“Virtuosic, fascinating, dramatic, original, inspired, gloriously adventurous, dazzling, brilliant, stunning, impassioned, electrifying, bewitching, moving, achingly beautiful, influential, revered, unique...”
- THE TIMES, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, THE GUARDIAN, THE IRISH TIMES, THE SCOTSMAN, FOLK ROOTS...

MÁIRE is "the doyenne of Irish harp players" (The Scotsman) one of Ireland’s most important and influential traditional musicians, described by the late Derek Bell as “the most interesting and original player of the Irish harp today”. She grew up in a well-known West Cork musical family who were active in the Cork Pipers' Club and was already proficient in a variety of other instruments by the time that she began to play the harp at the age of eleven. Using her knowledge of the idiom of the living oral Irish tradition, she developed a variety of new techniques, particularly in relation to ornamentation, with the aim of establishing an authentically traditional style of harping - “a single-handed reinvention of the harp”. Her originality was quickly recognised and she made a number of TV and radio broadcasts as a teenager, going on to win the All-Ireland and Pan-Celtic Harp Competitions on several occasions. Her live performances had been creating a stir since 1978, when she first toured Germany as part of the hugely-influential and commercially-successful Irish Folk Festival tour. Her very first recording was made for the live compilation album released to commemorate that tour; other artists featured were Liam O'Flynn, Andy Irvine, Dolores Keane & John Faulkner, Mick Hanly and Máirtin O'Connor. In 1985 she recorded the first harp album ever to concentrate on traditional Irish dance music, The New-Strung Harp, described by The Irish Examiner as "an intensely passionate and intelligent record… a mile-stone in Irish harp music”. Her approach has had a profound influence on the new generation of Irish harpers and in 2001 she was awarded Gradam Cheoil TG4 (Irish Traditional Musician of the Year) in recognition of her pioneering work. “If Máire wasn’t around, Irish harping would be so much the poorer: her work restores the harp to its true voice." - The Irish Times

Her “celebrated virtuoso partnership” (The Daily Telegraph) with Chris Newman, “one of the UK’s most staggering & influential acoustic guitarists” (Folk Roots), made its début at the 1987 Cambridge Folk Festival. Their performances have been described as “music of fire & brilliance from the high-wire act in traditional music” by The Irish Times, they've made many appearances on TV and radio and their busy touring schedule has brought them to twenty-one countries on five continents. Click here for their latest news. Of their six albums together, The Living Wood (1988) was the Daily Telegraph’s Folk Album of the Year, Out of Court (1991) was "stunning... one of the most refreshingly innovative releases in recent years" - Folk Roots, The Carolan Albums (1994) was “a masterpiece of virtuosity” - The Daily Telegraph, Live in the Highlands (1995) was “One of the best live albums I’ve heard for a long time... captures the essence of these remarkable performers in a rare and priceless way. Absolutely essential.“ - Folk Roots and Dialogues:Agallaimh (2001) was “Terrific: brilliant, beautiful, rich, virtuosic, delightful, classic, perfect!” Of their sixth CD, FireWire, the critics said: “An eclecticism and spirit of adventure that is quite thrilling… Virtuoso playing… bewitching string fantasies and a wonderfully clear and expressive voice" The Times "Maire... is in a class of her own" The Guardian "Takes one of the most effete
instruments in traditional music and breathes a fire into its belly" The Irish Times “Brilliant, innovative harping and guitar-playing of astonishing virtuosity and versatility” Songlines “Dazzling virtuosity... guitar-playing to be marvelled at... delightful” The Daily Telegraph “Album of the Year” Live Ireland “Best Celtic Instrumental Album” 2009 Just Plain Folks Awards Nashville, Tennessee.

