Number-one singles of 1988 (Ireland)

This is a list of singles which have reached number one on the Irish Singles Chart

Irish Singles Chart

The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...

in 1988.

Week ending	Song	Artist
2 January	Fairytale of New York Fairytale of New York "Fairytale of New York" is a song by the Irish rock group The Pogues, released in 1987 and featuring the British singer Kirsty MacColl. The song is an Irish folk style ballad, written by Jem Finer and Shane MacGowan, and featured on The Pogues' album If I Should Fall from Grace with God...	The Pogues The Pogues The Pogues are a Celtic punk band, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before... featuring Kirsty MacColl Kirsty MacColl Kirsty Anna MacColl was an English singer-songwriter.MacColl scored several pop hits from the early 1980s to the early 1990s...
9 January	Fairytale of New York	The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl
16 January	Heaven is a Place on Earth Heaven is a Place on Earth "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" is the title of a song recorded by Belinda Carlisle, the lead singer of The Go-Go's. Written by Rick Nowels and Ellen Shipley, and interpolating the aria "Schlafe, mein Liebster, genieße der Ruh'" from Johann Sebastian Bach's Christmas Oratorio, it hit number one on the...	Belinda Carlisle Belinda Carlisle Belinda Jo Carlisle is an American singer who gained worldwide fame as the lead vocalist of the Go-Go's, one of the most successful all-female bands and the first such group whose members wrote their own songs and played their own instruments...
23 January	Sign Your Name Sign Your Name "Sign Your Name" is the name of a famous song written and performed by Terence Trent D'Arby .Released in his 1987 album Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby, it was an international success, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart in early 1988 and number four on the US...	Terence Trent D'Arby
30 January	I Think We're Alone Now	Tiffany Tiffany (singer) Tiffany Renee Darwish , known popularly as Tiffany, is an American singer and former teen icon. She is most notable for her 1987 cover version of "I Think We're Alone Now", originally recorded by Tommy James and the Shondells in 1967. Released as the second single from her eponymous album, Tiffany,...
6 February	I Think We're Alone Now	Tiffany
13 February	When Will I Be Famous When Will I Be Famous? (song) "When Will I Be Famous?" was a single by UK boyband Bros, released as a single in 1987 and later appearing on their 1988 album Push. The verses are sung from the viewpoint of an agent or talent scout and the chorus is sung by the viewpoint of the person asking when they will be famous. The song...	Bros Bros Bros were a British band active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, consisting of twin brothers Matt Goss and Luke Goss along with Craig Logan...
20 February	Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car "Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" is a number one single by singer Billy Ocean. Part of its popularity lay in its cutting-edge video, which featured cartoon mixed with live-action sequences. The song went to number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Black Singles chart. It also...	Billy Ocean Billy Ocean Billy Ocean is a Trinidad-born English Grammy Award winning popular music performer who had a string of rhythm and blues international pop hits in the 1970s and 1980s. He was the most popular British-based R&B singer / songwriter of the early to mid-1980s...
27 February	I Should Be So Lucky I Should Be So Lucky "I Should Be So Lucky" is a pop-dance song performed by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. The song was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman for Minogue's debut album Kylie .The song was released as the album's second single in December 1987...	Kylie Minogue Kylie Minogue Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
5 March	I Should Be So Lucky	Kylie Minogue
12 March	Together Forever	Rick Astley Rick Astley Richard Paul "Rick" Astley is an English singer-songwriter, musician, and radio personality. He is known for his 1987 song, "Never Gonna Give You Up", which was a #1 hit single in 25 countries...
