Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
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Mairéad performing with Altan at Mardis de Plouescat in 2013
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| Background information | |
| Born | 26 July 1959 Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer |
| Instruments | Vocals, fiddle |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Labels |
Gael Linn
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| Associated acts |
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Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh (born 26 July 1959) is a famous Irish musician. She plays the fiddle and is the lead singer for the Irish folk music band Altan. She started Altan in 1987 with her husband, Frankie Kennedy.
Mairéad is known as a top player of the Donegal fiddle tradition. Many people also think she is one of the best singers in the Irish language, which is her native tongue. She was also part of the Irish supergroup T with the Maggies. In 2009, she released her first solo album, Imeall. Later, in 2016, she released the first album with her other band, Na Mooneys.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Roots
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh grew up in Gweedore, a town in County Donegal, on the northwest coast of Ireland. Her father, Proinsias Ó Maonaigh, taught her to play the fiddle. He was a big influence on her music.
She also learned from fiddler Dinny McLaughlin. He often visited her family's home when she was young. Ciarán Tourish, who later joined Altan, also learned from McLaughlin at Mairéad's home.
Mairéad has two siblings. Her brother, Gearóid Ó Maonaigh, played guitar in an early band with Mairéad. Her younger sister, Anna Ní Mhaonaigh, has sung backup on several albums.
Mairéad met Frankie Kennedy when she was 15. They met at a music session. Frankie was inspired to learn music and became a talented flute player. They got married in 1981.
Music Career Highlights
Starting with Frankie Kennedy
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh met Frankie Kennedy during his summer visit to the Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking area). He was 18 and she was 15. They became very close.
Frankie learned to play the tin whistle and then the flute. He wanted to be able to play music with Mairéad. Their shared love for music became the base of their partnership.
They first recorded music in 1979. Later, they formed a band called Ragairne. Mairéad's brother Gearóid and even singer Enya were part of this group for a short time.
In 1983, Frankie and Mairéad released an album called Ceol Aduaidh. They were joined by bouzouki player Ciarán Curran and Enya, who played synthesizer.
At first, Mairéad and Frankie were teachers. But they loved playing traditional music. They saw that people enjoyed their music, especially in the United States. So, they decided to stop teaching and focus on music.
In 1987, they released another album called Altan. The band was named after a lake in Donegal. This album was produced by Dónal Lunny, who worked on many of their future albums.
Altan: A Journey in Music
Mairéad and Frankie officially formed the band Altan in the late 1980s. They left their teaching jobs to play music full-time.
Sadly, Frankie Kennedy passed away from cancer in 1994. This made the band's future uncertain. But Mairéad decided to keep playing, as Frankie had wanted her to.
Besides playing with Altan, Mairéad has also hosted traditional music shows. She has been on radio and television, sharing her love for Irish music.
String Sisters: Fiddle Power
Since 2005, Mairéad has been a member of a special fiddle group called String Sisters. This group brings together talented fiddle players.
T with the Maggies: Friends Making Music
In 2007, Mairéad joined her friends Moya Brennan, Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill, and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill. They formed the group T with the Maggies. They released their first album in 2010.
Solo Work and Performances
In 2007 and 2008, Mairéad recorded her first solo album, Imeall. She recorded it at the home studio of her friend and co-producer, Manus Lunny. The album was first shown in Gweedore in December 2008. It was then released worldwide in February 2009. The title Imeall means 'Edge' or 'Threshold' in Irish. The album has traditional songs and new music written by Mairéad.
Since 2009, Mairéad has toured as a solo artist. She often performs with Manus Lunny and James Higgins. She has also played with other musicians, like French flutist Sylvain Barou.
In 2021, Mairéad composed new music for the An Grianán Theatre in Letterkenny. One of her songs was called "Ré an tSolais," meaning "The Time of Light." This music was part of a live stream concert for Letterkenny Trad Week.
Na Mooneys: Family Music
In 2016, Mairéad announced a new band called Na Mooneys. This band includes her nephew Ciarán Ó Maonaigh and her siblings Anna and Gearóid Ní Mhaonaigh. They are a family of musicians from the Donegal Gaeltacht.
They released their first album, also called Na Mooneys, in October 2016. The album features traditional Irish music and songs.
The SíFiddlers: Donegal Fiddle Power
The SíFiddlers are a group of 13 female fiddle players from Donegal. "SíFiddlers" means "The She Fiddlers" in Irish. They first played together in 2018. Their performances celebrate the strong tradition of female fiddlers in Donegal.
In 2019, The SíFiddlers began recording their first album. They released their album, Donegal Fiddle, in July 2020.
Personal Life
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh has a daughter named Nia Byrne, born in 2003. Nia also plays the fiddle and sings.
Awards and Recognition
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh has received several honors for her music.
- In 2009, she was named "Donegal Person of the Year."
- In 2016, she won the "Traditional Musician of the Year" award at the Gradam Ceoil TG4 awards. This is a very important award in Irish traditional music.
Discography
Solo albums
- 2009 Imeall
As Frankie Kennedy & Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
- 1983 Ceol Aduaidh
- 1987 Altan
With Altan
- 1989 Horse with a Heart
- 1990 The Red Crow
- 1991 Harvest Storm
- 1993 Island Angel
- 1996 Blackwater
- 1997 Runaway Sunday
- 2000 Another Sky
- 2002 The Blue Idol
- 2005 Local Ground
- 2010 25th Anniversary Celebration
- 2012 Gleann Nimhe - The Poison Glen
- 2015 The Widening Gyre
- 2018 The Gap of Dreams
- 2024 Donegal
With String Sisters
- 2007 Live (CD/DVD)
With T with the Maggies
- 2010 T with the Maggies
With Na Mooneys
- 2016 Na Mooneys
- 2017 "Soilse na Nollag" (single)
With The SíFiddlers
- 2020 Donegal Fiddle
Guest roles
- 1991 Albert Fry (Albert Fry)
- 1991 Fiddle Sticks (various artists)
- 1993 The Holy Ground (Mary Black)
- 1994 Lullaby: A Collection (various artists)
- 2001 Little Sparrow (Dolly Parton)
- 2001 Volume 3: Further in Time (Afro Celt Sound System)
- 2008 Tráthnóna Beag Aréir (Albert Fry)
- 2008 The Original Transatlantic Sessions DVD (various artists)
Images for kids
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Mairéad performing with Altan at Mardis de Plouescat in 2013
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Ní Mhaonaigh with the short-lived band Ragairne on RTÉ television in the 1980s.
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Ní Mhaonaigh performing with her father.
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Ní Mhaonaigh performing with Altan in 2013
