[1] With several members who are prominent performers, both solo and in other constellations in the Irish traditional music scene, Solas has been described as a "Supergroup".

Prior to their self-titled debut album’s 1996 release, the idea for a band was conceived by multi-instrumentalist Séamus Egan, an Irish champion flautist and multi-instrumentalist who had already recorded two solo albums and a soundtrack to a film (as well as having composed “I Will Remember You”, performed by Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan).

[3] He was soon joined by his friends, vocalist Karan Casey, from Waterford, and fiddler Winifred Horan, from New York.

After the release of their self-titled debut album (1996) and Sunny Spells and Scattered Showers (1997), Williams would depart the band to focus on solo projects, being replaced by accordionist and concertina-player Mick McAuley from Kilkenny (who would ultimately remain with the group).

After completing their third record, The Words That Remain (1998), Karan Casey would leave Solas to focus on her own solo ventures, with Deirdre Scanlan joining as vocalist for their fourth album, The Hour Before Dawn (2000).