The sad song at the bottom of the bottle for Ireland's talented women

Irish people have always had a love hate relationship with alcohol and none less than our artists. As a new book is written about Bridie Gallagher, Suzanne Harrington examines why hugely talented women take refuge in drink.

Are some of the greatest singers the ones who have suffered the most emotionally — and who drank to make things better?

When it comes to Irish women, the answer seems to be yes. Mary Coughlan (below) has been called Ireland’s Billie Holiday, while country superstar Nanci Griffith says she dare not call herself a singer as long as Dolores Keane is still around.