Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh
| background = solo_singer
| image =Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh. Waterville.jpg
| caption = Nic Amhlaoibh performing in 2017
| birth_date = 1978
|birth_place =Inis Oírr, Aran Islands, Ireland
| occupation = Singer
Flautist
Pianist
| genre = Celtic
Folk
Electronica
| years_active = 2002–present
| label = Machair Records
| associated_acts=Danú
Dual
Aeons
| website =[http://www.muireann.ie Official site]
[http://www.myspace.com/muireannmusic Official Myspace site]
}}
Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh (born 1978) is a musician and singer from County Kerry, Ireland. Until 2016, she was the lead singer for the traditional music group Danú, and from that year on she has been half of the electronica duo Aeons.
Biography
Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh grew up in Dún Chaoin in County Kerry, as well as on Inis Oírr, the smallest of the Aran Islands, and Cape Clear Island, another small island off the coast of County Cork.{{cite web|title=60 Soicind le… Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh|url=https://nos.ie/cultur/60-soicind-le-muireann-nic-amhlaoibh/|last=NÓS|first=Foireann|website=NÓS|language=Irish|access-date=2019-02-04}} These communities are in Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) areas and Nic Amhlaoibh's first language is Irish. This influenced her later career, due to her early exposure to Irish language song, especially in the {{lang|ga|sean-nós}} tradition. She began playing piano and fiddle at an early age before progressing to the whistle and, eventually, the flute. Nic Amhlaoibh's early musical experiences also included accompanying her father, traditional Irish fiddle player Feargal Mac Amhlaoibh, to sessions.{{cite web | title= Aoibhinn and Company with Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh and her father Fergal | website=RTÉ One | date=21 July 2013 | url=https://www.rte.ie/radio1/aoibhinn-and-company/programmes/2013/0721/463486-aoibhinn-and-company-with-muireann-nic-amhlaoibh-and-dad-fergal/}}
When Nic Amhlaoibh moved to the West Kerry Gaeltacht, she joined the national folk theatre of Ireland, {{lang|ga|Siamsa Tíre}}. During the six years she spent with them, she participated in several of their major performances. While in Kerry, her singing developed, learning and gaining influence from local singers such as the Begley family, Áine Ní Laoithe, and Eilín Ní Chearna. She spent four years in Dublin attending the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, earning a diploma in fine art. She then studied at the University of Limerick and was awarded a Master of Arts in Traditional Music Performance.{{cite web| title=Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh | url=https://www.oaim.ie/tutor/muireann-nic-amhlaoibh/| website=Academy of Irish Music }} {{cite web | title=From Danú to Dunquin... | date= 23 January 2016 | url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/kerryman/entertainment/from-dan-to-dunquin--34379412.html}}
Recording
Nic Amhlaoibh's first recordings were on a CD of Irish traditional music and song performed by {{lang|ga|Geantraí}}, a group of musicians who performed a show of the same name in the Skellig hotel in Dingle. She also recorded several CDs, including The Crooked Road by William Coulter, Cello by Barry Phillips, and several compilation CDs. As part of the requirements for her Master of Arts in Traditional Music Performance, Nic Amhlaoibh produced a solo album of tunes and songs entitled {{lang|ga|Réalt na Maidine}}/Morning Star. A limited edition of this album was distributed, mainly locally in Dingle, although copies were also sold in the United States and Europe.
Nic Amhlaoibh joined the traditional Irish group {{lang|ga|Danú}} in 2003. Ciarán Ó Gealbháin, {{lang|ga|Danú}}'s former lead singer, left the band in 2003, and Nic Amhlaoibh took over as singer and whistle player, occasionally joining band member Tom Doorley in playing the flute.{{cite news|newspaper=Sunday Herald|title=A buoyant performance|date=23 November 2003|first=Colin|last=Reidswim|quote=The shadowed, sensuously grainy timbre of Nic Amhlaoibh 's singing is reminiscent of a young Dolores Keane}} She recorded her first album with {{lang|ga|Danú}} in 2003, called The Road Less Travelled. {{lang|ga|Danú}} recorded an album of solos in 2004 entitled Up in the Air, and Nic Amhlaoibh played and sang on three tracks. In 2005, the band released the album When All is Said and Done.
Nic Amhlaoibh participated in the project Hands Across the Water, a collaboration album with participation from dozens of high-profile traditional and folk musicians and singers. The proceeds of album sales going to victims of the tsunami in southeast Asia.
