Máire Breatnach

Máire Breatnach is one of the most prominent fiddle players in Ireland. She also sings in Gaelic on some of her albums, and does research and teaches at the University of Limerick. Since the early 1990s, she has taken out 4 albums under her name, participated in 35 other albums (as listed on her website, with substantive contributions in some cases), and contributed to many music CDs and other material for children, often in Gaelic.

Early life

She obtained a B.A., B.Mus. and M.A. degrees at U.C.D., where she lectured, and in the College of Music, D.I.T. before starting a freelance career as a musician.

Career

Máire Breatnach is best known for her fiddle playing, and has been a prolific player in many of Irish groups such as Sharon Shannon, Moya Brennan and Mary Black bands. She sings in Gaelic on some of her compilation albums, and did work on the Celtic arrangement album Final Fantasy IV: Celtic Moon. She also worked with Yasunori Mitsuda on the arranged soundtrack to Xenogears, titled Creid.

The CDs "Norland Wind" and "Atlantic Driftwood" started off the musical collaboration of Máire Breatnach with Thomas Loefke.

In 2007, Máire Breatnach completed a CD with Irish harpist Cormac De Barra.

Also in 2007 Máire Breatnach was involved in the preparation of CDs and books to accompany a range of Irish language material aimed at the Naíonra (pre-school) and early- reading age groups. Máire produced, composed incidental music and performed on a range of instruments for more than 40 titles in that year alone, as well as narrating many of them.

On the academic front, Máire Breatnach continues to maintain her links with the University of Limerick, both in a teaching capacity and in research

Albums

1994 - The Voyage of Bran
1997 - Celtic Lovers
1999 - Angels' Candles/Coinnle na nAingeal
2002 - Dreams and Visions in Irish Song - Aislingí Ceoil

External links

• http://www.mairebreatnach.com/