Originally from near Frosses in south-west Donegal, Rita Gallagher now lives in Crossroads in the east of the county. She has been involved in traditional singing in English since her early 20’s, as a performer and recording artist, and is the recipient of multiple awards for her contribution to traditional song. As well as a guest performer at festivals in Ireland and internationally, she is also an active and generous supporter of traditional singing sessions and singers in Donegal and across the island of Ireland. 

Rita is a three-time Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann(CCÉ) All-Ireland medal winner, travelling on CCÉ tours to England and North America in the 1980’s. In 2017 CCÉ awarded her a Bardic Award and Gradam na Fleidhe Nua. In 2017 she was also the recipient of the prestigious TG4 Gradam Ceoil Amhránai na Bliana / Singer of the Year. 

Rita has made three commercial recordings:Easter Snow (1997); The May Morning Dew(2010), and The Heathery Hills (2016). In 2023 she released a new selection of 14 previously unrecorded songs under the title If My Health is Spared, generously making them freely available on her own YouTube channel with notes on where she learned the song, and song words.

While acknowledging the influence of Packie Manus Byrne, Dolores Keane, and the late Paddy Tunney, Rita has carved a much admired and influential place for herself in the story of traditional singing in Donegal and across the island of Ireland.