Máiréad Nesbitt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Máiréad Nesbitt
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Máiréad Nesbitt at Macquarie Shopping Centre, Sydney, in August 2012
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| Background information | |
| Born | Loughmore, County Tipperary, Ireland |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | |
| Years active | 1996–present |
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Máiréad Nesbitt (pronounced MOR-ayd) is a talented Irish musician. She is famous for playing both Celtic and classical music. Many people know her as the former fiddler for the popular group Celtic Woman. Before that, she was one of the first fiddlers in Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance in the 1990s. She also performed in its bigger show, Feet of Flames, in the early 2000s.
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Early Life and Musical Training
Máiréad Nesbitt was born in County Tipperary, Ireland. Her parents, John and Kathleen Nesbitt, were both music teachers. This meant music was a big part of her family life!
She has a sister named Frances and four brothers: Seán, Michael, Noel, and Karl. All of her siblings are also musicians. Máiréad started playing the piano when she was just four years old. She picked up the violin at age six.
Her formal music studies began at The Ursuline Convent in Thurles. She then continued her education at the Waterford Institute of Technology and the Cork School of Music. During this time, she played with the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland. Máiréad finished her advanced studies in London at the Royal Academy of Music and Trinity College of Music.
Musical Inspirations
Máiréad Nesbitt has many different musical heroes. She has said that famous violinists like Itzhak Perlman and Michael Coleman inspired her. She also looks up to bluegrass artist Alison Krauss. Even rock stars like David Bowie and Sting have influenced her music.
Máiréad's Music Albums
Máiréad Nesbitt has released several albums on her own. She has also recorded many albums with the group Celtic Woman and other artists.
Solo Albums
- Raining Up (released in the UK in 2001, and in the US in 2006)
- Hibernia (released in December 2016)
- Celtic Spells (released in February 2023)
With Celtic Woman
Máiréad Nesbitt was a key part of the group Celtic Woman. She played on many of their popular albums:
- Celtic Woman (March 2005)
- Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration (October 2006)
- Celtic Woman: A New Journey (January 2007)
- Celtic Woman: The Greatest Journey (October 2008)
- Celtic Woman: Songs from the Heart (January 2010)
- Celtic Woman: Lullaby (February 2011)
- Celtic Woman: Believe (May 2011, January 2012)
- Celtic Woman: Home for Christmas (October 2012)
- Celtic Woman: Emerald - Musical Gems (February 2014)
- Celtic Woman: Destiny (October 2015)
- Celtic Woman: The Best of Christmas (November 2017)
Other Music Projects
Máiréad has also worked with other musicians and on movie soundtracks:
- With The Dhol Foundation: Drum-Believable (2005)
- Lord of the Dance (March 1997)
- Feet of Flames (February 1999)
- Tinker Bell (soundtrack) (October 2008)
- Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure (soundtrack) (September 2009)
- Devil's Bit Sessions (June 2017)
- Harmonious (soundtrack) (October 2021)
Performances on Film
Máiréad Nesbitt has appeared in several concert films and DVDs, often with Celtic Woman:
- Lord of the Dance (November 1999)
- Celtic Woman (March 2005)
- Celtic Woman: A New Journey (January 2007)
- Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration (October 2007)
- Celtic Woman: The Greatest Journey (October 2008)
- Celtic Woman: Songs from the Heart (January 2010)
- Celtic Woman: Believe (January 2012)
- Celtic Woman: Home for Christmas (October 2013)
- Celtic Woman: Emerald - Musical Gems (February 2014)
- Celtic Woman: Destiny (October 2015)
