This Millionaire Singer Lives Alone in a Mansion with Cats – Her First Photo in 8 Years Left People Stunned

This Irish star ruled the charts from the '80s to the early 2000s and seemingly disappeared from public life. Step inside her secretive world and see her first photo in nearly a decade.

She's been one of music's most mysterious figures, a singer whose songs topped charts around the world before she disappeared behind castle walls with her beloved cats. Now, after nearly eight years out of sight, a new photo of her has surfaced. Can you guess who she is?

1988

In 1988, the world heard the ethereal voice of this mysterious Irish singer who came from a large musical family. As a teenager, she briefly joined her family's band before making a bold decision to branch out on her own.

Her breakthrough came in 1988 with the release of the album "Watermark." Its lead single, "Orinoco Flow," was unlike anything else on the charts. Dreamy, haunting, and otherworldly, it captivated listeners and propelled the album to sell over 11 million copies worldwide.

1991

1996

2000

By the year 2000, this star's ethereal sound had cemented her place in music history. She would go on to become one of Ireland's most successful female solo artists, with her albums selling millions and her melodies echoing across continents.

2001

By the early 2000s, this musician's unique sound had already spread far beyond Ireland. However, when CNN used her track "Only Time" as the poignant backdrop to the events of September 11, 2001, it gave her song a deeper meaning for millions.

The song was re-released as a charity single and found a second life on the charts, introducing her to an even wider American audience and casting her music into a place of collective grief and reflection.

2006

2007

2015

By 2015, this musical star's life had become as secluded as her music was haunting, as she had spent years living alone in a small castle overlooking the Irish Sea.

Boasting six bedrooms, she transformed every corner of her home to suit her tastes, filling the bathrooms with Lalique glass and redesigning each room in her own style.

When she moved in during the late 1990s, she raised the stone walls by four feet for privacy and installed surveillance cameras to keep uninvited guests away.

Her favorite place in the castle was her bedroom. It had no curtains, only shutters, and every morning she opened them to gaze out at the endless stretch of water beyond.

Unlike many castles passed down through family lines, she bought hers outright — a testament to a fortune estimated at over $136 million at the time.

2016

By 2016, this musical star's reclusive lifestyle had become almost as legendary as her career. Despite selling over 75 million albums worldwide and being named one of the richest women in British and Irish music history, she chose to remain hidden from the spotlight.

At 59 years old, she had never toured as a solo artist. Instead, she spent her days in near-total isolation inside her grand Victorian home near Dublin. In the past decade, she had only been seen in public twice. Even fan letters went unanswered, and visits from close relatives were rare.

Her truest companions were her cats — reportedly, she once kept a dozen. Furthermore, to preserve the purity of her sound, she refused to listen to other artists' music and claimed she had never bought an album in her life. Still, she continued to create new music.

She described her castle as a deeply inspirational place, perched on a hill overlooking the Irish Sea and the Wicklow Mountains. Each morning, as she opened her shutters, the changing views — whether sunlit waters or dark skies — sparked ideas for her haunting melodies.

2017

2025

This star is none other than Enya, who, after years away from the spotlight, stepped out in public, and fans could hardly believe their eyes. In May 2025, the Irish singer-songwriter, now 64, made her first public appearance in eight years.

The "Orinoco Flow" hitmaker was photographed attending a wedding at Drumhalla House in Donegal, northwest Ireland. Enya smiled warmly in a photo alongside her sister, brother-in-law, and members of the Donegal Dancers.

Dressed in a black lace top and chic white midi skirt, which she paired with black heels and silver jewelry, the musical star looked elegant for the occasion. She styled her signature raven hair in a sleek, fringed cut and wore subtle makeup that highlighted her timeless features.

Fans were thrilled to see her again. "Obviously it's her 'going out' outfit," one person joked. Another simply summed it up with, "Enya is Iconic."

Others shared how wonderful it was to see her out, noting she looked beautiful and happy. Many expressed that retirement was well-deserved after such a legendary career and said it was comforting to see her enjoying life away from the pressures of fame.