Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh | en

Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh (26 July, 1962, Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland), is the fiddler and lead vocalist for the famed Irish traditional band Altan, and a member of T with the Maggies and the Grammy long-listed String Sisters. Ní Mhaonaigh grew up in Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal, Ireland. She is virtuosic even in a musical genre dominated by fiddle players; distinguished because of her Donegal repertoire from other singers. Mairéad has always had an equal love of singing and again learnt many songs from neighbours and friends in Gaoth Dobhair. Her father, Proinsias Ó Maonaigh, taught her to play the fiddle....

Máiréad was born to a musical family and has played the piano since the age of four. She is better known for her wonderful technique playing Classical and Celtic music on the fiddle, however. Máiréad joined the RTÉ Concert Orchestra in 1991 and from 1996 to 1998 was the lead fiddler on Michael Flatley’s Lord of Dance. She then was lead fiddler on Feet of Flames until 2001, when she released her debut solo album, Raining Up. In 2004 she was invited to play the violin for the Celtic Woman ensemble, which became a huge success. Máiréad is a Fleadh...