In 2008 they recorded a quartet CD, Heartstring Sessions, with two of the most important names in Irish music, legendary guitarist Arty McGlynn and Máire's sister, virtuoso fiddler Nollaig Casey, and toured widely with it. “Inspired... a contender for album of the year” fROOTS “Traditional music at its very best” The Irish Times "An amazingly eclectic mix... Astounding" The Ulster Herald "Magnificent... Virtuosic... Outstanding" The Scotsman “World-class” Irish Music Magazine “Two of the mightiest pairings in current folk combine to give a tour-de-force of breathtaking order. Classic.” The Living Tradition "Exceptionnel… brillant…" Le Peuple Breton "Attention - chef d'œuvre! Bravo!!!” TRAD Magazine (France) “A dream quartet - the sweetest and most exciting music to emerge for a long time. Matching virtuosity with sheer good taste, this album of traditional and original music pours joyfully from the speakers... amazing, majestic, delightful.” Dirty Linen (USA)

The unique atmosphere of their live concerts as a duo continues to generate some extraordinary reviews. “Their virtuosity leads them on: Máire chomps on the bit of the harp's respectability, playing storming jigs & reels...” - The Irish Times “This celebrated duo took the place by storm. Stately Carolan tunes, jazzy Django-ish numbers, dazzling flat picking fliers, driving Irish dance tunes - this pair can nonchalantly do the lot. Guitar players applauded & went sadly home to burn their instruments!” - Belfast Telegraph “Their blinding technique and sizzling Irish reels brought an extended standing ovation...” - The West Australian “A truly electrifying combination" - The Stage "The audience were charmed and dazzled by the speed, the deftness, the emotional range of their playing... Máire's clear, warm and expressive voice... Their stagecraft was masterly and their introductions informative and funny..." - Christchurch Press (New Zealand) “Newman led us on death-defying sprints while Máire confirmed her status as one of the world’s greatest harpists” – Edinburgh Evening News "It isn't every day one gets to hear musicians whose playing and singing are so moving, so wonderfully executed with such technical brilliance and beauty, that they actually bring tears to one's eyes; they did to mine, and that evening in Tallaght will remain a lasting and unforgettable memory." - Irish Music Magazine “Managed to do things I have never heard a harp do before… The gasps from the audience, particularly from the other harp players, made one realise that here was a very special performer indeed… I was alternately astonished and delighted with the entire concert: the skills with which they interacted, and the beautiful music they performed left a lasting impression on me and surely anyone else who was privileged to witness this extraordinary event.” - Classical Guitar Magazine

Máire has perfomed at many harp festivals around the world and will give a solo concert at the World Harp Congress in Vancouver in July 2011. Other harp festival appearances have included the International Harp Festival, Ciragan Palace, Istanbul, the 16e Festival "Harpe en Avesnois", Maubeuge, Journées de la Harpe, Arles, Rencontres Internationales de la Harpe Celtique, Dinan, the International Festival for Irish Harp, Termonfechin, Co Louth, Ireland (on thirteen occasions since 1985); the Edinburgh Harp Festival (on eight occasions); Harfen in Schwaben Harp Festival, Germany, the Ninth World Harp Congress, Dublin, 2005 (opening concert in St Patrick's Cathedral and solo concert as part of Celtic Highlights series); World Harp Congress, Copenhagen 1993 (concert shared with Gráinne Yeats - the first ever Congress event to feature the Irish harp); the European Harp Symposium; the World Harp Festival (Cardiff); HarpCon Bloomington, Indiana and Festivals held in Belfast, Dublin and Boston to commemorate the bicentennial of the 1792 Belfast Harp Festival.

Solo performances by Máire happen very rarely, though there have been some recently: at Harfen in Schwaben, Germany, the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland; the London Irish Centre; the International Festival for Irish Harp, Termonfechin, Co Louth, Ireland; the University of Leeds; and the Birmingham Early Music Festival.

Máire holds an honours B.A. degree in Celtic Studies from University College Cork. Two books of her harp arrangements, The Irish Harper Voume I and The Irish Harper Voume II have been published by Old Bridge Music.

Máire contributed two articles about the Irish harp and modes in Irish music to the Companion to Irish Traditional Music (Cork University Press) & is profiled in Celtic Women in Music (Mairéad Sullivan, Quarry Music Books, Canada). She's also profiled in the Rough Guide to Irish Music.

