Mary Narelle, was born Mary Ryan at the Combaning Sheep Station near Temora, NSW, to parents of Irish descent. She adopted the surname Narelle as her stage name, saying Narelle was a 'queen of the Aboriginal people of Moruya'.

Known as 'the Australian Queen of Irish Song', she proudly identified with her Irish heritage and performed in concerts supporting the move to independence for Ireland. Her first London appearance was a benefit concert in Royal Albert Hall with Ada Crossley and Clara Butt in 1903.

This image was used to promote Marie Narelle's first appearance in Melbourne, at Miss Maud McCarthy's concert at the Melbourne Town Hall on 23 November 1899.