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Eleven Finest Irish Music Exports

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With Westlife back in the charts, a new Boyzone album is on the horizon and U2 headlining Glastonbury, the Irish are certainly still making their presence felt in pop. Here are ten of Ireland's finest musical exports...

11. The Cranberries

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This Limerick four piece became one of the biggest international rock acts of the 90s, shifting a staggering 50 million albums thanks to singles such as Linger and Zombie.

10. Boyzone

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The Dublin boys were put together in 1993 by Louis Walsh to take on Take That. Have sold 20 million albums since and had six UK number singles and four number 1 albums.

9. Westlife

Westlife

Another Louis Walsh project from Dublin. Have had 14 number ones since forming in 1998, a record only bettered by Elvis and The Beatles.

8. U2

U2

Arguably the biggest band in the world, and still going strong after four decades. Ireland's second biggest export after Guinness.

7. Boomtown Rats

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Rose to prominence in the late 70s with hits such as I Don't Like Mondays and Rat Trap before singer Bob Geldof organised Live Aid and famously swore on live prime time BBC TV.

6. The Undertones

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John Peel's favourite song of all time was the legendary Teenage Kicks, which was this punk pop band's ode to growing up in 1970s Belfast. Singer Fergal Sharkey had a hit in the 80s with A Good Heart.

5. Snow Patrol

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Having been on the fringes since the late 90s, Gary Lightbody and his band deserve top marks for perseverance. But it was worth it because they are now one of the most successful bands of the last few years, boasting a string of top ten hits – including Run that was recently covered by Leona Lewis.

4. The Coors

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A family band in true Irish tradition. The three sisters immediately caught the public's attention with their incredible looks and their brother Jim, well, he plays the guitar. Sold 43 million albums to date.

3. Enya

Enya

75 million album sales is enough to prove that abstract Celtic crooning can be very successful. Best known for 1988's Orinoco Flow which was a UK number 1.

2. Bewitched

Bwitched

The denim-clad girl band released two albums and eight top 20 singles during their short lived career between 1998 and 2000. Impressive work rate. Dodgy styling though.

1. Sinead O'Connor

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Rose to prominence during the late 80s before releasing her interpretation of Prince's Nothing Compares 2 U, which is now widely regarded as the definitive version. Had a few run-ins with the Catholic Church. A bit barking.
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