Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh | pl

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. She received tuition and inspiration from fiddler Dinny McLaughlin, who was a frequent visitor to the home when she was young. Ciarán Tourish, who would later join Altan, was also a frequent visitor to the family home and also received tuition from McLaughlin.

Ní Mhaonaigh has two siblings. Her brother Gearóid played guitar for Ragairne (a short-lived band formed by Ní Mhaonaigh and Frankie Kennedy), appeared on the album Ceol Aduaigh, and organizes the Frankie Kennedy Winter School. Her younger sister Anna has contributed backing vocals to several albums and was a member of the group Macalla.

She met with Frankie Kennedy at a session at age 15. Kennedy was inspired to learn to play and soon became a talented flute player. They married in 1981.
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