Máire now concentrates primarily on performance. However, she’s always placed a high priority on passing on her knowledge and techniques to the next generation, with the aim – now largely achieved - of re-integrating the Irish harp into the mainstream of the living oral Irish tradition. She has been giving masterclasses in Europe and the USA since the mid-1970s with the result that her ideas and techniques are now very widely disseminated. 2011 was her twenty-sixth year as senior tutor at An Chúirt Chruitireachta, the Summer School/Festival organised by Cairde na Cruite (The Irish Harp Society) in Termonfeckin, Co Louth, the pre-eminent such festival, attracting harpers from all over the world. (See www.cairdenacruite.com or contact the Secretary of the Society and Director of the Festival, Aibhlín McCrann, at aibhlin.mccrann@communique.ie for further details.) She has taught in the past at the Cork School of Music (where she developed the first ever examination syllabus for non-pedal harp) and at the Leeds College of Music. She has been a visiting harp tutor at Newcastle University, Limerick University, the University of Ulster and the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana.

Chris and Máire are featured on the major BBC 2 TV series on Irish music Bringing it All Back Home - the associated BBC book features a large photograph of Máire on the front cover – and on Polygram USA’s major 1998 Celtic harp album and associated PBS TV special Celtic Harpestry. They’re also featured on Irish rock legend Rory Gallagher’s posthumous 2003 album on BMG, Wheels within Wheels. Máire is harp and voice soloist with the New English Chamber Orchestra and the Choir of New College Oxford on John Cameron's major work Missa Celtica, released by Erato Disques, Paris. (Further information at www.johncameronmusic.com) The Goldcrest film Driftwood features her singing, and her harping and compositions feature with Dónal Lunny, Sharon Shannon, Máire's sister Nollaig Casey and other luminaries of the Celtic music world on Dan ar Braz's Gold Disc-awarded album for Sony France Finisterres.

Máire plays an Aberdeen harp made by William Rees Harps of Rising Sun, Indiana www.traditionalharps.com and an electro-acoustic Mélusine harp made by Camac Harps, France www.camac-harps.com: she's grateful to both companies for the sponsorship which enables her to play their wonderful, sweet-toned but powerful instruments.


2009 HIGHLIGHTS:

FireWire voted Best Celtic Instrumental Album 2009!
FireWire came first in the Best Celtic Instrumental Album category in the 2009 Just Plain Folks Music Awards: the results were announced at the Awards ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee at the end of August. The judges for these indie awards screened over 42,000 albums and 560,000 songs in 93 genres from 163 countries around the world, making these the largest music awards of any kind anywhere. So Máire and Chris were absolutely thrilled!

2009 brought tours in the UK, Ireland and Austria. Concert highlights were an October performance at the Brucknerhaus in Linz, Austria - a concert hall with a wonderful acoustic on the banks of the Danube - as part of Linz's European City of Culture celebrations, and a performance shortly before Christmas at one of Berlin's best-known concert venues, the Passionskirche in the Kreuzberg district.

Festivals included Southwell Folk Festival; Fylde Folk Festival; Cromer Folk Festival; Gower Folk Festival; Devizes Arts Festival; Chiddingly Arts Festival, East Sussex; Rhythms of the World Festival, Hitchin, Hertfordshire; Didmarton Bluegrass Festival; and Irish History Month, Leeds.

In addition, Máire and Chris gave three very enjoyable festival performances as a quartet with Máire's sister, fiddle-player Nollaig Casey and legendary Irish guitarist Arty McGlynn at Celtic Connections, Glasgow, the Kilkenny Arts Festival and the International Festival for Irish Harp, Termonfechin, Co Louth, Ireland.


2008 HIGHLIGHTS:
2008 was an amazing year, bringing many new experiences. Máire and Chris recorded Hearstring Sessions, an award-winning quartet CD with two of the most important figures in Irish music, Máire's fiddle-playing sister Nollaig Casey and legendary guitarist Arty McGlynn - who between them have played with almost all the major figures in Irish music-making in any genre over the last 30 years. The CD received a BRAVO award from TRAD Magazine, France and some extraordinary reviews.

The quartet embarked on an extensive tour of the UK and Ireland in October, playing in a number of prestigious concert halls and at three festivals: the enormous Belfast Festival, the Canterbury Festival and the Return to Camden Festival, London.

In addition, Máire and Chris toured extensively as a duo in Germany, the UK and Ireland. Festivals as a duo included the Edinburgh International Harp Festival; Ar Ais Arís Traditional Arts Festival, Buncrana, Co Donegal; Oxford Folk Festival; Wheaton Aston Festival; Shrewsbury Folk Festival; Steve Kaufman's Acoustic Kamp (Chris solo), Maryville, Tennessee; Vicenza Guitar Festival, Italy (Chris solo).