Nic Amhlaoibh released her first major solo CD in 2006, entitled Daybreak/{{lang|ga|Fáinne an Lae}}. It featured musicians such as Oisín Mc Auley and Éamonn Doorley from {{lang|ga|Danú}}, Gerry O Beirne, and John Doyle from {{lang|ga|Solas}}.
In 2008, Nic Amhlaoibh recorded Dual in Irish and Scottish Gaelic with Julie Fowlis, Éamonn Doorley (of {{lang|ga|Danú}}), and Ross Martin to highlight the many similarities and differences between Irish and Scottish Gaelic cultures. Dual was released in October 2008.
In 2016, Nic Amhlaoibh recorded the single {{lang|ga|Bealtaine}} as one-half of the electronica duo Aeons, together with Pádraig Rynne.{{cite web|url=https://nos.ie/cultur/ceol/amhran-na-haoine-bealtaine/|title=Amhrán na hAoine: 'Bealtaine' le Aeons|date=20 June 2016|accessdate=16 November 2018}} Later that year, they proceeded to release a second single, {{lang|ga|An Fhuil}}, followed by a full album, {{lang|ga|Fís}}, in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://nos.ie/cultur/ceol/albam-ilchinealach-uaillmhianach/|title=Albam ilchineálach uaillmhianach|date=2 July 2018|accessdate=16 November 2018}}
Television and radio
Nic Amhlaoibh's television appearances include The Highland Sessions, a BBC Four television series featuring Irish and Scottish Gaelic music.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00w5msl/episodes/guide|website=BBC|date=2010|title=BBC Four – The Highland Sessions – Episode guide|accessdate=12 September 2014}} Other television work includes The Late Late Show, {{lang|ga|Amuigh Faoin Spéir}} (Irish: "Out Under the Sky") (produced by Éamon de Buitléar), The History of Irish Dance, {{lang|ga|Léargas}}, Moving West, {{lang|ga|Fleadh Cheoil}} and {{lang|ga|An Ghaeilge Bheo}}. BBC Alba appearances include performing and co-presenting (with Julie Fowlis) Cuirm@Celtic{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00k7pb8|title=BBC ALBA – Cuirm @ Celtic, Dual|date=5 September 2011|accessdate=12 September 2014|website=BBC}} and Dà-Fhillte.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01r98z9|title=Dà-Fhillte|website=BBC|date=2013|accessdate=12 September 2014}}
Radio work includes Rattlebag and The Late Session with Áine Hensey on RTÉ and {{lang|ga|An Saol ó Dheas}} on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta. She also hosted a music programme “Folk on One” on RTÉ Radio 1.
|website=RTÉ Radio1|date=2022|title=
Folk On One: Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh to host new RTÉ Radio 1 show |accessdate=12 December 2023}}
Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh with Gerry O’Beirne and Dónal O’Connor |accessdate=12 December 2023}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/folk-on-one/|website=RTÉ Radio1|date=2023|title=
Folk on One|accessdate=12 December 2023}}
Discography
= Albums =
- Morning Star/{{lang|ga|Réalt na Maidine}} (2002)
- Daybreak/{{lang|ga|Fáinne an Lae}} (2006)
- Dual (2008 – with Julie Fowlis)
- {{lang|ga|Ar Uair Bhig an Lae}}/The Small Hours (2013)
- Foxglove & Fuchsia (2017)
- {{lang|ga|Thar Toinn}}/Seaborne (2020)
- {{lang|ga|Neadú}} (2021)
- Róisín ReImagined (2022)
= With Danú =
- The Road Less Travelled (2003)
- Up in the Air (2004)
- When All Is Said and Done (2005)
- One Night Stand (Danú DVD) (2005)
- {{lang|ga|Seanchas}} (2010)
- {{lang|ga|Buan}} (2015)
= With Aeons =
- {{lang|ga|Fís}} (2018)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.muireann.ie Nic Amhlaoibh's Website]
- [http://www.danu.net Danu's Website]
- [http://www.handsacrossthewater.com Hands Across the Water Project]
=Listening=
- [http://www.theworld.org/?q=node/9093 Interview from The World]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nic Amhlaoibh, Muireann}}
Category:Irish-language singers
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:Television presenters from the Republic of Ireland