Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh
Encyclopedia
Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh is a musician and singer from County Kerry
, Ireland
. She is the lead singer from the traditional music group Danú
. Her name is pronounced MWI-ren Nick OWL-eve.
, the smallest of the Aran Islands
, and Cape Clear Island, another small island off the coast of County Cork. Both of these communities are Gaeltacht
s (Irish speaking areas), and Muireann's first language is Irish
. This was to affect her later career, due to her early exposure to Irish language song, especially in the Sean nós
tradition. She began playing piano
and fiddle
at an early age, before progressing to the whistle
and eventually the flute
. Muireann's early musical experiences also included accompanying her father, respected traditional Irish fiddle player Feargal Mac Amhlaoibh, to sessions. When Muireann moved to the West Kerry
Gaeltacht, she joined the national folk theatre of Ireland, Siamsa Tíre
. During the six years she spent with them, she participated in several of their major performances. While in Kerry her singing developed, learning and gaining influence from local singers such as the Begley family, Áine Ní Laoithe and Eilín Ní Chearna. She spent four years in Dublin attending the Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology
earning a diploma
in fine art. She then studied at the University of Limerick
and was awarded an MA in Traditional Music Performance.
. She also recorded on a number of CDs including The Crooked Road by William Coulter
, Cello by Barry Phillips
, and several compilation CDs. As part of the requirements for her MA in traditional music performance, Muireann produced a solo album of tunes and songs, entitled Réalt na Maidine/Morning Star. A limited edition of this album was distributed, mainly locally in Dingle, although copies were also sold in the United States
and Europe
.
Muireann's joining of traditional Irish supergroup Danú in 2003 marked a new departure in her musical career. Ciarán O Gealbháin, Danú's former lead singer, left the band in 2003, and Muireann took over as singer and whistle player, occasionally joining band member Tom Doorley in playing the flute. She recorded her first album with Danú in 2003, called The Road Less Travelled (The American release of the album spelled the title Traveled). The addition of Nic Amhlaoibh to the band lineup was hailed as a success. Danú recorded an album of solos in 2004, entitled Up In The Air, and Muireann played and sang on three tracks. 2005 saw the band release the album When All is Said and Done. Muireann participated in the project Hands Across the Water. This was a collaboration album with participation from dozens of high profile traditional and folk musicians and singers, with the proceeds of album sales going to victims of the tsunami
in southeast Asia. Muireann released her first major solo CD in 2006, entitled Daybreak/Fáinne an Lae. It featured musicians such as Oisín Mc Auley and Éamonn Doorley from Danú, Gerry O Beirne, and John Doyle
from Solas
.
Muireann's television appearances include The Highland Sessions, a BBC Four
television series featuring Irish and Scottish Gaelic music. Other television work work includes The Late Late Show
, Amuigh Faoin Spéir by Éamonn de Buitléir, The History of Irish Dance, Léargas, An Ghaeilge Bheo, and Cuirm@Celtic
on BBC Alba
. Radio work includes Rattlebag and The Late Session with Aine Hensey on RTE
, and An Saol ó Dheas on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
.
In 2008, Muireann recorded Dual
in both Irish Gaelic and Scottish Gaelic with Julie Fowlis
, Éamonn Doorley (of Danú
) and Ross Martin to highlight the many similarities and differences between both Irish and Scottish Gaelic cultures. Dual
was released in October 2008.
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. She is the lead singer from the traditional music group Danú
Danú
Danú is an Irish traditional music band.The members of Danú met in Waterford in Southeastern Ireland in 1994. After performing in the Festival Interceltique de Lorient in 2005, the then thrown-together group decided to consolidate as a band....
. Her name is pronounced MWI-ren Nick OWL-eve.
Biography
Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh grew up on Inis OirrInisheer
Inisheer is the smallest and most eastern of the three Aran Islands in Galway Bay, Ireland.-Naming:The official name, , was brought into usage by the Ordnance Survey Ireland. It may be a compromise between the traditional local name and the previous official name . There is no Irish word...
, the smallest of the Aran Islands
Aran Islands
The Aran Islands or The Arans are a group of three islands located at the mouth of Galway Bay, on the west coast of Ireland. They constitute the barony of Aran in County Galway, Ireland...