2007 HIGHLIGHTS:
2007 brought lengthy tours in Germany, the UK, Ireland and the USA together with a couple of trips to France, to promote their new CD FireWire. The CD has garnered some wonderful reviews so far.

Festivals included the North Texas Irish Festival, Dallas; Wimborne Folk Festival (a special quartet appearance with Máire's sister fiddle-playing sister Nollaig Casey and legendary Irish guitarist Arty McGlynn); Fishguard Folk Festival; International Festival for Irish Harp, Termonfechin, Co Louth, Ireland; 24e Rencontres Internationales de la Harpe Celtique, Dinan; Warwick Folk Festival; Notte Bianca Celtica, Aosta, Italy; Beo Festival, National Concert Hall, Dublin; Celtic Music Festival, La Veta, Colorado; Wetherby Arts Festival; XIIes Journées de la Harpe, Arles, France; 7th European Harp Symposium (Máire solo), Millennium Centre, Cardiff.

Their November concert in the Ramor Theatre, Virginia, Co Cavan was televised by TG4.

2006 HIGHLIGHTS:
2006 brought Máire and Chris to some very interesting places. They toured in the UK, Ireland, the USA, Denmark and Italy. However, they spent a large chunk of time recording their new duo CD, FireWire, which was released on January 29, 2007.

Festivals included South Eastern Harp Weekend, Asheville, North Carolina and Steve Kaufman's Acoustic Kamp, Maryville, Tennessee - Chris solo (USA); Folkest Festival, Celtica Festival and Andar per Musica Festival (all Italy); Cúirt Chruitireachta Harp Festival (Ireland); Halkaer Kro Festival, Denmark; Victor Hugo International Music Festival, Guernsey; Folk Festival on the Pier, Cromer, Norfolk; Beaford Arts Festival, Devon; Haverhill Festival, Suffolk; and Gillingham Festival, Dorset (all UK).

Additional highlights for Máire included a 16-date nationwide lecture tour of the US in March / April 2006 at the invitation of the Irish American Cultural Institute (she is Ireland's premier traditional harper and an expert on the history and repertoire of the Irish harp).

Broadcasts included a half-hour programme in the November 2006 Lay of the Land series on RTÉ Lyric FM devoted to an interview with Máire and discussion of her compositions.

Several excerpts from the concerts Chris gave at the Acoustic Kamp in Tennessee can be found on YouTube.com: you can see video clips of some great duets with Steve Kaufman and Mark Cosgrove, among others.

A profile of Máire and Chris appeared in the Summer 2006 issue of the Italian magazine Keltika.

2005 HIGHLIGHTS:
2005 brought tours in the UK, Ireland, Germany and Italy. Their last concert of 2005 (with Máire’s sister Nollaig - see details of her beautiful solo CD at www.oldbridgemusic.com) boasted what was undoubtedly also the most atmospheric venue: the gorgeous early mediaeval church of St Benedetto in Brindisi, Italy, two days after Christmas. The concert received extensive national press coverage (La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera...) and was televised by Rai Uno, the state broadcaster. They had positively balmy weather too, with a temperature of 18C that compared favourably with the -3C at the venue the previous night in Venice! The Italian concerts were a lovely end to the year.

Festivals during the year included Chicago Celtic Festival; Isolo del Liri Festival and Brindisi Festival, (Italy); Ninth World Harp Congress, O'Carolan Harp Festival, Nobber, Co Meath and Cúirt Chruitireachta Harp Festival (Ireland); Gosport Festival; Chesterfield Festival; Beverley Folk Festival, Belper Nailers Moot Festival, Wath on Dearne Festival, Wheaton Aston Festival and Whitby Folk Festival (all UK).

Additional highlights for Máire included a prestigious solo recital at the World Harp Congress, held in Dublin in July 2005. (The concert she shared with Gráinne Yeats at the 1993 World Harp Congress in Copenhagen marked the first occasion on which the Irish harp was featured at the Congress.) She also played at the opening gala concert of the Congress (with Nobel laureate Séamus Heaney) held in St Patrick's Cathedral and broadcast live on Ireland's premier classical music station, RTÉ Lyric FM. (Last year Máire was Artist of the Week on the same station.)

