TradFest: Eimear Quinn

  • Music
  • Thu 26 Jan
  • 19.00 (Doors at 18.30)
  • €24.99

Eimear Quinn is one of the pre-eminent Irish voices of her generation, most noted for her interpretation of song allowing for a deep, almost spiritual connection with the audience. As a classically trained soprano with a background in Early and Choral music, she made her international debut in 1996, when she won the Eurovision Song Contest for Ireland. Eimear has toured, in Australia, Europe, America and South Africa in venues including The Royal Albert Hall, The Sydney State Theatre and the Vorst National, Brussels and Theatre De La Ville, Paris. Her extensive collaborations include performing with Sir George Martin in Dublin. She has also collaborated with Carlos Nunez, Liam Lawton, Donal Lunny, Dublin Brass, Brendan Graham to name but a few.

In December of 2006, Eimear appeared at ‘Ireland’s Finest in Concert’ a gala celebration of the 25th anniversary of the National Concert Hall, along-side Sharon Shannon, the Chieftains, Paul Brady, Sir James Galway and Brian Kennedy, with the RTE Concert Orchestra.
December 2007 saw the release of ‘O Holy Night’ a collection of carols, ancient chants and new seasonal compositions from Eimear, who has also produced and arranged the album. In 2009 Eimear gave birth to her first daughter Joely. She happily disappeared into full-time Motherhood for the next two years, only composing and performing occasionally. In 2011 she was asked to perform for HRH Queen Elizabeth II of England, to mark her State Visit to Ireland.

In October of 2012, Eimear gave a solo concert with the RTE National Symphony Orchestra in the NCH, Dublin, included in the programme was world premier of the specially commissioned work ‘Whisper City’ by Emma O’Halloran for soprano, symphony & laptop orchestras.
Eimear’s second daughter, Marlene was born that year.2020 saw a return to recording, as Eimear released her first studio album since the birth of her two daughters. This large scale orchestral project resulted in the album Ériu, recorded with the RTE National Concert Orchestra. It was released during the global pandemic and features many songs of solace, including ‘The Watchman’ co-written with Brendan Graham.

Eimear is a graduate of Musicology from The National University of Ireland, Maynooth, a graduate of Social Science from the Dublin Institute of Technology, a former vocal student at The Conservatory of Music, Dublin, a former chorister with Christchurch Cathedral Choir, National Chamber Choir, DIT Conservatory Chamber Choir, NUI Maynooth Chamber Choir and ANÚNA.