Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh (2,693 views)

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Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
Voice Type: Soprano
Vocal Range: C♯3–A5
Years active: 1981–present

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{Vocal Summary}
An award-winning figure within Irish traditional music, the voice of Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh comes with all of the grounded charisma that is synonymous with the Celtic folk scene. A soprano with a naturally sweet, bright tone, Mairéad primarily sings in a heady mix, with clear, vibrant highs, easily hitting lead vocal notes up to E5. Her open throat technique and unmodified Donegal accent create a suitably ethereal sound, highlighted by her deft use of dynamics, transitioning from a hushed, breathy sound to a harder, more pure-toned one very smoothly. Whilst not one to ornament flamboyantly, her understated use of melisma and mid-range vibrato demonstrate good control and breath support. Sounding connected across her different registers, Mairéad's low notes are typically delivered with resonance and good projection down to E3, getting progressively breathier towards bottom of her range. Overall, Mairéad's is a voice with ability, appeal and beauty aplenty.

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{Vocal Range Timeline}Frankie Kennedy & Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh:
Ceol Aduaidh [1983]: G3–F5
Altan [1987]: E3–D5

Altan:
[Altan [1987]: E3–D5]
Horse With A Heart [1989]: F3–D5
The Red Crow [1990]: F3–E5
Harvest Storm [1992]: G3–C5
Island Angel [1993]: G3–A3–D5
Blackwater [1996]: E3–F3–D5
Runaway Sunday [1997]: F♯3–D5–E5
Another Sky [2000]: E3–G3–D5
The Blue Idol [2002]: D3–C5
Local Ground [2005]: E3–F♯3–D5
25th Anniversary Celebration [2010]: F3–D5
Gleann Nimhe - The Poison Glen [2012]: D3–E3–E5–F5
The Widerning Gyre [2015]: D3–E3–D5
The Gap Of Dreams [2018]: E3–D5

Solo:
Masters of Tradition · RTÉ Lyric FM [2008]: D3–B4
Imeall [2008]: D3–E3–C♯5–E♭5
Le Cuidiú Dé [2017]: A3

Na Mooneys:
Na Mooneys [2016]: G3-D5
Soilse na Nollag [2017]: A3-D5

T with the Maggies:
T with the Maggies [2010]: C♯3–D5–A5
Nollaig na Maggies [2010]: D3

Significant High Notes:

A5: "Bíodh Orm Anocht"
G♯5: "Bíodh Orm Anocht"
F♯5: "Bíodh Orm Anocht"
F5: "The House on the Corner", "Thíos I dTeach a' Tórraimh", "Thugamar Fhéin an Samhradh Linn"
E5: "Bíodh Orm Anocht", "Caitlín Triall", "I Wish My Love Was a Red Red Rose", "Moll Dubh a' Ghleanna", "Oíche Chiúin" live 2010 - Geantraí na Nollag
E♭5: "Iníon a' Bhaoghailligh", "Mo Níon Ó", "Soilse na Nollag" live 2005 - Geantraí na Nollag, "Thíos I dTeach a' Tórraimh"
D5: "An Bealach Seo ‘Tá Romham", "A Bhean Udaí Thall", "An Cailín Gaelach", "An Clár Bog Déil", "An Ghealóg", "An Mhaighdean Mhara", "Barbara Allen" live with Dolly Parton - Heartsongs, "Cúirt Robin Finley", "Domhnach na Fola", "Dónal na Geallaí", "Dún Do Shúil", "Far Beyond Carrickfinn", "Fare Thee Well, a Stór", "Gleanntáin Ghlas Ghaoth Dobhair", "The House on the Corner", "Inis Dhún Rámha", "Moll Dubh a' Ghleanna", "Mo Níon Ó", "Domhnach na Fola", "Níon a' Bhaoigheallaigh", "Soilse na Nollag", "Stór, A Stór, A Ghrá", "Súil Ghorm", "Tá Mo Cleamhnas a Dhéanamh", "Thugamar Fhéin an Samhradh Linn", "Time Has Passed", "Tiocfaidh an Samhradh"
C♯5: "An Ghealóg", "Ar Bhruach na Carraige Báine", "Bacach Shíl' Andaí", "The Blackest Crow", "Caidé Sin Don Té Sin?", "Cití Ní Eadhra", "Cúirt Robin Finley", "Cumha an Oileáin", "Dark Inishowen", "Dobbin's Flowery Vale", "Don Oíche úd I mBeithil", "Dún Do Shúil", "Fare Thee Well, a Stór", "Iníon a' Bhaoghailligh", "I Wish My Love Was a Red Red Rose", "The Lass of Glenshee", "The Lily of the West", "Tá Mo Cleamhnas a Dhéanamh", "Thug Mé Rúide"
C5: "An Cailín Deas Óg", "An Cailín Gaelach", "An Mhaighdean Mhara", "A Óganaigh Óig", "Beidh Aonach Amárach (There's a Fair Tomorrow)", "Caitlín Triall", "Cuach Mo Lon Dubh Buí", "Dobbin's Flowery Vale", "Domhnach na Fola", "Dúlamán", "Eoghainín Ó Ragadáin", "Girl from the North Country", "Gleanntáin Ghlas Ghaoth Dobhair", "Green Grow the Rashes, O", "The House Carpenter (Gypsy Davy)", "Is Fada ó Bhaile", "Island Girl", "The Lass of Glenshee", "Mo Níon Ó", "The Month of January", "Néillí Bhán", "Níon a' Bhaoigheallaigh", "The Pretty Young Girl", "Oíche Chiúin" live 2010 - Geantraí na Nollag, "Sí Do Mhaimeo Í", "Soilse na Nollag", "Súil Ghorm", "Tá Mé 'Mo Shuí", "Ten Thousand Miles", "The Jug of Punch", "Thugamar Fhéin an Samhradh Linn", "Tiocfaidh an Samhradh", "Uncle Rat", "The Verdant Braces of Screen"
B4: "Adieu, My Lovely Nancy", "Amhrán Pheadair Bhreathnaig", "A Mhuire 's a Rí", "An Dro / Imeall", "An Mhaighdeán Mhara" T With The Maggies version, "An Spealadóir", "An t-Oileán Úr", "A Óganaigh Óig", "As I Roved Out", "Bacach Shíl' Andaí", "Barbara Allen" live with Dolly Parton - Heartsongs, "Blackwaterside", "Cailín Deas Crúite na mBó", "Ceol an Phíobaire", "Cití Ní Eadhra", "Cuach Mo Londubh Buí", "Cúirt Robin Finley", "Cumha an Oileáin", "Dark Inishowen", "Dónal agus Mórag", "Dún Do Shúil", "Éirigh 's Cuir Ort Do Chuid Éadaigh", "Fare Thee Well, a Stór", "Farewell Farewell", "Gardaí 'n Rí", "I Wish My Love Was a Red Red Rose", "Máire Mhór", "Mallaí Chroch Shlí", "Mo Choill", "Mo Ghaoil", "A Moment in Time", "No Ash Will Burn", "The Sea-Apprentice Boy", "Seolta Geala", "Thug Mé Rúide", "The Wind and Rain"

