Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
Encyclopedia
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh (ˈmaɾʲed̪ nʲiː ˈwiːn̪i) (born 26 July 1962) is an Irish
fiddler and the lead vocalist for the Irish traditional band Altan.
(Gaoth Dobhair), County Donegal
, on the northwest coast of Ireland.
Her father, Proinsias Ó Maonaigh
, 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.
Ní Mhaonaigh has two siblings. Her brother Gearóid played guitar for Ragairne (a short-lived band formed by Ní Mhaonaigh and Frankie Kennedy), appeared on the album Ceol Aduaidh
, and organises the Frankie Kennedy Winter School. Her younger sister Anna has contributed backing vocals to several albums and was a member of the group Macalla.
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.
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.
, Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill
and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill
came together as T with the Maggies
in 2007, and released their debut album
in October 2010. Ní Mhaonaigh is also a member of the fiddle ensemble, String Sisters
.
Ní Mhaonaigh's first solo album, Imeall
, was released in 2009. It was recorded in 2007/08 and co-produced by Manus Lunny
. The title is Irish for 'Edge' or 'Threshold' and features traditional/folk songs as well as new compositions by Ní Mhaonaigh. Ní Mhaonaigh débuted songs from the album on 28 December at the 2008 Frankie Kennedy Winter School in an intimate concert with Lunny and also released a small quantity of albums. The album was officially launched in Dublin on 12 February 2009. She has only released 3000 physical copies worldwide from her website.
Ní Mhaonaigh also performed two special concerts with long-time friends Moya Brennan
and Maighread
& Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill
at the Temple Bar TradFest in January 2008, the second time the four musicians performed together. It was the first time she performed songs from her forthcoming album and was joined by special guests who spent the last few years recording with her. Mairéad 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 Mairéad has collected songs.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
fiddler and the lead vocalist for the Irish traditional band Altan.
Biography
Ní Mhaonaigh grew up in GweedoreGweedore
Gweedore is an Irish-speaking district located on the Atlantic coast of County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. Gweedore stretches some 16 miles from Meenaclady in the north to Crolly in the south and around 9 miles from Dunlewey in the east to Magheraclogher in the west, and...
(Gaoth Dobhair), County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, on the northwest coast of Ireland.
Her father, Proinsias Ó Maonaigh
Proinsias Ó Maonaigh
Proinsias Ó Maonaigh or Francie Mooney was a fiddler from Gweedore , County Donegal, Ireland. He is known for his distinguished fiddle playing and his unique and vast contribution to Irish music and culture....
, taught her to play the 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...
. 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.
Ní Mhaonaigh has two siblings. Her brother Gearóid played guitar for Ragairne (a short-lived band formed by Ní Mhaonaigh and Frankie Kennedy), appeared on the album Ceol Aduaidh
Ceol Aduaidh
Ceol Aduaidh is the first album by Frankie Kennedy and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh , originally released in 1983 on the Gael-Linn Records label . It was reissued in 1994 by Green Linnet Records and in 2009 by Gael-Linn...
, and organises the Frankie Kennedy Winter School. Her younger sister Anna has contributed backing vocals to several albums and was a member of the group Macalla.
She met Frankie Kennedy
Frankie Kennedy
Frankie Kennedy was a flute and tin whistle player born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He was also the co-founder of the band Altan, formed with his wife Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh...
at a session at age 15. Kennedy was inspired to learn to play and soon became a talented flute player. They married in 1981.
Altan
Forsaking their jobs as teachers, Ní Mhaonaigh and Kennedy formed the band Altan during the late eighties. 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.
T with the Maggies & String Sisters
Mairéad along with friends Moya BrennanMoya Brennan
Moya Brennan, born Máire Ní Bhraonáin , also known as Máire Brennan , is an Irish folk singer, songwriter, harpist, and philanthropist who began performing professionally in 1970, when her family formed the band Clannad, and is now widely considered as the "First Lady of Celtic Music"...
, Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill
Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill
Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill is an Irish traditional singer from Kells, County Meath. Known for her work with the short-lived, but very highly regarded Skara Brae and her collaborations with sister Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, as well as other traditional musicians...
and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill
Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill
Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill is an Irish traditional singer, pianist, and composer, considered one of the most influential female vocalists in the history of Irish music. She is famed for her work with traditional Irish groups such as Skara Brae, The Bothy Band, Relativity, Touchstone, and Nightnoise.-...
came together as T with the Maggies
T with the Maggies
T with the Maggies are an Irish traditional supergroup from County Donegal, Ireland. The group first performed together at a tribute concert to folk singer and guitarist Mícheál Ó Domhnaill, older brother of Triona and Maighread, and released their debut album in October 2010.-Background:Band...
in 2007, and released their debut album
T with the Maggies (album)
-Release:The album was launched in Dublin on 29 October 2010 by actor Stephen Rea. Friends of the singers in attendance included musicians Luka Bloom, Neil Martin and Paul Brady and broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan...
in October 2010. Ní Mhaonaigh is also a member of the fiddle ensemble, String Sisters
String Sisters
String Sisters are a Grammy long-listed folk supergroup made up six of the world's leading female fiddlers.-Formation:...
.
Solo work
Imeall
- Personnel :*Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh - vocals, Irish fiddle, Hardanger fiddle*Manus Lunny - bouzouki, programming, vocals, guitar*Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill - piano*Dónal Lunny - bodhrán*Michael McGoldrick - flute, uileann Pipes*Jim Higgins - percussion, bodhrán...
, was released in 2009. It was recorded in 2007/08 and co-produced by Manus Lunny
Manus Lunny
Manus Lunny is an Irish producer and multi-instrumentalist from County Donegal, Ireland. He is the brother of multi-instrumentalist and producer Dónal Lunny.-Biography:...
. The title is Irish for 'Edge' or 'Threshold' and features traditional/folk songs as well as new compositions by Ní Mhaonaigh. Ní Mhaonaigh débuted songs from the album on 28 December at the 2008 Frankie Kennedy Winter School in an intimate concert with Lunny and also released a small quantity of albums. The album was officially launched in Dublin on 12 February 2009. She has only released 3000 physical copies worldwide from her website.
Ní Mhaonaigh also performed two special concerts with long-time friends Moya Brennan
Moya Brennan
Moya Brennan, born Máire Ní Bhraonáin , also known as Máire Brennan , is an Irish folk singer, songwriter, harpist, and philanthropist who began performing professionally in 1970, when her family formed the band Clannad, and is now widely considered as the "First Lady of Celtic Music"...
and Maighread
Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill
Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill is an Irish traditional singer from Kells, County Meath. Known for her work with the short-lived, but very highly regarded Skara Brae and her collaborations with sister Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, as well as other traditional musicians...
& Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill
Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill
Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill is an Irish traditional singer, pianist, and composer, considered one of the most influential female vocalists in the history of Irish music. She is famed for her work with traditional Irish groups such as Skara Brae, The Bothy Band, Relativity, Touchstone, and Nightnoise.-...
at the Temple Bar TradFest in January 2008, the second time the four musicians performed together. It was the first time she performed songs from her forthcoming album and was joined by special guests who spent the last few years recording with her. Mairéad also contributed a track, Má Théid Tú Chun Aonaigh to the Irish charitable album Ceol Cheann Dubhrann
Ceol Cheann Dubhrann
-Singers:* Máire Ní Bhraonáin* Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh* Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill* Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill* Gearóidín Breathnach* Dónall Mac Ruairí* Connie Mhary Mhicí Ó Gallchóir* Bernard Ó Duibheannaigh* Aodh Óg Ó Duibheannaigh* Aodh Mac Ruairí...
which was released in December 2009 to raise funds for two projects in Ranafast, a 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...
area from which Mairéad has collected songs.
T with the Maggies
- 2010 (October) T with the MaggiesT with the Maggies (album)-Release:The album was launched in Dublin on 29 October 2010 by actor Stephen Rea. Friends of the singers in attendance included musicians Luka Bloom, Neil Martin and Paul Brady and broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan...
http://www.twiththemaggies.com/
Frankie Kennedy & Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
- 1983 Ceol AduaidhCeol AduaidhCeol Aduaidh is the first album by Frankie Kennedy and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh , originally released in 1983 on the Gael-Linn Records label . It was reissued in 1994 by Green Linnet Records and in 2009 by Gael-Linn...
