Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh

Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh (Irish pronunciation: [ˈmˠaɾʲeːd̪ˠ n̠ʲiː ˈwiːn̪ˠiː]; born 26 July 1959) is an Irish fiddler and the lead vocalist for the Irish folk music band Altan, which she co-founded with her husband Frankie Kennedy in 1987. Ní Mhaonaigh is recognised as a leading exponent in the Donegal fiddle tradition, and she is often considered one of the foremost singers in the Irish language, her native tongue.[1] She was part of the Irish supergroup T with the Maggies who performed in January 2009 at Temple Bar TradFest in Dublin their first ever two concerts under that name and who released in October 2010 their debut (and to date only) album.[2] After nearly 22 years with Altan, on 28 December 2008 Ní Mhaonaigh premiered in Gweedore (during the Frankie Kennedy Winter Music School) her debut solo album Imeall which was later released worldwide in February 2009. After 29 years with Altan, in October 2016 Ní Mhaonaigh released her alternate band Na Mooneys' debut album Na Mooneys.

Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
Mairéad performing with Altan at Mardis de Plouescat in 2013
Mairéad performing with Altan at Mardis de Plouescat in 2013
Background information
Born (1959-07-26) 26 July 1959
Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician, singer
Instrument(s)Vocals, fiddle
Years active1981–present
Labels
Gael Linn
Websitemairead.ie

Background

Ní Mhaonaigh grew up in Gweedore, County Donegal, on the northwest coast of Ireland. Her father, Proinsias Ó Maonaigh, who got married in 1954,[3] taught her to play the fiddle. She received tuition from fiddler Dinny McLaughlin, who was a frequent visitor to the home when she was young. Ciarán Tourish, who would later join Altan, was also a frequent visitor to the family home and also received tuition from McLaughlin.[4]

Ní Mhaonaigh has two siblings:

  • Her brother Gearóid Ó Maonaigh was an executive in an office for long years,[3] played guitar for Ragairne (a short-lived band formed by Ní Mhaonaigh and Frankie Kennedy, of which singer Enya was a member), appeared on the album Ceol Aduaidh, and organised the Frankie Kennedy Winter School.
  • Her younger sister Anna Ní Mhaonaigh, who was going from job to job, mostly in film and being PA to various TV projects,[3] has contributed backing vocals to several albums and was a member of the (all female) group Macalla.[5]

She met Frankie Kennedy at a session at age 15. Kennedy was inspired to learn to play and soon became a talented flute player. They married in 1981.[6]

Career

The early 1980s: Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh & Frankie Kennedy duo, Ragairne
Ní Mhaonaigh with the short-lived band Ragairne on RTÉ television in the 1980s.

One evening, during a session in Gweedore (County Donegal), fifteen-year-old fiddle player Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, daughter of the session's leader Proinsias Ó Maonaigh, met with Belfast-born eighteen-year-old Frankie Kennedy during his summer trip to the Gaeltacht. They were attracted to each other, and Kennedy wrote to her regularly after leaving Donegal.

Kennedy was advised by a friend that he should learn an instrument if he intended to court Ní Mhaonaigh, and so he got a whistle and taught himself to play. Later he learned the flute, a somewhat louder instrument, so that he could hear himself in sessions. His love for her coupled with perfectionist tendencies turned him into a well-respected flute player.

Kennedy and Ní Mhaonaigh married in 1981.

The new couple continued to play at sessions in Donegal, and this formed the basis for their musical partnership. They made their recording debut on Albert Fry's eponymous record in 1979 and later formed a short-lived group called Ragairne which also included Gearóid Ó Maonaigh, Ní Mhaonaigh's brother, on guitar, Donal O'Hanlon from Newry on guitar, vocals and cittern and was rejoined in 1981 by singer Eithne Ní Bhraonáin, later known as Enya.

Joined by bouzouki player Ciarán Curran and Eithne Ní Bhraonáin, now known as Enya, on synthesizer, Frankie Kennedy and Ní Mhaonaigh released a recording entitled Ceol Aduaidh on Gael-Linn records in 1983.

At the time, Kennedy and Ní Mhaonaigh were earning their living by teaching at St. Oliver Plunkett National School in Malahide, north County Dublin. But live performances in 1984 and 1985, particularly in the United States, convinced them that there was an audience for "no-compromise traditional music played with heart and drive," and they were persuaded to give up teaching.

