We are thrilled to be producing this concert with the incredible musician Mary Courtney and her band including Patrick Madden on fiddle and Donie Ryan on banjo. Mary Courtney grew up in a musical family in the parish of Castlegregory, near the sea in County Kerry, a likely beginning for this remarkable singer and guitarist. Whether accompanying herself, or holding the rhythm line with her trad band, Morning Star, she is a consummate musician. Her music is an engaging collaboration of traditional Irish music and a progressive social conscience born of a political education in the United States. Her bodhrán (Irish hand-held drum) playing offers another dimension to her exceptional performance. Courtney has used her music to spread Irish culture and to educate her audience about the struggles of the Irish people. From rock ‘n’ roll to the ethereal strains of some ancient Celtic bard, Mary can sing anything, and sing it unforgettably.
Reviews … "what a singer she is! Her powerful vocals are direct, allowing the beauty of the melodies and the emotion of the lyrics to come through; however her voice is also distinctive, making her stand out both from a sincerity point of view as well as a technical one." Jamie O’Brien, Putting on Airs, Irish Edition