Gals At Play with Mary Greene, Brigid O’Neill, Molly O’Mahony, Siobhan O’Brien, Neo Gilson.
Siobhan O’Brien is a much-travelled Irish Singer/Songwriter who has come to the attention of some very noticeable peers.
In addition to Bob Dylan inviting her to join him on stage, Siobhan has performed in concert as a guest vocalist with the famed Irish group The Chieftains. She has also appeared in shows supporting such acts as: Nick Lowe, The Cranberries, Christy Moore, Donavan, , Henry Mc Cullough, Maria Mc Kee, and Paul Brady. Leonard Cohen heard about Siobhán from a friend of his which prompted him to send a book to her called 'Dance Me To The End Of Love' with a Henry Matisse painting on each page, as a gesture of encouragement. Siobháns' songs bear witness to her many adventures.
crowd, scorching her name into the minds of fans and newcomers alike.” Alexandrea Hopper, Hotpress
“A multi-hyphenate artist...her debut album ably showcases this with a collection of songs that,... document years of a life fully lived, loved, lost and then, gradually, reclaimed..” Tony Clayton Lea, The Irish Times
Molly’s power lies in her ability to feel deeply and to convey that feeling through her words and her voice. Her main mark on the music of Mongoose (whom she played with for a decade), both in writing and performance, was the raw emotion at its core.
Her debut solo album ‘The House Of David’, released in late 2022 to critical acclaim, is the product of the lockdown years spent in her home place of West Cork. She released four singles from the record in the year leading up to release - samplings which reflect the broad span of influences in her songwriting, her verbal virtuosity and her ability to convey pure feeling.
Brigid O’Neill
“An immensely gifted story-teller whose songs soar to new heights in the live environment,” Hot Press
“A beautiful songwriter with great empathy and sensitivity,” Fiachna O Braonáin, RTE Radio 1and
“A great songwriter with a voice that can break your heart at 30 paces,” Ralph McLean, BBC Ulster
Recent years have seen Brigid O’Neill gaining a deserved reputation as one of Ireland’s finest songwriters. Reviews of her critically acclaimed latest album, The Truth and Other Stories, have reaffirmed that the gifted artist is one of the most versatile, unique and fearless storytellers on the island. The album was recorded in Nashville with grammy-nominated producer Neilson Hubbard (Mary Gauthier, the Orphan Brigade). With 4 critically acclaimed previous album releases, Touchstone and Intangible Heritage being the latest, she has performed worldwide, including the world-famous Bluebird Cafe and is a recipient of numerous Arts Council and music industry awards, most recently long listed for the NI Music Prize and Glastonbury Festival Emerging Talent Competition who said: “Brigid O’Neill is supremely confident both musically and lyrically.”
NEO GILSON
Bio
Neo is a South African, Cork based poet, singer, writer, story- teller, and motivational speaker. She released a gospel audio CD titled "Behind The Veil" in May 2013, which has received airplay on various radio shows in South Africa. She is a member of Poetry Africa and Samro in South Africa, a member of Women In Library in Glasgow, and a member of WOW in Ireland. She is an artist in residence with Sample-Studios. During 2021- 2022 she completed residencies with the Radical Institute’s Studios of Sanctuary Residency Program, Corcadorca Theatre Company, and Playitforward fellowships. She has given public readings at the Dublin Literature Festival, West Cork Literature Festival, Traffika Radio Europe’s “Migrant Authors in Ireland,” and the Cuirt Festival of Literature’s “Breaking Ground Writers.” She is passionate about women empowerment projects and loves to contribute to society in a meaningful way. Neo has also been part of the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign.
Neo believes that migrancy is both physical and spiritual: “When we reflect on our family history, whether through displacement, immigration, or emigration, we discover that our ancestors were a part of this great exchange of socioeconomic, intercultural, and interreligious encounters.”
MARY GREENE
"Mary Greene, a songwriter like no other," Sheelagh Dempsey, RTE Radio1.
"New Moon On Friday, is a milestone in the career of the folk and contemporary trio, Greenshine. It also marks another confident step in Mary's reputation as an astute songwriter...songs that deal with relevant and contemporary concerns that are heartfelt and inspirational," Liam Murphy, Arts Correspondent Munster Express.
Mary Greene is one third of RTE Radio 1 Folk Awards nominated group Greenshine, for which she is the primary songwriter. She comes from a Waterford family steeped in music and, along with her husband Noel Shine, is passing that legacy onto the next generation. Daughters Ellie and Sadie Shine share the same love of music and singing - it's a family affair.
