I know it’s been slow…. 2 years in the making – but  I finally mastered my new album today.
The RTE Concert Orchestra, John Sheahan, Neil Martin, Gerald Peregrin and all other collaborators sound devine!
It was a fun day out to Abbey Road, working with Simon Gibson.
I smiled when I found a lucky coin in Geneva airport on the way.
Feeling proud.
It’s sounding so good.
Looking forward to sharing.

What a tremendous honour it was to perform last evening at our Embassy in London for the gathered guests including THR the Prince of Wales & the Duchess of Cornwall. It was a very intimate and special atmosphere of warm friendship and respect between our two nations as we face into the post-brexit future together.

Singing from the ballroom floor in a chamber setting between the tables of Charles and Camilla, the programme included 5 movements all segued through the beautiful arrangements of Neil Martin. Neil and I were joined by harpist Seána Davey and actor Adrian Dunbar.

The movements included Benjamin Britten’s beautiful setting of ‘The Salley Gardens’ by W.B Yates, Tugamar Fein an Samradh Linn (an Irish language song – optimistically welcoming the summer), The poem ‘Everything is Going to be Alright‘ by Derek Mahon, read by Adrian, Ewan Mc Coll’s love song to London ‘Sweet Thames Flow Softly’ and finally a jig by Neil ‘The Queen of the Scals’. 

I and very grateful to our ambassador in London, Adrian O’Neill and his wife Aisling for the invitation to be part of this historic and memorable occasion.

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We’re being asked today ‘who most inspires you?’ on this international women’s day.
I can easily say, hands down, that my two young daughters are my inspiration.
They inspire me every day as they step out with courage to find their own path on this huge adventure – in a new culture & language, with new friends & a new home.
They are already emerging as formidable females, and I can think of no greater privilege than being their mother.

I was so honoured to stand with Moya Brennan, Bridgie Collins & Lucia Evans to sing Mná na hEireann (Women of Ireland) at Croke Park for the visit of to Ireland. By co-incidence, it is the same beautiful song that I sang for HRH Queen Elizabeth II in 2011 during her visit to Ireland.
An incredible night sharing the stage with Andrea Bocelli, Daniel O’Donnell, Nathan Carter, Celine Byrne, Patrick Bergin, Maighread &Tíona Ní Dhomhnall, Riverdance to name a few in a cast of thousands!

Even though the incredible experiece of recording with the RTE Concert Orchestra for my new album has been 12 months ago already… please don’t feel that I’ve hidden away! I’ve been working tirelessly to make as beautiful a recording as I can, and it is at mixing stage now, so very nearly there! I can’t wait for you to hear it!

Exiting new changes for me this month, as I will officially be bi-locating between Ireland and Switzerland, as I take my girls to set up home in Geneva.

I’ll be so looking forward to going back and forth between both of the extraordinary places that I will be lucky to call home. Tours and concerts as usual in Ireland, and who knows what continental delights await, as I prepare to release my new orchestral album!

What a unique pleasure and honour for me this evening, to receive the award for Arts and Culture from my alma mater Maynooth University!
And, the only alumna in the esteemed company of poet Michael Longley and director Lenny Abrahamson, to top it off! Thank you to Prof Philip Nolan and all at Maynooth University for a beautiful summer soirée, and for the generous recognition of my work.
Choosing Maynooth was such a positive pivotal decision for me, such a wonderful place to study.

That was a magnificent night. The glorious music and words of Brendan Graham shooting right through the heart of all of us, audience and artist one and all. And to sing Neil Martin’s thoughtful and richly emotional arrangement of Crucan an bPaiste under the intensely musical baton of David Brophy… just soul-nourishing. Simultaneously ecstatic and devastating. I’ll never forget it.

You will have another chance to hear this unique interoperation of Irish music set for Classical Brass Quintet and trad ensemble.
Following on from the acclaimed debut at St Patricks Cathedral Dublin earlier this year, BREATH UPON THE FLAME is coming to the magnificent spaces of GALWAY So special, you won’t want to miss it!