During this time, the group added guitarist Mark Kelly and released in 1987 a record called Altan, named after a lake in Donegal, although the name Altan wasn't used for the band on that release. Altan was produced by Dónal Lunny, who subsequently appeared as either a producer or guest musician on every Altan album which followed.

1987–present: Altan
Main article: Altan (band)

Forsaking their jobs as teachers, Ní Mhaonaigh and Kennedy formed the band Altan during the late 1980s. Kennedy's death from cancer in 1994 put the band's future in question, but she decided to continue at Kennedy's explicit request.

As well as her work with Altan, Ní Mhaonaigh over the years has presented traditional music programmes on radio and television, including the radio show, The Long Note and the television series, The Pure Drop.

2005–present: String Sisters
Main article: String Sisters

Ní Mhaonaigh is a member of the fiddle ensemble String Sisters active as a band since 2005.

2007–present: T with the Maggies
Main article: T with the Maggies

Ní Mhaonaigh along with friends Moya Brennan, Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill came together as T with the Maggies in 2007, and released their debut album T with the Maggies in October 2010.

2007–present: Solo work & solo live performances
Ní Mhaonaigh performing with her father.

In 2007/08, Ní Mhaonaigh recorded Imeall, her debut (studio) album in the home studio of her friend and musician/co-producer Manus Lunny in Tír Chonaill, County Donegal, Ireland. On 28 December 2008, at the Frankie Kennedy Winter Music School in Gweedore, Ní Mhaonaigh premiered live some songs from the album in an intimate concert with Lunny. For this occasion, she also released a small number of copies of the album. On 12 February 2009, the album was officially launched in Dublin and released worldwide. Only 3000 physical copies were pressed and made available worldwide from her website.[7] The title is Irish for 'Edge' or 'Threshold' and the album features traditional/folk songs as well as new compositions by Ní Mhaonaigh.[7]

Ní Mhaonaigh previously performed two special concerts in January 2008 at the Temple Bar TradFest with long-time friends Moya Brennan, Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill. It was the second time the four musicians ever performed together. It was also the first time Ní Mhaonaigh performed live some songs from her then yet-to-be (worldwide) released solo album Imeall. For the occasion, she was joined by special guests who spent the last few years recording with her.[8][9]

Since February 2009, Ní Mhaonaigh (fiddle, lead vocals) has toured solo and (mostly) as a trio with Manus Lunny (bouzouki) & James Higgins (percussions).[10] She has also guested a few times with other musicians such as French flutist Sylvain Barou (in June 2013 in Calais, France and in April 2014 in L'Île-d'Yeu, France) and French violinist Didier Lockwood (also in June 2013 in Calais).

Ní Mhaonaigh also contributed a track, Má Théid Tú Chun Aonaigh to the Irish charitable album Ceol Cheann Dubhrann which was released in December 2009 to raise funds for two projects in Ranafast, a Gaeltacht area from which she has collected songs.[11]

Ní Mhaonaigh performed live on 28 January 2018 at Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin, Ireland.

Along with her daughter Nia Byrne and her long-time fellow friend, neighbour and producer Manus Lunny, she performed live (before a backstage audience) a (39:50) set of tunes and songs[nb 1] on 3 October 2020 at the Cork Opera as part of the Cork Folk Festival. The live performance was filmed and the stream video was made available through the Cork Folk Festival Facebook page.[12]

On 17 January 2021, Ní Mhaonaigh announced that "[she'd] been really busy composing music for the An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny, County Donegal", to be part of this year's Letterkenny Trad Week 2021. The song for the suite she composed is entitled "Ré an tSolais" which means "The Time of Light".[nb 2] Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and Friends Full Concert was held as a live stream on Sunday evening 24 January 2021 (at 8pm GMT) (€10 per household) during Letterkenny Trad Week 2021 at the An Grianán Theatre. Benefits were due to go to Donegal Cancer Flights and Services and Donegal Hospice.[13][14]

On 5 March 2021, Ní Mhaonaigh announced that her new music piece "Ré an tSolais" would be broadcast on TG4 as part of a show due to be performed on St Patrick's Day 2021 (at 9:30pm GMT).[15] Ní Mhaonaigh teamed up with friends for this televised concert on TG4 on 17 March 2021, also called "Ré an tSolais". Along with this new composition,[nb 3] the show featured other new Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh music like "An Grianstad" / "The Halting Sun" (2020)[nb 4] and "Scread na Bealtaine" (2020),[nb 5] and some of her original music pieces.[nb 6] Ní Mhaonaigh was joined by special guests including Manus Lunny, members of Altan, her nephew (and Na Mooneys fellow band member) Ciarán Ó Maonaigh, and the Harrigan and McGrory families (as openers).[16][nb 7]