- 1987 AltanAltan (album)Altan is the second album by Frankie Kennedy and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh , originally released in 1987 by Green Linnet Records. The musicians appearing on this album are substantially those that became the early incarnation of the band Altan...
Altan
- 1989 Horse with a HeartHorse with a HeartHorse with a Heart is the first studio album by Altan, released in 1989 on the Green Linnet Records label.-Track listing:All titles arranged by Altan.# "The Curlew/McDermott's/Three Scones of Boxty/Unnamed Reel" – 4:11# "The Lass of Glenshee" – 4:38...
- 1990 The Red CrowThe Red CrowThe Red Crow is the second studio album by Altan, released in 1990 on the Green Linnet Records label. The title track, written by Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh also features on her 2008 début album, Imeall.-Track listing:All titles are arranged by Altan....
- 1991 Harvest StormHarvest StormHarvest Storm is the third studio album by Altan, released in 1992 on the Green Linnet label.-Track listing:All titles arranged by Altan.# "Pretty Peg/New Ships A-Sailing/The Bird's Nest/The Man From Bundoran" – 3:37...
- 1993 Island AngelIsland AngelIsland Angel is the fourth studio album by Altan, released in 1993 on the Green Linnet label.-Track listing:All arrangements are by Altan.# "Tommy Peoples/The Windmill/Fintan McManus's" – 3:14# "Bríd Óg Ní Mháille" – 5:00...
- 1996 BlackwaterBlackwater (Altan album)Blackwater is the fifth studio album by Altan, released in 1996 on the Virgin Records label. Three of the songs are sung in Irish. "Ar Bhruach Na Carraige Baine" is sung partly in English and in Irish. "Blackwaterside" is sung in English...
- 1997 Runaway SundayRunaway SundayRunaway Sunday is the sixth studio album by Altan, released in 1997 on the Virgin Records label.-Track listing:All titles arranged by Altan.# "Súil Ghorm" – 2:45# "John Doherty's Reels" – 2:35# "Caidé Sin Don Té Sin?" – 3:13# "Germans" – 3:13...
- 2000 Another SkyAnother SkyAnother Sky is the seventh studio album by Irish traditional band Altan. It was released in 2000 on the Narada Productions label.The title derives from a line in Steve Cooney's song "Island Girl", which Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh sings on the album with Cooney himself as accompanist. This album is a...
- 2002 The Blue IdolThe Blue IdolThe Blue Idol is the eighth studio album by Irish traditional band Altan. It was released in 2002 on the Narada label and was mixed and engineered by nine-time Grammy Award-winner Gary Paczosa....
- 2005 Local GroundLocal GroundLocal Ground is the ninth studio album by Altan. It was released in 2005 on the Narada label.-Track listing:# "Éirigh's Cuir Ort Do Chuid Éadaigh " – 3:18...
- 2009 Altan: With the RTÉ Concert Orchestra
Guest roles
- 1991 Albert Fry (Albert Fry)
- 1991 Fiddle Sticks (various artists)
- 1993 The Holy Ground (Mary BlackMary BlackMary Black is an Irish singer. She is well known as an interpreter of both folk and contemporary material which has made her a major recording artist in her native Ireland, and in many other parts of the world....
) - 1994 Lullaby: A Collection (various artists - Ní Mhaonaigh sings The Cradle Song, wrongly attributed to Karan CaseyKaran CaseyKaran Casey is an Irish folk singer, and a former member of the Irish band Solas.-Early years:Casey was born in Ballyduff Lower, Kilmeaden, County Waterford, Ireland. Her family encouraged her to sing in the house, in a church choir and at school. At Waterford Regional Technical College she...
) - 2001 Little SparrowLittle Sparrow-Chart performance:-External links:*...
(Dolly PartonDolly PartonDolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
) - 2001 Volume 3: Further in TimeVolume 3: Further in TimeVolume 3: Further in Time is the third studio album from Afro Celt Sound System, released June 19, 2001 through Real World Records.-Track listing:# "North" - 6:48# "North 2" - 2:59# "When You're Falling" - 5:14...
(Afro Celt Sound SystemAfro Celt Sound SystemThe Afro Celt Sound System is a musical group which fuses modern electronic dance rhythms with traditional Irish and West African music...
) - 2008 Tráthnóna Beag Aréir (Albert Fry)
- 2008 The Original Transatlantic Sessions DVD (various artists)