Sherry has collaborated with a wide range of musicians, including the Chieftains, Sinéad O'Connor, Van Morrison, Chris de Burgh, Bono, Wet Wet Wet, and Westlife. She has also recorded several Hollywood film scores with the Irish Film Orchestra, including A Room with a View, and The Mask. Her instrument of choice, for both live and studio work, is an English John Edward Betts violin from 1790, with a Hill bow.
Other media
Other media
Sherry has written and presented a musical children's television show on Irish national television, based on a concept she invented herself. In 2010, she released the solo album Songs from Before in Ireland. The album was released in 2011 in the United States and Canada by Hearts of Space Records.
Personal life
Personal life
She married Bernard Doyle, a businessman, in 2010.
Health struggles
Health struggles
Sherry broke both her arms after tripping while walking in Dublin in February 2015. She said it may have serious implications for her musical career, but expressed confidence that she would return to full fitness. After more than one operation, Sherry was able to begin scheduling concerts at the end of 2015, and commence touring again in 2016. Her experience with this serious injury has caused her to struggle subsequently with stage fright. In early 2019, Sherry was diagnosed with breast cancer following a routine screening, leading to the cancellation of a worldwide tour. An aggressive tumour was removed in the course of two surgeries, followed by radiation treatment, and a year of the drug Herceptin.
Identity
Identity
Fionnuala Sherry is recorded with the occupation musician. Classed in the genre new age music. Recorded as a citizen of Ireland.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1962
Fionnuala Sherry was born on 20 September 1962.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Fionnuala Sherry”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q1868188: Fionnuala Sherry
General reference · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Thompson, Dave. Biography: Secret Garden. AMG.
- 2."Songs from Before" Newly Released in Ireland. fionnualasherry.com.
- 3.New music from Fionnuala Sherry of Secret Garden. Valley-Entertainment.
- 4.Barry Egan. 'I know I'll play again' - Eurovision winner and fiddle player who broke both her arms. Irish Independent. 2015-03-08.
- 5.Fionnuala Sherry. The broken bones that put a musical career on hold. Irish Times. 2015-12-08.
- 6.Tanya Sweeney. Eurovision winner Fionnuala Sherry: 'My stage fright got so bad I felt like I was bungee jumping'. Independent.ie. 2016-12-03.
- 7.Eddie Rowley. Musician Fionnuala Sherry opens up about breast cancer diagnosis and losing mum. Sunday World. 2020-11-29.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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