19 March	Feet on the Ground	Hothouse Flowers Hothouse Flowers The Hothouse Flowers are an Irish rock group that combines traditional Irish music with influences from soul, gospel and rock.-Career:The group first formed in 1985 when Liam Ó Maonlaí and Fiachna Ó Braonáin began performing as street musicians, or buskers, on the streets of Dublin,Ireland as "The...
26 March	Drop the Boy	Bros
2 April	Could've Been Could've Been "Could've Been" is the third single released from Tiffany, the debut album of American teen-pop singer Tiffany.-Song information:The song was discovered by Music Industry Insiders Don McGovern and Brad Schmidt when they stumbled into a Hungry Tiger Restaurant in Thousand Oaks, California and heard...	Tiffany
9 April	Heart Heart (Pet Shop Boys song) "Heart" is a song recorded by Pet Shop Boys which reached #1 on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks in April 1988 . This is also their last number 1 song to date...	The Pet Shop Boys
16 April	Heart	The Pet Shop Boys
23 April	Heart	The Pet Shop Boys
30 April	One More Try One More Try (George Michael song) "One More Try" is a U.S. number-one hit song written and performed by George Michael and released by Epic Records in 1988 as the fourth single from Faith.-History:...	George Michael George Michael George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
7 May	Perfect Perfect (Fairground Attraction song) "Perfect" is the title to Fairground Attraction's first single, released in March 1988.The single reached number one on the 9 May 1988 UK Singles Chart, where it stayed for one week, and stayed in the chart for thirteen weeks. It also reached number one in South Africa as well as in Australia for...	Fairground Attraction Fairground Attraction Fairground Attraction were a British acoustic pop band. They are best known for their hit single "Perfect", and for helping to launch the career of lead vocalist Eddi Reader.-Career:...
14 May	Perfect	Fairground Attraction
21 May	With a Little Help from My Friends With a Little Help from My Friends -Joe Cocker version:Joe Cocker's version was a radical re-arrangement of the original, in a slower, 6/8 meter, using different chords in the middle eight, and a lengthy instrumental introduction... / She's Leaving Home She's Leaving Home "She's Leaving Home" is a song credited to Lennon–McCartney and released in 1967 on The Beatles album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. McCartney wrote and sang the verse and Lennon the chorus...	Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet are a Scottish pop rock band that formed in the 1980s. They scored a number of hits in the British charts and around the world. The band is composed of Marti Pellow , Tommy Cunningham , Graeme Clark and Neil Mitchell... / Billy Bragg Billy Bragg Stephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes... featuring Cara Tivey Cara Tivey Cara Tivey is an English pianist/keyboardist and vocalist who had mainly worked as a side musician. She is best known for her collaborations with Billy Bragg...
28 May	With a Little Help from My Friends / She's Leaving Home	Wet Wet Wet / Billy Bragg featuring Cara Tivey
4 June	With a Little Help from My Friends / She's Leaving Home	Wet Wet Wet / Billy Bragg featuring Cara Tivey
11 June	The Boys in Green	Republic of Ireland Soccer Squad Republic of Ireland national football team The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
18 June	The Boys in Green	Republic of Ireland Soccer Squad
25 June	The Boys in Green	Republic of Ireland Soccer Squad
2 July	The Boys in Green	Republic of Ireland Soccer Squad
9 July	Fast Car Fast Car "Fast Car" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman. It was released as a single in April 1988 from her self-titled 1988 debut album Tracy Chapman...	Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her singles "Fast Car", "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution", "Baby Can I Hold You", "Give Me One Reason" and "Telling Stories". She is a multi-platinum and four-time Grammy Award-winning artist.-Biography:Tracy Chapman was born in Cleveland,...
16 July	Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You" is a popular song by Gerry Goffin and Michael Masser. It was originally recorded by George Benson for his 1984 album 20/20....	Glenn Medeiros Glenn Medeiros Glenn Alan Medeiros is a Hispanic Hawaiian singer and rapper who was a teenage star in the 1980s.-Biography:...
23 July	Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You	Glenn Mederios
30 July	Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You	Glenn Mederios