2013–present: Na Mooneys

On 7 January 2016, Ní Mhaonaigh announced on her Facebook page that the new band called Na Mooneys that she had formed (along with her nephew Ciarán Ó Maonaigh and her siblings Anna Ní Mhaonaigh and Gearóid Ó Maonaigh) two years earlier (during the last Frankie Kennedy Winter School[nb 8] where they performed their first ever show)[18] were in the process of recording their debut family album.[19][20][21] On their Facebook page (created on 7 January 2016), the band describe themselves as «a family of musicians & singers from the Donegal Gaeltacht» playing Irish traditional music.[22]

On 6 February 2016, the new band Na Mooneys announced that they were just near the end of the recording of their debut album in Manus Lunny's studio, with Anna and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh putting down some vocals for a few songs, before to get ready for the mix.[23]

On 4 June 2016, Na Mooneys took part in the "Féile Ceoil" event ("music festival" in Irish Gaelic) in Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland.[18]

On 30 June 2016, Na Mooneys announced that they are due to perform on 12 July 2016 at Ionad Cois Locha, Dún Lúiche, Ireland, during the Trad Trathnona ("Trad Afternoon"), County Donegal's Summer of traditional Sessions (to occur each Tuesday in July & August).[24]

On 9 September 2016, Na Mooneys announced that they are due to perform their Dublin debut show on 29 January 2017 at St. Michan's Church during the Temple Bar TradFest.[25][26]

On 19 September 2016, Na Mooneys announced the (then forthcoming) release on 6 October 2016 of Na Mooneys, their debut (eponymous) album «of Irish traditional music and song from the Donegal Gaeltacht», revealed its 15-track list and made available a streaming audio version of the first track from it, "Dónal na Gealaí". The album line-up includes Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh on fiddle & song, Gearóid Ó Maonaigh on guitar, Anna Ní Mhaonaigh on whistle and song and Ciarán Ó Maonaigh on fiddle & octave fiddle with special guests Nia Byrne on fiddle & song, Manus Lunny on bouzouki & keyboards and Caitlín Nic Gabhann on concertina, foot percussion & dance.[27][28]

2018–present: The SíFiddlers
Ní Mhaonaigh performing with Altan in 2013

The SíFiddlers are a group of 13 female Donegal fiddlers including Na Mooneys (indeed, "The SíFiddlers" can be translated from Irish to English as "The She Fiddlers") who first came together in Summer 2018 during the Earagail Arts Festival. Their performance at the festival was a huge success, concluding with upwards of 30 fellow female fiddlers from Donegal joining the SíFiddlers on stage for an epic finale celebrating the healthy state of female fiddling in Donegal at present. The 13 members are:[29]

  1. Denise Boyle from Glenties
  2. Tara Connaghan from Glenties
  3. Liz Doherty from Buncrana
  4. Aisling Drost-Byrne from Glencolmcille
  5. Clare Friel (from The Friel Sisters) from Derrynamansher
  6. Claire Gallagher from Kilcar
  7. Brid Harper from Castlefinn
  8. Melanie Houton from Malin
  9. Theresa Kavanagh from Gortahork
  10. Eimear McColgan from Malin
  11. Roisin McGrory from Culdaff
  12. Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh from Gaoth Dobhair
  13. Clodagh Warnock from Moville

On 3 September 2019, the Donegal fiddle music band The SíFiddlers announced, via their Facebook page, that they were recording their debut album.

