My Weekend: 'Music is a way of life, not just a career'

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work:

I was born and raised in Cork City, so originally a Rebel! I spent lots of my childhood in and out of the Cork School of Music studying with great teachers who encouraged my love for music from the early age of 4. Some of my happiest memories are going to orchestra, when I began to understand how musicians could make real magic together in an ensemble setting. My love for chamber music grew there — I still feel some of the most beautiful music is in string quartet/chamber music compositions — Mendelssohn, Brahms, Schumann, and Shostakovich are some of my favourites.

When I began to play more traditional Irish music in my late teens/early 20s, I brought that love of chamber music with me. When composing, I love to write arrangements that make great use of instruments and layer the sounds to create soundscapes while not losing the origins of our music. I do think we can be adventurous and rooted at the same time. That’s what I’ll enjoy about our upcoming Masters of Tradition concert on August 21 atBantry House.

Since I moved to The Dingle Peninsula 13 years ago, I have been blessed to learn lots of the local Corca Dhuibhne music and song and enrich my Irish as well. It is a thriving musical community — with incredible talent and a tight-knit, supportive group of musicians, all packed into one peninsula.

What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night?

It really depends on the weekend. Some are very busy with gigs and concerts, and others are quiet, catching up with family and friends, going to a concert or staying in watching a movie.

Lie ins or up with the lark.. which is it for you?

With gigging in the evenings, I think I naturally developed into a lie-in girl. Although with kids, I’m back to up with the lark and some of the best creative work gets done during that magic time when the sun is just about popping up, but you have the house to yourself.

Does work creep into your weekend at all?

Always. And that’s totally fine, because music is a way of life, not just a career. It’s a call of the heart.

If money was no object where would you head to on a weekend city break? And who would you bring with you?

I’d head straight to either Japan or anywhere in the Cinque Terre area in Italy. Italy is more weekend-friendly. I’d bring all the family.

Closer to home, is there some place you like to head to recharge the batteries?

I absolutely adore where we live, and it’s hard to find places to rival Corca Dhuibhne in terms of walks, beaches, and natural beauty. Inch, Doonsheen, Clochar, Ventry - they all have their own charm. Killarney for family walks - the National Park is gorgeous and you never know if you might come face to face with a deer.

Do you like to catch up with family/friends at the weekend?

Yes, when possible! Since we moved to the Kingdom, we try to make trips to our families as often as we can.

Do you get to indulge any hobbies? Even as a spectator?

I love watching sports - GAA and rugby.

Entertain or be entertained? If it’s the latter, do you have a signature dish?

Both. If entertaining, I really enjoy a buffet-style lunch - where everyone can sit around chatting for a while and feel at ease to pick at what they would like more or less of. Or you can’t go wrong with a homemade curry with all the trimmings - chutneys, naan bread etc.

We have so many places to eat out in Cork - where are your go to spots for coffee/ lunch/ special meal?

I like Soma on Tuckey Street or Three Fools on Grand Parade for coffee, lunch in Quay Co-op or The Roast in SpitJack and a special treat would have to be Café Paradiso or Miyazaki.

Sunday night comes around too fast.. how do you normally spend it?

Wondering how the week went so fast. That’s the nice thing about working on different projects, it is never boring! I’ll usually take a look at the week ahead and revise and practice what I will be playing and working on. Although this is ongoing - not just for Sundays.

What time does your alarm clock go off on Monday morning?

During the school term, 7:30am, unless the human alarms come knocking first! During the summer, things are a little more relaxed.

Anything else you are up to right now...

I’m working on material for a new solo project - it’s special to spend time developing new music and to revisit and refine what sounds you like to compose in.

I’m also playing and singing with Dingle-based band Cuas. We’re in the middle of recording our second album - it’s exciting, hearing music you’ve been working on and playing at concerts come together in the studio.

I’m off to Lorient, Brittany with Cuas for some concerts this month and then I’m looking forward to being a part of the Masters of Tradition in Bantry this year on August 21- we’ve got a great concert of Dave Flynn’s music and I’ll be playing alongside Dave Flynn, Martin Hayes, Maria Ryan, Lucia McPartlin, Maria O’Connor, Eimear Coughlan and Francis Cunningham.