Nollaig Casey facts for kids

Nollaig Casey is a famous Irish fiddle player. Many people around the world think she is one of Ireland's best fiddle players. She started playing music very young. By the time she was eleven, she could play the violin, piano, tin whistle, and uilleann pipes. As a teenager, she learned both classical and traditional Irish music. She won many awards for her fiddle playing and singing. In 1972, she even won an award for being the best all-around performer.

Nollaig Casey's Musical Journey

Early Life and Education

Nollaig Casey went to University College Cork. She earned a music degree when she was nineteen years old. After finishing college, she started her career with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra. She played with them for five years.

Performing with Famous Bands

In 1980, Nollaig began performing live with the band Planxty. She toured all over Europe with them. She also appeared on their last album, Words & Music, which came out in 1983. Nollaig Casey has also recorded and toured with other well-known groups. These include Moving Hearts, Liam O'Flynn, Frances Black, The Clancy Brothers, and Elvis Costello.

Television and Special Performances

Nollaig Casey has appeared on television shows. These include the BBC TV series Bringing It All Back Home and A River of Sound. She also performed as a special artist with Dónal Lunny's Coolfin band. She recorded and toured a lot with them. More recently, she performed as a solo artist with the very popular show Riverdance. She was also featured in Shaun Davey's Granuaile. Another special performance was for May We Never Have To Say Goodbye. This song was the main theme for the 2003 Special Olympic World Games, which were held in Ireland.

Family Collaborations

Nollaig Casey often performed with her husband, guitarist Arty McGlynn. She also played music with her sister, harpist Máire Ní Chathasaigh. Another musician she performed with was guitarist Chris Newman.