6 August	Flight of Earls	Paddy Reilly Paddy Reilly Patrick 'Paddy' Reilly is an Irish folk singer and guitarist. He is one of Ireland's most famous balladeers and is best known for his renditions of "The Fields of Athenry" and "The Town I Loved So Well"....
13 August	The Locomotion The Loco-Motion "The Loco-Motion" is a 1962 pop song written by American songwriters Gerry Goffin and Carole King. The song is notable for appearing in the American Top 5 three times – each time in a different decade: for Little Eva in 1962 ; for Grand Funk Railroad in 1974 ; and for Kylie Minogue in 1988 "The...	Kylie Minogue
20 August	The Only Way Is Up The Only Way Is Up "The Only Way Is Up" is a song written by George Jackson and Johnny Henderson and originally released 1980 as single by soul singer Otis Clay. In 1988, it became a chart-topping single for Yazz and the Plastic Population.-Yazz version:...	Yazz and the Plastic Population
27 August	The Only Way is Up	Yazz and the Plastic Population
3 September	The Harder I Try	Brother Beyond Brother Beyond Brother Beyond were a British boy band / pop group who had mainstream success in the late 1980s.-Biography:The group's first four singles, "I Should Have Lied", "How Many Times", "Chain-Gang Smile" , and an early version of "Can You Keep a Secret?" , were all written by band members Eg White...
10 September	A Groovy Kind of Love A Groovy Kind of Love "A Groovy Kind of Love" is a pop song written by Toni Wine and Carol Bayer for the Screen Gems music publishing company. It is heavily based on the Rondo movement of Sonatina in G major, op. 36 no. 5 by Muzio Clementi...	Phil Collins Phil Collins Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
17 September	A Groovy Kind of Love	Phil Collins
24 September	Desire	U2 U2 U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
1 October	Desire	U2
8 October	Desire	U2
15 October	Desire	U2
22 October	Orinoco Flow (Sail Away) Orinoco Flow "Orinoco Flow " is a 1988 single written and recorded by Enya. It also featured on her second studio album, Watermark.-Background:...	Enya Enya Enya is an Irish singer, instrumentalist and songwriter. Enya is an approximate transliteration of how Eithne is pronounced in the Donegal dialect of the Irish language, her native tongue.She began her musical career in 1980, when she briefly joined her family band Clannad before leaving to...
29 October	Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)	Enya
5 November	Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)	Enya
12 November	Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)	Enya
19 November	Stand Up for Your Love Rights Stand Up for Your Love Rights "Stand Up for Your Love Rights" is a 1988 single performed by Yazz. The song was particularly successful in Ireland and the UK, where it was respectively #1 and #2.-Track listings:7"single# "Stand Up for Your Love Rights" — 4:21...	Yazz
26 November	First Time First Time (Robin Beck song) "First Time" is singer Robin Beck's first significant chart hit, released in 1988. It was originally recorded for a Coca-Cola commercial the same year and subsequently released as a single...	Robin Beck Robin Beck Robin Beck is an American singer. She topped the singles chart in the UK in 1988, and Germany in 1989 with her single "First Time", which had come to the public's attention via its use in a Coca-Cola commercial....
3 December	Missing You	Chris de Burgh Chris de Burgh Chris de Burgh is a British/Irish singer-songwriter. He is most famous for his 1986 love song "The Lady in Red".-Early life:...
10 December	Mistletoe and Wine Mistletoe and Wine "Mistletoe and Wine" is a popular single by Cliff Richard.Written by Jeremy Paul, Leslie Stewart and Keith Strachan, it was originally performed as part of the musical Scraps at the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, London in 1976...	Cliff Richard Cliff Richard Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
17 December	Mistletoe and Wine	Cliff Richard
24 December	Mistletoe and Wine	Cliff Richard
31 December	Mistletoe and Wine	Cliff Richard

29 Number Ones
Most weeks at No.1 (song): "The Boys in Green" - Republic of Ireland Soccer Squad, "Desire" - U2, "Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)" - Enya, "Mistletoe and Wine" - Cliff Richard (4)
Most weeks at No.1 (artist): Republic of Ireland Soccer Squad, U2, Enya, Cliff Richard (4)
Most No.1s: Tiffany, Bros, Kylie Minogue, Yazz (2)

See also