In those days,and still today, music and song were part and parcel of everyday (or night) life. Singing and music sessions are a regular feature of life and many of the country's finest musicians holiday there.
I grew up listening to and enjoying these visiting musicians as well as the many local musicians and singers (young and old) involved in such sessions and it is to them that I owe my love of music and singing.
When, in my late teens, I finally began to sing in public, I knew it was something I wanted to keep doing.
A few years later I was asked to join the great Galway based group, De Dannan, as a result of a chance meeting in Inishbofin with Alec Finn, and my own 'Magical Mystery Tour' began in earnest..

I travelled around the world with De Dannan, from Beijing to Seattle and a lot of Europe in between. It was a great time and great experience.
Since I left De Dannan, I have worked with many other fine musicians; Donal Lunny, Gary O' Briain, Maurice Lennon, Mary Staunton, Sean Tyrrell, The David Munnelly Band, Conor Byrne & Meabh O' Hare.
Indeed my first recording, done just before I officially joined De Dannan, was with the wonderful Mary Staunton on her CD ' Bright Early Mornings'. I performed with Donal Lunny, who I met first in Inishbofin also, when he asked me to sing in Vicar Street, Dublin, and also to travel to Scotland with him to sing on a TV programme there..
Mary Staunton, Gary O' Briain, Maurice Lennon and I got together for a few great gigs and indeed hope to do so again.
I had a wonderful time in the company of Conor Byrne, Meabh O' Hare and Gavin Ralston during a two week Irish Music Network tour of Ireland. Out of that came my second trip to China, this time to Shanghai, for the Shanghai International Arts Festival. We have done other nice gigs since that, most notably in the Botanic Gardens in Budapest last year.
I have been singing with The David Munnelly Band for the past few years and have toured quite extensively in Europe. I recorded songs for both of Dave's albums and always enjoy the craic and the superb music of that band.
With this album, another chapter has begun.The Magical Mystery Tour continues!

2006 brings a new development. Music Network's Young Musicwide Award winners have asked me to sing and record with them. I had to think about it for a while because they are such an ugly bunch but decided to accept their offer and so have begun to perform and record with them.

In fairness to them, they aren't so bad up close!!

MARCH 2007 UPDATE

We have finished recording the new CD, called Overneath, and it will be released soon (April/May 07)
You can see for yourselves by going to the   Slide   website.