Máire Breatnach facts for kids

Máire Breatnach is a talented Irish musician. She plays the fiddle, violin, and viola. She also sings in the Irish language on some of her albums. Since the early 1990s, she has released several solo albums. She has also worked with many other musicians. Máire has created learning materials for children, mostly in Irish.

Early Life and Education

Máire Breatnach was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1956. She studied at University College Dublin. There, she earned three degrees: a B.A., a B.Mus., and an M.A. She also taught at the College of Music in Dublin.

Later, she earned another M.A. in Ethnomusicology from the University of Limerick. In 2013, she completed her PhD at Dublin City University.

Music Career Highlights

Máire Breatnach is well-known for her amazing fiddle playing. She has released many solo albums. She has also been part of several traditional and modern music groups. Máire sings in Irish on some of her songs. Her song Éist even won an award.

She has worked with famous bands and musicians. These include Sharon Shannon, Moya Brennan (from Clannad), and Mary Black. She has also played on albums for Mike Oldfield, Bryan Adams, and The Chieftains.

Riverdance and Other Shows

In the mid-1990s, Máire was the first fiddle player for the famous show Riverdance. This show was created by Bill Whelan. The main song from Riverdance was a huge hit at the 1992 Eurovision Song Contest. Máire can be seen and heard playing on the original Riverdance DVD.

Máire has also played on music for video games. These include Final Fantasy IV: Celtic Moon and Xenogears. She has worked with Japanese musicians like Chiaki Ishikawa. She also collaborated with Thomas Loefke and Norland Wind on several CDs.

Music for TV and Film

Máire's music has been featured in many TV shows and movies. On Irish TV, she worked on Glenroe and Tinteán. Her film credits include In the Name of the Father, The Secret of Roan Inish, and Rob Roy.

Writing and Academic Work

Máire Breatnach has also written about traditional music. She wrote a column for the Irish language newspaper Anois. Later, she wrote for the magazine Comhar.

Since 2007, Máire has created CDs and books for children. These materials help young kids learn the Irish language. She has produced music and played instruments for over 40 titles. She has also narrated many of them.

Her first book for children was Vera agus a Veidhlín. It is a musical story illustrated by Robert Ballagh. It was published in 2008. In 2022, her second children's book, Mábúis – Cat ar Misean, was published. This book is for readers aged 10-14.

In 2013, Máire earned her PhD. Her study was about how sean-nós singing (an old style of Irish singing) is learned and passed down.

Selected Music Albums

Here are some of Máire Breatnach's albums:

Solo Albums

• Angels' Candles (1993)
• The Voyage of Bran (1994)
• Celtic Lovers (1997)
• Dreams and Visions in Irish Song / Aislingí Ceoil (2002)
• Cranna Ceoil / In Full Measure (2009)

Collaborations

• Riverdance: Music from the Show (1995)
• Tarraing Téad / Pulling Strings (with Cormac De Barra) (2010)