Imelda May, born Imelda Mary Clabby on July 10, 1974, in Dublin's Liberties area, is a celebrated Irish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist renowned for her dynamic fusion of rockabilly, jazz, blues, and soul. Launching her career in 2002 with her debut album "No Turning Back," she gained widespread acclaim with "Love Tattoo" in 2008, which became the best-selling album by a homegrown female artist in Ireland. ([festivalofwritingandideas.com](https://festivalofwritingandideas.com/speakers/imelda-may/?utm_source=openai)) May has collaborated with legends like Jeff Beck, U2, and Noel Gallagher, and her 2021 album "11 Past the Hour" marked her fourth Number 1 in Ireland. ([festivalofwritingandideas.com](https://festivalofwritingandideas.com/speakers/imelda-may/?utm_source=openai)) Beyond music, she is a dedicated women's rights activist and poet, with her poetry collection "A Lick & A Promise" debuting at No.8 on the Irish Times Bestsellers Chart. ([festivalofwritingandideas.com](https://festivalofwritingandideas.com/speakers/imelda-may/?utm_source=openai))