It’s almost St. Patrick’s Day, and to celebrate the occasion, Ireland’s Celtic Woman will bring its latest production to the Mahaffey Theater in downtown St. Petersburg on March 13. Titled Ancient Land, it’s a unique performance of traditional Irish music.
But don’t expect overworked tunes like “When Irish Eyes are Smiling” or “Mother MaCree.” These women are the real deal — a talented bunch of highly accomplished musicians who are dedicated to preserving Ireland’s traditional music and bringing it to the world. Troupe member and singer Éabha McMahon (pronounced “Eava”), talked about her love of traditional Irish music and why she loves playing with the popular musical group.
“I get to do what I love everyday,” she said in a recent phone interview from her home in Dublin. “It was always a dream to sing traditional music and be an ambassador for Ireland and our traditional culture.”
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McMahon comes by her musical heritage naturally. A fluent Irish speaker, she was surrounded by music in her Dublin home, where everyone sang and spoke Irish. She began singing as a child, learning songs from her mother, who sang in a musical group. Her cousin Michael McGlynn, noted Irish composer and founder of Anuna, composed music for Riverdance. She had her first professional gig at age nine in a children’s choir, where she sang songs in Irish for children. Though she also plays tin whistle and bodhran (the Irish drum), her real instrument is her voice.
“My family always encouraged me to sing, and I studied singing in the traditional sean nós style,” McMahon said, explaining the old style of unaccompanied singing in Gaelic.
She studied with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann; Comhaltas, as it’s called, is an organization promoting Irish music and culture in Ireland and around the globe. It offers classes and competitions in Irish music and dance, and also encourages learning the Irish language.
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After learning from the best traditional singers, McMahon went on to win many competitions, including the under-18 All Ireland Oireachtais final at the age of 15, and was reigning Leinster traditional singing champion from the age of 13 to 17 at the Fleadh Ceoil (Music Festival). She was also a five-time Dublin champion in the Fairview Feis Ceoil for singers age 14-18. Her track record made her destined for to find the fame she has today. Fans adore her rich, alto voice, which adds body to the Celtic Woman repertoire. After her youthful acclaim, she’s now recognized internationally.
“When I was 15, I auditioned for Anuna,” she said. “I became the youngest member ever to join.”
In 2015, McMahon headlined a sold-out solo show in New York City, in aid of Kylemore Abbey. She is currently developing her first solo album, which she will be releasing soon.
“I’ll be singing several of my own original songs,” McMahon said of her solo effort. The current tour showcases music from Celtic Woman’s 13th album, Ancient Land, which celebrates the centuries-old Irish tradition of telling stories through song. These are often haunting stories of the land, of love and tales that evoke the true spirit of Ireland's enduring heritage. Many of the traditional songs sung by Celtic Woman are long, but McMahon explained the lengthy stories are part of a word-of-mouth tradition.
“They’re stories and they’re often very long because they tell history, which was not allowed,” she said, referring to the long occupation by Britain, when Irish language and culture was suppressed.
The all-female ensemble, created by David Kavanagh, Sharon Browne and David Downes, a former musical director of Riverdance, has become a global musical sensation, bringing some of Ireland's most talented singers and musicians to the world stage.
In 2017, Celtic Woman’s first internationally released album, Celtic Woman: Destiny, received a Grammy nomination for Best World Music Album. Recorded in at the U.K.’s Real World Studios last summer, Ancient Land features all-new material for Celtic Woman, including original compositions “Follow Me,” “Be Still” and “Love & Honour,” Irish traditional songs “Sive,” “Mná na hÉireann (Women of Ireland)” and “Moorlough Shore,” and some reimagined workings of contemporary songs “Long Journey Home” and “Going Home.”
Though its cast has evolved since its founding in 2004, the current members along with McMahon are Megan Walsh, Mairéad Carlin, and Irish fiddler Tara McNeill, and they’re accompanied by a full ensemble of musicians and dancers.
Celtic Woman, Wed. March 13, 7:30 p.m. $53.50 & up. Mahaffey Theater, 400 1st St. S., St. Petersburg. themahaffey.com.
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This article appears in Feb 28 – Mar 7, 2019.