Other notable recent broadcasts were their very successful appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour.

2004 HIGHLIGHTS:
Máire and Chris had an incredibly busy 2004. In the first six months they toured in Germany, the USA, the UK and Ireland. Their schedule in the last four months was exceptionally heavy: they gave almost sixty concerts on three continents. (They toured Australia and New Zealand in September, the UK in October, the US in November and Austria in December.) Festivals included Nailsworth, St Neots, Cleethorpes, Priddy and Chippenham, Helmsley Harp Festival, Stamford Guitar Festival, Steve Kaufmann's Flatpicking Kamp (Tennessee), North Texas Irish Festival (Dallas), Guinness Celebration of Irish Music (Australia), Seattle Harp Symposium, San Francisco Festival of Harps and Irish Christmas Festival (Austria).

2003 HIGHLIGHTS:
Much of 2003 was spent in a long international tour, which took them to all parts of the UK, Ireland, Germany, Holland, New Zealand (their sixth tour there) and the USA —to which they made four trips in four months! Festivals included Manchester International Harp and Guitar Festival; Edinburgh International Harp Festival; Galway University Arts Festival (Múscailt '03); Zwammerdam Festival, Holland; New Jersey Folk Project Spring Festival; Steve Kaufman’s Flatpicking Kamp, Maryville, Tennessee; North American National Folk Harp Festival, Bloomington, Indiana; Dublin Ohio Irish Festival; Whitby Folk Festival; and Wellington Folk Festival, New Zealand. In November they were off again to Belgium to headline the Lommel Festival as a quartet with Máire’s sister Nollaig and her husband Arty McGlynn. (See details of Nollaig’s beautiful new solo CD on Old Bridge Music at www.oldbridgemusic.com)

Chris and Máire’s playing features on Irish rock legend Rory Gallagher’s posthumous album Wheels within Wheels (BMG, 2003), launched at a star-studded party at the Irish Embassy in London last March. Have a look at www.rorygallagher.com for further information. Máire was recently Lyric FM’s Artist of the Week: she gave five short interviews on each week-day in which she discussed her background, career and musical inspiration, and introduced her choice of music. (Lyric FM is Ireland’s premier classical music station, a division of the State broadcaster, RTÉ.) 2003 Irish TV performances included RTÉ’s Open House and TG4’s Geantraí Christmas Day Special.

They received some amazing reviews for their performances in 2003. Of a Dublin performance last April, Irish Music Magazine said in the July 2003 issue “It isn’t every day one gets to hear musicians whose singing and playing are so moving, so wonderfully executed with such technical brilliance and beauty, that they actually bring tears to one’s eyes; this extraordinary pair did to mine, and that evening will remain a lasting & unforgettable memory.”
Of a performance at Chetham's International Harp & Guitar Festival, Classical Guitar Magazine said: “Máire managed to do things I have never heard a harp do before… The gasps from the audience, particularly from the other harp players, made one realise that here was a very special performer indeed… I was alternately astonished and delighted with the entire concert: the skills with which they interacted, and the beautiful music they performed left a lasting impression on me and surely anyone else who was privileged to witness this extraordinary event.”

2002 HIGHLIGHTS:
They toured in Germany, Switzerland, the USA, Holland, the UK & Ireland in 2002 and played at festivals in Dranouter (Belgium), Warwick, Trowbridge, Wimborne, Broadstairs, Fylde, Otley (all UK), the Galway Arts Festival, Cúirt Chruitireachta & O’Carolan Harp Festivals (Ireland); Old Songs, Albany, Gaelic Roots, Boston, North Texas Irish Festival, Dallas, Rising Sun Celtic Festival, Indiana (all USA), Sacred Rhythm Festival, Kyoto (Japan) and Enschede, Leeuwarden & Tiel Celtic Festivals (Holland). Notable US performances in addition to these include Milwaukee Irish Festival, the California World Music Festival, the Smithsonian Institute (Washington DC), the Philadelphia Art Museum and West Virginia Public Radio’s popular syndicated show Mountain Stage, recorded live in front of a large theatre audience and broadcast by hundreds of radio stations across the USA.

In addition, Máire gave a rare solo concert at the Birmingham Early Music Festival in November.