Cork musician on memories of working with Dolly: ‘She was so down to earth’

Irish country musician Mags McCarthy, who once performed with Dolly Parton, has said that the late musician inspired her with both her music and her philanthropy.

The 9 to 5 singer, whose career included two shows in Cork in 2008 and 2014, passed away at 80 from cancer, her family announced on Tuesday night.

Ms McCarthy, who grew up on a farm in Dripsey, and is known for Irish dancing and fiddle playing as well as singing, performed with Ms Parton 20 years ago when touring with Rhythm of the Dance.

She told The Echo: “Dolly was an amazing inspiration to me. I was always into her music growing up and for me to have performed on stage with her was amazing.

“When I first met her we talked about farm life — my life on the farm and her life growing up on a farm.”

In 2020, the Irish singer got permission from Dolly Parton to release a cover of her song Light of a Clear Blue Morning, as she felt its lyrics would uplift people during the pandemic.

Recalling her tour, which included performing in Dollywood, a theme park in Tennessee owned by the singer, she said: “I love the people in Dollywood, they were so nice to me.

“Dolly was so down to earth — I remember going to her dressing room and she made me feel so welcome.”

The news of her death was “such a loss to the world”, she said.

“She was an angel, and there will never be another like her — she had the talent, the business ability, and everyone loved her.

“It’s a very sad day to see another icon gone, but her music will always live on.”

The huge amount of philanthropic work the musician had done would also leave a lasting legacy, she said.

In October, Ms McCarthy will speak in Leinster House, calling for a stem cell treatment facility in Cork University Hospital.

She spent six weeks driving her father to Dublin every day for leukaemia treatment, and has been fighting since for others in the same position.

Ms Parton was a big part of her inspiration for this activism, she said.

“We were backstage sitting together and she told me that if you can ever use your voice to help people, no matter how big or small your platform, do it, because you will never regret it.

“She taught me to never be afraid to speak up for what you believe in, and she advocated to help people.

“When my own family member got sick it made me realise, and Dolly would agree with me on this, you can have all the money in the world but if you don’t have your health, you have absolutely nothing.”

Ms McCarthy is a music teacher in Terence MacSwiney Community College in Hollyhill, which was a recipient of Ms Parton’s Imagination Library which provided books to children.