Born in Derry, in the north of Ireland, Mairead Carlin’s life has been immersed in music since her early days, coming from a family whose love of song was passed down to her generation.
“Derry, my hometown, is a very cultured and very musical place, wherever you turn there’s always music,” she enthuses. “That was especially true in my family… We’d just sit around the fire, sing and drink tea – there was no alcohol involved, despite what people always think about the Irish!”
After finishing her studies at Trinity College of Music in London, Mairead was signed to Decca Records and has recorded her debut album, ‘Songbook’, due for release in 2014.
Mairead has performed for the President of Ireland, celebrated the Irish Anthem for the England-Ireland Rugby International to a TV audience of millions and shared the stage with the likes of Snow Patrol and The Priests at the 2013 BBC TV Gala Concert ‘Sons and Daughters’ to mark Derry’s year as City of Culture- of which she also recorded the City of Culture anthem ‘Let The River Run’.
She has toured the UK and Ireland with legendary American singer-songwriter Don McLean, including a sellout concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Also this year, Mairead made her debut with the National Symphony Orchestra in the National Concert Hall for RTE TV.
“A motto I’ve used throughout my career so far”, she says, “is a quote from the award-winning poet Seamus Heaney: ‘Sing yourself to where the singing comes from.’ I think there’s a lot to be said for that”.
We are delighted to be welcoming Mairead to Celtic Woman.
From the Cetic Woman Website
8/27/2013
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