Méav Ní Mhaolchatha facts for kids

Méav Ní Mhaolchatha (pronounced MAYV nee WAYL-khuh-hah), often known simply as Méav, is a talented Irish singer and songwriter. She specializes in the traditional music of Ireland, her home country. Méav was one of the first singers in the famous group Celtic Woman, which has sold millions of albums worldwide. Her own solo albums have also been very successful, reaching the top 10 on the Billboard World Music charts. She can sing in many languages, including English, Irish, French, Latin, Italian, and German.

Music Career

Méav grew up in a musical family and started singing when she was very young. She studied law at Trinity College Dublin and graduated in 1993. Soon after, she began her professional singing career.

Early Performances

From 1994 to 1998, Méav was a member of an Irish choir called Anúna. With Anúna, she recorded four albums. Later, in 2006, a collection of her solo and choir songs with Anúna was released called Celtic Dreams. She also performed with Anúna in the famous show Riverdance.

Méav then toured the United States as a solo singer with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. She also performed as a soloist in South Africa with the show Lord of the Dance.

Solo Success

In 1999, Méav released her first solo album, which was named Méav. This album became popular around the world and led to concert tours in Japan and South Korea.

Joining Celtic Woman

Méav became very well-known as a founding member of the group Celtic Woman in 2004. She appeared on three of their early albums: Celtic Woman, A Christmas Celebration, and A New Journey.

In 2005, Méav took a break from touring with Celtic Woman because she was expecting her first child, Anna. Another Irish singer, Deirdre Shannon, filled in for her during this time. Méav returned in 2006 to record the New Journey album and DVD. She toured extensively with the group in the US and Japan in 2006 and 2007. She was also featured on the album The Greatest Journey Essential Collection.

After Celtic Woman

In 2007, after filming a Christmas DVD with Celtic Woman, Méav decided to leave the group. She wanted to focus on her solo career. She performed a series of solo concerts in New England, USA.

In 2009, Méav performed in her hometown of Dublin to great reviews. She also welcomed her second daughter, Catherine. That same year, she recorded the song "Where the Sunbeams Play" for the Disney movie Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure.

In 2010, Méav was a special guest at Órla Fallon's Celtic Christmas concert in Nashville. She sang a duet with Órla Fallon and performed her own version of "O Holy Night." She also joined other singers, including David Archuleta and Vince Gill, for the finale song. This concert was recorded and shown on PBS.

Méav also took part in a world music concert in France called "Divinas." She performed alongside Yulia Townsend and Israeli singer Rita.

Méav was a guest soloist on the Celtic Woman Christmas album Home for Christmas. This was her first time appearing with the group since leaving in 2007. She also appeared in the Celtic Woman PBS special for Home for Christmas, which was filmed in August 2013.

In January 2012, Méav participated in a TV special called Quest Beyond the Stars. This show was filmed at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London.

She released a new solo album, The Calling, in Autumn 2013.

Méav rejoined Celtic Woman temporarily for their 10th-anniversary tour in North America in 2015. She also returned to Celtic Woman in 2018 as their vocal director for their Homecoming album.

Personal Life

Méav is married to Tom Clinch, and they have two daughters. Their daughter Catherine Clinch is also very talented. At just 12 years old, Catherine won the Best Actress Award at the 2022 IFTAs (Irish Film & Television Awards). She won for her main role in the Irish-language film An Cailín Ciúin, which was released in 2022.

Discography

Solo Albums

With Celtic Woman

With Yulia and Rita