Morning Star - Réalt Na Maidine

Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Morning Star/Realt Na Maidine (self released, 2002)

Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh was born in 1978. She spent the first eleven years of
her life on Inis Oirr, the smallest of the Aran Islands off Co. Galway, and
Cape Clear, and island seven miles off the coast of West Cork. Her father
was working as manager of the island co-operatives. Bothe of the islands
were within the gaeltacht or Irish speaking area so Muireann had Irish as
her first language. Muireann initially started out on the piano and fiddle,
like her father, and would accompany him to his various sessions. It was
here that she heard a wealth of songs, namely sean-nós or old-style songs.
When the family settled in Dún Chaoin in West Kerry Muireann attended Siamsa
Tíre, The National Folk Theatre of Ireland. She performed in two of their
major productions and remained with them for six years. During this time she
began to play the flute. In 1998 she recorded a c.d. with a local group
called “Geantraí” which proved very successful. She also recorded on a
number of c.d.s including “De Jimbe”, “Cello” by Barry Phillips, "The
Crooked Road" by William Coulter, a number of compilation c.ds and, most
recently, her own solo c.d. “Morning Star” released in the summer of 2002.
She spent four years in Dublin attending the Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art,
Design and Technology. During this time she went on many tours of the U.S.A.
and Europe with different ensembles. Most recently Muireann completed an
M.A. in traditional music performance in the University of Limerick. She
specialised in flute and song. Television work includes ’The Late, Late
Show“, Éamonn de Buitléir’s ”Amuigh Faoin Spéir“, ”The History of Irish
Dance“,”An Ghaeilge Bheo“, ”Léargas“, and Cúrsaí”. Radio work includes
“Rattlebag” on Radio Éireann and she regularly features on “An Saol ó Dheas”
on Radio na Gaeltachta. She gave singing workshops last year as part of the
“Blas” music festival in Limerick.

One more tidbit - she is now with Danu, and her voice is a lovely addition to their “Road Less Traveled”.