Méav Ní Mhaolchatha
Encyclopedia
Méav Ní Mhaolchatha (ˈmeɪv niː ˈweɪlxɑːhɑː ) is an Irish
singer and recording artist specializing in the traditional music
of her homeland. She was one of the original soloists in the musical ensemble Celtic Woman
. She sings in multiple languages: English
, Gaelic
, French
and Latin
.
, County Dublin
, Ireland
, and attended an Irish-speaking school. She spent four years at Trinity College
and graduated with a degree in law. She acquired a post graduate qualification in arts administration and then worked for Music Network in the organizing of cultural events.
. She subsequently toured the United States
as a soloist with the RTÉ
Concert Orchestra. She also toured South Africa
with Lord of the Dance
and gave concerts in Japan
and South Korea
.
Along with the other members of Celtic Woman, Méav gained musical stardom upon the ensemble's founding in 2004. Her singing is a prominent element of Celtic Woman's three CDs, Celtic Woman
, Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration
, and Celtic Woman: A New Journey
. In 2005, Méav took maternity leave to await the birth of her first daughter, Anna. She returned to record the New Journey CD and DVD and toured extensively with the group in the US and Japan in 2006 and 2007. She has been featured in Celtic Woman: The Greatest Journey Essential Collection
.
In 2007, following the filming of Celtic Woman’s Christmas DVD at the Helix
, Dublin, Méav left Celtic Woman to concentrate on her solo career. She performed a series of solo concerts in New England (USA), with one recorded in New York
in December 2007.
In 2009, she returned to the stage performing in her native Dublin to rave reviews. She also gave birth to her second daughter Catherine and recorded "Where the Sunbeams Play" for the Disney film Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
.
In 2010, she was a special guest of Órla Fallon's Celtic Christmas concert singing "Do You Hear What I Hear?
" in a duet with Fallon, her solo version of "O Holy Night
" and the finale song "Here We Come A-wassailing
" with the rest of the cast including American singing stars David Archuleta
and Mark Wills
, recorded, aired on PBS and released on CD and DVD.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
singer and recording artist specializing in the traditional music
Music of Ireland
Irish Music is the generic term for music that has been created in various genres on the island of Ireland.The indigenous music of the island is termed Irish traditional music. It has remained vibrant through the 20th, and into the 21st century, despite globalizing cultural forces...
of her homeland. She was one of the original soloists in the musical ensemble Celtic Woman
Celtic Woman
Celtic Woman is an all-female musical ensemble conceived and assembled by Sharon Browne and David Downes, a former musical director of the Irish stage show Riverdance...
. She sings in multiple languages: English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Gaelic
Goidelic languages
The Goidelic languages or Gaelic languages are one of the two branches of the Insular Celtic languages, the other consisting of the Brythonic languages. Goidelic languages historically formed a dialect continuum stretching from the south of Ireland through the Isle of Man to the north of Scotland...
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
.
Early life
Méav was born in DonnybrookDonnybrook, Dublin
Donnybrook is a district of Dublin, Ireland. It is situated on the southside of the city, in the Dublin 4 postal district, and is home to the Irish state broadcaster RTÉ. It was once part of the Pembroke Township...
, County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, and attended an Irish-speaking school. She spent four years at Trinity College
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
and graduated with a degree in law. She acquired a post graduate qualification in arts administration and then worked for Music Network in the organizing of cultural events.
Music career
Between 1994 and 1998 Méav was a member of the world-renowned Irish chamber choir AnúnaAnúna
Anúna is an Irish choral group. In 1987 Dublin composer Michael McGlynn founded An Uaithne, a name which describes the three ancient types of Celtic music, Suantraí , Geantraí and Goltraí . One of the group's stated aims is to explore and redefine this music...
. She subsequently toured the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as a soloist with the RTÉ
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
Concert Orchestra. She also toured South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
with Lord of the Dance
Lord of the Dance (musical)
Lord of the Dance is an Irish musical and dance production that was created, choreographed, and produced by Irish-American dancer Michael Flatley, who also took a starring role...
and gave concerts in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
.
Along with the other members of Celtic Woman, Méav gained musical stardom upon the ensemble's founding in 2004. Her singing is a prominent element of Celtic Woman's three CDs, Celtic Woman
Celtic Woman (album)
Celtic Woman is the eponymous debut album of the singing group Celtic Woman. The members of the group were first featured on the PBS musical special also by the same name. With the help of said special, Celtic Woman reached #1 on the World Music charts within weeks and remained there for a record...
, Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration
Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration
- Bonus Track on Japanese edition :- Chart positions :- Sales and certifications :...
, and Celtic Woman: A New Journey
Celtic Woman: A New Journey
Celtic Woman: A New Journey is the second on-stage production by the group Celtic Woman. The show was filmed at Slane Castle in County Meath, Ireland and featured Hayley Westenra as a new addition to the group...
. In 2005, Méav took maternity leave to await the birth of her first daughter, Anna. She returned to record the New Journey CD and DVD and toured extensively with the group in the US and Japan in 2006 and 2007. She has been featured in Celtic Woman: The Greatest Journey Essential Collection
Celtic Woman: The Greatest Journey
Celtic Woman: The Greatest Journey is the fourth studio album by the group Celtic Woman, released on 28 October 2008. It is an Essential Collection album composed of tracks from their self-titled debut and A New Journey albums with a couple reworked, plus three new tracks.Performers in The...
.
In 2007, following the filming of Celtic Woman’s Christmas DVD at the Helix
The Helix
The Helix is a building on the Dublin City University campus between Glasnevinand Whitehall on Dublin's Northside, originally planned to be called the Aula Maxima. It was completed in 2002, and it is described as a "performance space" and holds concerts, university conferring ceremonies and...
, Dublin, Méav left Celtic Woman to concentrate on her solo career. She performed a series of solo concerts in New England (USA), with one recorded in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in December 2007.
In 2009, she returned to the stage performing in her native Dublin to rave reviews. She also gave birth to her second daughter Catherine and recorded "Where the Sunbeams Play" for the Disney film Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure is a 2009 computer animated film based on the Disney Fairies franchise, produced by DisneyToon Studios, and a Chapter Book, "Tink, North of Neverland". It is a sequel to the 2008 film, Tinker Bell, and revolves around Tinker Bell, a fairy character created by J. M...
.
In 2010, she was a special guest of Órla Fallon's Celtic Christmas concert singing "Do You Hear What I Hear?
Do You Hear What I Hear?
"Do You Hear What I Hear?" is a Christmas song written in October 1962 with lyrics by Noël Regney and music by Gloria Shayne Baker. The pair were married at the time, and wrote it as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis...
" in a duet with Fallon, her solo version of "O Holy Night
O Holy Night
"O Holy Night" is a well-known Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the French poem "Minuit, chrétiens" by Placide Cappeau , a wine merchant and poet, who had been asked by a parish priest to write a Christmas poem...
" and the finale song "Here We Come A-wassailing
Here We Come A-Wassailing
Here We Come A-wassailing is an English traditional Christmas carol and New Years song, apparently composed c. 1850...
" with the rest of the cast including American singing stars David Archuleta
David Archuleta
David Archuleta, is a former United States Air Force Airman of Okinawan stationary troops and is currently an American male kickboxer.-Biography:...
and Mark Wills
Mark Wills
Daryl Mark Williams is an American country music artist, best known professionally as Mark Wills. Signed to Mercury Records between 1996 and 2003, he released five studio albums for the label — Mark Wills, Wish You Were Here, Permanently, Loving Every Minute and And the Crowd Goes Wild — as well...
, recorded, aired on PBS and released on CD and DVD.
Discography
| Title | Release | Record label |
|---|---|---|
| Méav | 1999 | Celtic Collections |
| Silver Sea | 2002 | |
| Celtic Dreams | 2006 | Valley Entertainment Valley Entertainment Valley Entertainment is a United States music distributor and independent record label based in New York City. The company was founded in 1996 by Barney Cohen, president and CEO. In 2001, they acquired the prestigious back catalogue of space, ambient, and New Age music from Hearts of Space Records... |
| A Celtic Journey | 2006 | Manhattan Manhattan Records Manhattan Records is a United States record label, owned by EMI and operates as a subsidiary of The Blue Note Label Group.-Company history:Manhattan Records was formed in 1984 by Bruce Lundvall, and was later renamed EMI Manhattan Records after absorbing EMI America Records imprint... |
| Celtic Woman Presents: Méav | 2006 |
External links
- Meav.com – Official website
- Meavforum.com – Official forum
- Profile at CelticWoman.com