Shanley was born into a musical family and comes from a line of traditional singers.[1] After finishing school she moved to Dublin. During the day she worked in FAS, the state recruitment agency; in the evenings she studied drama with Betty Ann Norton and joined the "Leitrim Wild Roses" Tops of the Town group. She also sang in various sessions, mainly in Ned O'Sheas "Merchant". It was there that she met De Dannan.[2]
Career
She made her first appearance as a singer with traditional group De Danann in 1990, and sang with them for five years[3] She went on to sing with Ronnie Drew.[4] She had also toured with Christy Moore and Sharon Shannon as a soloist both in Ireland and abroad.