Mary O'Hara facts for kids
Mary O'Hara, born on May 12, 1935, is a famous Irish singer and harp player. She comes from County Sligo, Ireland. Mary became very popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Her music inspired many other Irish singers. These include Carmel Quinn, Mary Black, and Moya Brennan. Even famous folk singer Liam Clancy said her music influenced him.
Early Life and Music Career
Mary O'Hara's father was Major John Charles O'Hara. He was an officer in the British Army. Her mother was Mai Kirwan. Mary has a sister, Joan O'Hara, who was an actress. Her nephew is the well-known writer Sebastian Barry.
Mary started singing at a young age. She won her first singing contest in Sligo when she was only eight. Before she finished school at 16, she sang on Radio Éireann. This was Ireland's national radio station. She later performed at the Edinburgh International Fringe Festival. She also appeared on BBC shows and even on The Ed Sullivan Show in the United States. Later, she had her own TV show on the BBC.
Her first music contract was with Decca Records. Mary spent a lot of time on the Aran Islands. There, she collected traditional Irish folk music. She also learned to speak Irish very well. In 1978, she was featured on the TV show This Is Your Life.
Her Life Journey
Mary O'Hara met American poet Richard Selig through Irish poet Thomas Kinsella. She married Richard in 1956 and moved to the United States. Sadly, Richard died just 15 months later from Hodgkin's disease. Mary continued to tour and record music for four more years.
In 1962, Mary decided to become a Benedictine nun. She joined Stanbrook Abbey in England. She stayed there for 12 years. In 1967, her wedding ring was melted down. It was made into a new ring to celebrate her vows as a nun.
Mary left the monastery in 1974 for health reasons. She found that her music had become even more popular while she was away. So, she returned to performing. Within a few months, she became one of the biggest international music stars from Ireland. Her 1981 album, The Scent of the Roses, was very successful.
Mary wrote an autobiography in 1980, also called The Scent of the Roses. This title came from a favorite song by Irish poet Thomas Moore. She also wrote other books, like Celebration of Love and A Song for Ireland.
She continued her singing career for 16 more years. She stopped performing in 1994. In 1985, she married Pádraig O'Toole. He helped her a lot with her music career after 1974. They lived in Tanzania for six years. Her husband taught at the Tanzania School of Journalism there.
A musical play about her life, called Harp on the Willow, was very popular in Australia in 2007. Mary O'Hara has also created five books of harp music. She still travels and gives talks. She has spoken at places like the Yeats International Summer School in Sligo. She also visited New York University and Boston College in 2009. The Burns Library at Boston College keeps her important papers. They even had an exhibition about her that ended in April 2010.
As of 2016, Mary O'Hara lives on the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. Her husband, Pádraig O'Toole, passed away in 2015.
Her Music in Modern Culture
Mary O'Hara's recording of "Óró Mo Bháidín" has been used in modern songs. It was sampled in Passion Pit's 2008 song "Sleepyhead". It was also used in Sub Focus' song "Safe in Sound". The melody from her song is also part of the chorus in Chris de Burgh's "A Spaceman Came Travelling".
Discography
- Songs of Erin, Decca-Beltona 1957
- Love Songs of Ireland, Decca-Beltona 1958
- Songs of Ireland, Tradition Records 1958
- Songs of Ireland, Decca-Emerald 1967
- The Folk Song Tradition (one track), Tradition Records 1960
- Mary O'Hara's Ireland, Decca Emerald-Gem 1973
- Mary O'Hara's Scotland, Decca Emerald-Gem 1974
- Monday Tuesday, Decca Emerald-Gem 1977
- Mary O'Hara at the Royal Festival Hall, Chrysalis 1977 – UK No. 37
- Focus on Mary O'Hara, Decca 1978
- Music Speaks Louder Than Words, Chrysalis 1978
- In Harmony, Chrysalis 1979
- Farewell, But Whenever / Reminiscing, Hammer 1979
- Tranquility, Warwick 1979 – UK No. 12
- The Last Rose of Summer French Everest Records
- The Scent of the Roses, book and LP Chrysalis 1980
- Colours, Images 1981
- A Song for Ireland, Valentine 1982
- Recital, Valentine 1983
- Live at Carnegie Hall, Valentine 1983
- Live at National Gallery Dublin, Gael-Linn 1987
- Spread a Little Happiness, Telstar 1985
- Celebration of Love, book and LP Word 1989
- World of Music, EMI 1989
- Mary O'Hara Song for Ireland, Shanachie Records 1993
- Down by the Glenside, Rykodisc 1997
- Mary O'Hara at Carnegie Hall, Sanctuary Records 2000