On 1 July 2020, The SíFiddlers released (first, on digital format, for download only) their (12-track) debut album, simply entitled Donegal Fiddle.[nb 9][30] Physical copies were due to be available around the 5 July 2020.[31]

Siobhan Peoples (daughter of Tommy Peoples) warmly reviewed the album.[nb 10]

Fall 2022: Irish (& UK) concert tour with Cormac De Barra & Mark Redmond

On 4 September 2022, it was announced that Ní Mhaonaigh (fiddle / vocals) would do a 9-date autumnal Irish (& UK) concert tour from 14 September to 2 October 2022 with harpist Cormac De Barra (harp / vocals) and piper Mark Redmond (uilleann pipes / flute / whistles) in Dublin, Dún Laoghaire, Tinahely, Baile Mhúirne, Hammersmith (London), Clifden, Belmullet, Newbridge, Cork (€5-€25).[32][33]

Personal life

Ní Mhaonaigh had a daughter named Nia Byrne (Nia Ní Bheirn) (born on 8 October 2003)[nb 11] with fellow Altan musician Dermot Byrne, whom she married in October 1999.[35] Ní Mhaonaigh and Byrne went separate ways before her first solo album in 2009.[36]

Accolades

Ní Mhaonaigh was named "Donegal Person of the Year" in 2009.[37]

Ní Mhaonaigh has been honoured on 14 December 2016 with the 2017 "Gradam Ceoil TG4" award for "Traditional Musician of the Year".[38][39]

Discography

Solo albums

As Frankie Kennedy & Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh

With Altan

With String Sisters

With T with the Maggies

With Na Mooneys

With The SíFiddlers

Guest roles

Notes
  1. Some of them totally new and some of them having just been recorded in the studio by Mairéad.
  2. About her new music, she stated that "since lockdown last March [2020], [she had] been walking regularly around the shores near [her] home and garnering inspiration from the beauty of the nature that surrounds us all" and that "the light can change the mood of a place and of people. There is nothing like the welcome of a beautiful sunrise to raise our spirits." She also added that "[she's] optimistic that things will get brighter in our future and [she] hope[s] [her new] music [...] will bring a little glimmer of hope to all."
  3. Commissioned by An Grianán Theatre and streamed online earlier this year 2021 as part of Letterkenny Trad Week, "Ré an tSolais" was inspired by the hope of a new era after the intensity of the pandemic lockdown.
  4. ... commissioned by The Rolling Wave RTÉ Radio 1 / ITMA.
  5. ... commissioned by Earagail Arts Festival.
  6. Indeed, the setlist includes two other Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh-written tracks: a Ní Mhaonaigh solo song entitled "Mo Níon Ó" (2007/2008) (Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh) and a Na Mooneys' instrumental medley "Mazurka Róise / The Co. Down Mazurka" (2016) (Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh//Traditional)
  7. This (0h58:55) special "Ré an tSolais" show on 17 March 2021 opened with a (0h15:20) set of tracks (titles unknown) performed by the Harrigan and McGrory families as guests. The setlist from Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh & Friends (0h43:35) own set is: #1 An Grianstad (2020)* (3:52) (Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh) #2 The Halting Sun (2020)* (2:49) (Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh) #3 Scread na Bealtaine (2020)* (1:59) (Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh) #4 Mazurka Róise / The Co. Down Mazurka (2016)** (3:34) (Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh//Traditional) #5 Mo Níon Ó (2007/2008)* (4:29) (Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh) #6 Con Cassidy's Highland (1987)*** (4:12) (traditional, arranged by Frankie Kennedy, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Mark Kelly, Ciarán Curran) #7 "Ré an tSolais" suite (2021)† (20:18) (Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh) (including part 1 (instrumental) (12.14); part 2 (song) (5.27); part 3 (instrumental finale) (2021) (2.37)) (with *: Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh track; **: Na Mooneys' cover; ***: Frankie Kennedy & Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh track; †: Manus Lunny, Martin Tourish, Mark Kelly & Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh (new) track).[17]
  8. The last Frankie Kennedy Winter School occurred in late December 2013 / early January 2014.
  9. Recording, mixing & mastering by Manus Lunny; design/logo by Édain O'Donnell; photography by John Soffe.
  10. "If you're looking for a recording that introduces you to staples such as Dinky Dorians and The Oak Tree, right through to newer compositions such as, The Red Crow, this is for you. Wonderful playing from the entire collective and the more intimate duets and trios that feature, it is testament to the love that these women have for the unique tradition of their beloved home place" ~Siobhan Peoples.[31]
  11. The First Na Mooneys' album supporting show occurred on 8 October 2016 at the Glenties Fiddle concert in Highlands Hotel, Glenties, County Donegal, Ireland. This was Nia Byrne's 13th birthday.[3][34]
  12. "Soilse na Nollag" was made available to help raise funds for the St. Vincent de Paul Society who help people who are disadvantaged all year round, and whose help is especially needed by people at Christmas.
  13. Recording, mixing & mastering by Manus Lunny; design/logo by Édain O'Donnell; photography by John Soffe.