, and Cape Clear Island, another small island off the coast of County Cork. Both of these communities are Gaeltacht
Gaeltacht
is the Irish language word meaning an Irish-speaking region. In Ireland, the Gaeltacht, or an Ghaeltacht, refers individually to any, or collectively to all, of the districts where the government recognises that the Irish language is the predominant language, that is, the vernacular spoken at home...
s (Irish speaking areas), and Muireann's first language is Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
. This was to affect her later career, due to her early exposure to Irish language song, especially in the Sean nós
Sean-nós song
Sean-nós is a highly ornamented style of unaccompanied traditional Irish singing. It is a sean-nós activity, which also includes sean-nós dancing...
tradition. She began playing piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
at an early age, before progressing to the whistle
Whistle
A whistle or call is a simple aerophone, an instrument which produces sound from a stream of forced air. It may be mouth-operated, or powered by air pressure, steam, or other means...
and eventually the flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
. Muireann's early musical experiences also included accompanying her father, respected traditional Irish fiddle player Feargal Mac Amhlaoibh, to sessions. When Muireann moved to the West Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
Gaeltacht, she joined the national folk theatre of Ireland, Siamsa Tíre
Siamsa Tire-Folk theatre
Siamsa Tíre is Ireland's National Folk Theatre located in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland.Siamsa Tíre was founded in 1974 by Father Pat Ahern and is the showcase of Irish music, dance, storytelling and mime. Siamsa is an Irish word meaning entertainment or amusement, Tíre means of the...
. During the six years she spent with them, she participated in several of their major performances. While in Kerry her singing developed, learning and gaining influence from local singers such as the Begley family, Áine Ní Laoithe and Eilín Ní Chearna. She spent four years in Dublin attending the Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology
Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology
IADT - Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology is located at Dún Laoghaire, Ireland was established in 1997 and incorporated the former Dun Laoghaire College of Art and Design as its School of Creative Arts.-Campus:...
earning a diploma
Diploma
A diploma is a certificate or deed issued by an educational institution, such as a university, that testifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study or confers an academic degree. In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the word diploma refers to...
in fine art. She then studied at the University of Limerick
University of Limerick
The University of Limerick is a university in Ireland near the city of Limerick on the island's west coast. It was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989...
and was awarded an MA in Traditional Music Performance.
Recording
Muireann's first recordings were on a CD of Irish traditional music and song performed by Geantraí, a group of musicians who performed a show of the same name in the Skellig hotel in DingleDingle
Dingle is a town in County Kerry, Ireland. The only town on the Dingle Peninsula, it sits on the Atlantic coast, about 49 kilometres southwest of Tralee and 71 kilometres northwest of Killarney....
. She also recorded on a number of CDs including The Crooked Road by William Coulter
William Coulter
William Coulter is a renowned Celtic guitarist, performer, recording artist, and teacher. Since 1981 he has explored the world of traditional music as a soloist with ensembles including Isle of Skye, Orison, and the Coulter-Phillips Ensemble.- Early life :...
, Cello by Barry Phillips
Barry Phillips
Barry Phillips is a musician, arranger and producer of many recordings of Celtic, world and American folk music on the Gourd Music label.Barry received a Masters of Music degree in composition from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in 1990...
, and several compilation CDs. As part of the requirements for her MA in traditional music performance, Muireann produced a solo album of tunes and songs, entitled Réalt na Maidine/Morning Star. A limited edition of this album was distributed, mainly locally in Dingle, although copies were also sold in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
Muireann's joining of traditional Irish supergroup Danú in 2003 marked a new departure in her musical career. Ciarán O Gealbháin, Danú's former lead singer, left the band in 2003, and Muireann took over as singer and whistle player, occasionally joining band member Tom Doorley in playing the flute. She recorded her first album with Danú in 2003, called The Road Less Travelled (The American release of the album spelled the title Traveled). The addition of Nic Amhlaoibh to the band lineup was hailed as a success. Danú recorded an album of solos in 2004, entitled Up In The Air, and Muireann played and sang on three tracks. 2005 saw the band release the album When All is Said and Done. Muireann participated in the project Hands Across the Water. This was a collaboration album with participation from dozens of high profile traditional and folk musicians and singers, with the proceeds of album sales going to victims of the tsunami
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea megathrust earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC on Sunday, December 26, 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake itself is known by the scientific community as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake...
