welcome to the official home page of
irish fiddle player máire breatnach...

(2014)

Máire's time has been intensely devoted over the past while to researching and writing a thesis on the transmission of the 'Sean-nós' singing tradition outside its traditional populations.

After three years of diligent work, she was awarded a PhD by DCU (Dublin City University) at St Patricks College, Drumcondra (a college of the university) in November 2013.

Meanwhile, she did succeed in adding some musical events to her busy schedule, notably a happy reunion with Clannad, both in Christchurch in Dublin (during Tradfest 2011) and later that year in Ostrava, in the Czech Republic, for the 10th anniversary 'Colours' festival.

Dún Laoghaire's Pavilion Theatre was the venue for a fine night of music with Moya Brennan in
March, and April saw her in a 'Bewley's @ 6' session with Cormac De Barra which featured pieces from their joint album Tarraing Téad / Pulling Strings.

Later that month, Máire traveled to Germany for Jens Kommnick's pipers' week in the atmospheric 12th century Schloss Fuersteneck, not far from Passau and the borders with Austria and the Czech Republic.

The intimate setting of Blackrock's Market Café was ideal for a dinner with words and music in Des Geraghty's 'Ar An gCarraig' series of events in November 2011.

In early 2012, Máire joined the Dubliners in Christ Church at the start of their 50th anniversary (and final) tour - a lively night was had by all!

The 'Éigse Eatharlaí' summer school has become an annual fixture in Máire's diary. While still immersed in her studies, she both performed and gave fiddle workshops each July in Tiġ Roy and in Lisvarrinane, on the Tipperary/Limerick border.

The Dublin 'Imram' festival has taken wing and expanded from its original October base, and Máire participated in several events during 2011 and 2012.

From September 2012 to May 2013, Máire assisted in instruction for the participants in the Dioplóma sna Dána course run by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge in Cuan studios in Spiddal, including a mid-term concert in Sean-Scoil Sailearna before Christmas, and the customary final performance at the end of April.

To end 2012, she performed during a Raidió na Gaeltachta series over the period of Christmas and the New Year, under the title 'Ceiliúradh Ceilteach idir Dhá Nollaig'.

In Spring 2013, after an appearance at Éigse na Brídeoige in Waterville in February, Máire took part in Éigse an Spidéil at Ardán na hÉigse, a Music and Poetry event, with Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill. She also participated in the première of the Sruth suite by Mary Bergin and Johnny Óg Connolly.

She was especially pleased to be invited to take part on viola in the acclaimed documentary film "John Sheahan: A Dubliner", for which recordings were made in Spring 2013, the programme itself airing later that summer and repeated at Christmas time.

During 2013, Máire has been spending a lot of her time in Corca Dhuibhne (West Kerry) and has enjoyed the musical company of a host of fine players and singers in Dingle and the surrounding area.

She joined Bríd Ní Mhóráin for a Poetry and Music session in the Lab arts venue in the town in early August 2013.

Another event in which Máire has been honoured to participate each year is the annual December 'Console' concert, in support of those bereaved by suicide, and this year was no exception.

Among the artists with whom she has guested on CD in recent times are Moya Brennan and Cormac De Barra ('Affinity', a follow-up to their 2011 'Voices & Harps', on which she also appeared), Cormac Breatnach ('Éalú'), Ashley Davis ('Night Travels') and Morgan Crowley.

It was also pleasant to receive an advance copy of the CD 'Close Shaved' by the Breton group Poppy Seeds, which includes Máire's polka "Tír Tairngiri".