References
  1. "The Full Set – Presenter: Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012.
  2. "T with the Maggies". The Irish Times. 11 November 2010.
  3. McMillen, Robert (28 October 2016), "New album from Altan's Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh a family affair", irishnews.com, retrieved 28 October 2016
  4. Robinson
  5. O'Regan
  6. "Altan · Altan's History". Altan. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  7. "Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh Official website". Mairead.ie. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
  8. "Folk Superstars to perform for Children". Clannad.org.uk. 18 November 2008. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
  9. "Temple Bar to come alive: Mairéad, Moya, Maighréad & Tríona in Concert". Clannad.org.uk. 1 December 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
  10. "Gigs Archive". mairead.ie. May 2016. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  11. "Moya Brennan on the songs of Rann na Feirste". Clannad.org.uk. 12 December 2009. Archived from the original on 15 January 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
  12. Cork Folk Festival Facebook page > "Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh & Manus Lunny {& Nia Byrne} Beo ón Cork Opera House mar chuid don Cork Folk Festival" (= "Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh & Manus Lunny {& Nia Byrne} Live from Cork Opera House as part of the Cork Folk Festival") (3 October 2020)
  13. Livestream to be highlight of Letterkenny Trad Week. Donegal News, January 21, 2021.p.56.
  14. Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh Official website > Ré an tSolais / 17 January 2021. www.mairead.ie, March 6, 2021.
  15. Delighted to announce that my new music Ré an tSolais will be broadcast on TG4 on St Patrick's Day @9:30pm GMT. Facebook, March 5, 2021.
  16. MAIRÉAD NÍ MHAONAIGH COMPOSES NEW MUSIC TO BRING HOPE AFTER PANDEMIC. Donegal Woman, March 11, 2021
  17. www.tg4.ie > Ré an tSolais show > Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh presents a special musical performance from Letterkenny (0h58:55)
  18. "Ag seinm ag an fhéile seo.....ag súil go mór leis an spraoi! (Playing at the festival.....looking forward to the fun!)". Facebook. 27 May 2016. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  19. "Na Mooneys sa studio". Facebook. 7 January 2016. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  20. "Na Mooneys ar Facebook anois". Facebook. 8 January 2016. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  21. "Mairéad is in the studio with her siblings Na Mooneys, to start off the New Year!". Facebook. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  22. "About Na Mooneys". Facebook. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  23. "Ag críochnú an taifeadadh ar na laetha seo le Manus Lunny". Facebook. 6 February 2016. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  24. "Trad Trathnóna Iúil 12 July Na Mooney's". Facebook. June 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  25. "Ag súil go mór leis an Temple Bar Tradfest 29 ú Éanair 2017 (Looking forward to the Temple Bar Tradfest 29 January 2017)". Facebook. 9 August 2016. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  26. "Na Mooneys – Date: Sun 29th". Temple Bar TradFest. 22 July 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  27. "Dónal na Gealaí". Facebook. 19 September 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  28. "Dónal na Gealaí (5:01)". bandcamp.com. September 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  29. The SíFiddlers Facebook page
  30. "ALBUM OUT NOW It's launch day!!! Our full album is now available for download here..." Facebook. 1 July 2020. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  31. "The SíFiddlers". bandcamp.com. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  32. facebook > post "Mairéad is doing an Irish concert tour with Mark Redmond piper and Cormac de Barra" on 4 September 2022
  33. musicnetwork.ie > Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Cormac De Barra & Mark Redmond
  34. "Na Mooneys! (a (31:08) video taken by Síle Friel at the Glenties concert)". Facebook. 8 October 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  35. "'I must carry on'". Irishtimes.com. 28 December 1999. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  36. "Biography". Mairead.ie. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  37. "Mairéad is Donegal Person of Year (2009)". inishowennews.com. 29 January 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  38. Long, Siobhan (14 December 2016), "The best of traditional music: 2016 TG4 Gradam Ceoil award winners announced – This year's recipients cast a light into traditional music's beating heart", The Irish Times, retrieved 14 December 2016
  39. "Gradam Ceoil TG4 2017". TG4. 14 December 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  40. "T with The Maggies". Twiththemaggies.com. Archived from the original on 2 September 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  41. "Soilse na Nollag". bandcamp.com. January 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2018.

Sources
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