in southeast Asia. Muireann released her first major solo CD in 2006, entitled Daybreak/Fáinne an Lae. It featured musicians such as Oisín Mc Auley and Éamonn Doorley from Danú, Gerry O Beirne, and John Doyle
John Doyle (musician)
John Doyle is an Irish musician and songwriter. For four years he served as acoustic guitarist with the Irish/American band Solas. He is now an active solo artist...
from Solas
Solas
Solas is an Irish-American musical group formed in 1994, playing Irish traditional music as well as original compositions, sometimes demonstrating an inclination towards Country music in recent albums....
.
Muireann's television appearances include The Highland Sessions, a BBC Four
BBC Four
BBC Four is a British television network operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation and available to digital television viewers on Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable....
television series featuring Irish and Scottish Gaelic music. Other television work work includes The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company RTÉ...
, Amuigh Faoin Spéir by Éamonn de Buitléir, The History of Irish Dance, Léargas, An Ghaeilge Bheo, and Cuirm@Celtic
Celtic Connections
The Celtic Connections festival started in 1994 in Glasgow, Scotland, and has since been held every January. Featuring over 300 concerts, ceilidhs, talks, free events, late night sessions and workshops, the festival focuses on the roots of traditional Scottish music and also features international...
on BBC Alba
BBC Alba
BBC Gàidhlig is the department of BBC Scotland that produces Scottish Gaelic language programming. This includes TV programmes for BBC Alba and BBC Two Scotland, the BBC Radio nan Gàidheal radio station and the BBC Alba website.-Television:...
. Radio work includes Rattlebag and The Late Session with Aine Hensey on RTE
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
, and An Saol ó Dheas on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta , abbreviated RnaG, is the Irish-language radio service of the public-service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. The station is available on FM in Ireland and via satellite and on the Internet.- History :...
.
In 2008, Muireann recorded Dual
Dual (album)
Dual is an album by four acclaimed Irish and Scottish musicians: Éamonn Doorley, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh , Julie Fowlis and Ross Martin....
in both Irish Gaelic and Scottish Gaelic with Julie Fowlis
Julie Fowlis
Julie Fowlis is a Scottish folk singer and multi-instrumentalist who sings primarily in Scottish Gaelic.-Musical career:Fowlis grew up in North Uist, an island in the Outer Hebrides, in a Gaelic-speaking community, and has been involved in singing, piping and dancing since she was a child.She is a...
, Éamonn Doorley (of Danú
Danú
Danú is an Irish traditional music band.The members of Danú met in Waterford in Southeastern Ireland in 1994. After performing in the Festival Interceltique de Lorient in 2005, the then thrown-together group decided to consolidate as a band....
) and Ross Martin to highlight the many similarities and differences between both Irish and Scottish Gaelic cultures. Dual
Dual (album)
Dual is an album by four acclaimed Irish and Scottish musicians: Éamonn Doorley, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh , Julie Fowlis and Ross Martin....
was released in October 2008.
Albums
- Morning Star/Réalt na Maidine (2002)
- Daybreak/Fáinne an Lae (2006)
- DualDual (album)Dual is an album by four acclaimed Irish and Scottish musicians: Éamonn Doorley, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh , Julie Fowlis and Ross Martin....
(2008 - with Julie FowlisJulie FowlisJulie Fowlis is a Scottish folk singer and multi-instrumentalist who sings primarily in Scottish Gaelic.-Musical career:Fowlis grew up in North Uist, an island in the Outer Hebrides, in a Gaelic-speaking community, and has been involved in singing, piping and dancing since she was a child.She is a...
)
With Danú
- The Road Less Travelled (2003)
- Up In The Air (2004)
- When All Is Said and Done (2005)
- One Night Stand (Danú DVD) (2005)
- Seanchas (2010)