Significant Low Notes:

B♭3: "Cití na gCumann", "Dónal na Geallaí", "Dúlamán", "The Flower of Magherally", "Is Fada ó Bhaile", "Mallaí Chroichshli", "Molly na gCuach Ní Chuilleannáin", "Mother Song", "Níon a' Bhaoigheallaigh", "Sí Do Mhaimeo Í", "Thíos I dTeach a' Tórraimh"
A3: "An Bealach Seo ‘Tá Romham", "A Bhean Udaí Thall", "An Ghealóg", "An Mhaighdean Mhara", "A Mhuire 's a Rí", "An t-Oileán Úr", "Ar Bhruach na Carraige Báine", "Barbara Allen" live with Dolly Parton - Heartsongs, "Cití Ní Eadhra", "Cuach Mo Londubh Buí", "Cuach Mo Lon Dubh Buí", "Dark Inishowen", "Domhnach na Fola", "Dónal agus Mórag", "Dúlamán", "Eoghainín Ó Ragadáin", "Far Beyond Carrickfinn", "Fare Thee Well, a Stór", "Focla an Tiarna", "Gardaí 'n Rí", "Green Grow the Rashes, O", "The House Carpenter (Gypsy Davy)", "Inis Dhún Rámha", "As I Roved Out", "The Jug of Punch", "Mallaí Chroch Shlí", "The Month of January", "No Ash Will Burn", "A Nobleman's Wedding", "The Sea-Apprentice Boy", "Soilse na Nollag", "Tá Mo Cleamhnas a Dhéanamh", "Tuirse Mo Chroí", "Wedding Dress", "The Wind and Rain"
G♯3: "Adieu, My Lovely Nancy", "An Clár Bog Déil", "An Mhaighdeán Mhara" T With The Maggies version, "An Spealadóir", "Bacach Shíl' Andaí", "Cití na gCumann", "Cumha an Oileáin", "Dark Inishowen", "Dobbin's Flowery Vale", "The Flower of Magherally", "I Wish My Love Was a Red, Red Rose", "The Lass of Glenshee", "Mallaí Chroichshli", "Thug Mé Rúide", "The Verdant Braces of Screen"
G3: "Aige Bruach Dhún Réimhe", "An Clár Bog Déil", "An Spealadóir", "A Óganaigh Óig", "Beidh Aonach Amárach (There's a Fair Tomorrow)", "Cailín Deas Crúite na mBó", "Caitlín Triall", "Cuach Mo Lon Dubh Buí", "Daily Growing", "Domhnach na Fola", "Dónal agus Mórag", "Éirigh 's Cuir Ort Do Chuid Éadaigh", "Far Beyond Carrickfinn", "Farewell Farewell", "Girl from the North Country", "Island Girl", "The Jug of Punch", "Máire Mhór", "Má Théann Tú 'un Aonaigh", "Mo Choill", "Mo Ghaoil", "A Moment in Time", "Mo Níon Ó", "Mother Song", "Néillí Bhán", "Oíche Chiúin" live 2010 - Geantraí na Nollag, "Stór, A Stór, A Ghrá", "Time Has Passed", "Tuirse Mo Chroí"
F♯3: "Bacach Shíl' Andaí", "Blackwaterside", "Caidé Sin Don Té Sin?", "Ceol an Phíobaire", "Cuach Mo Lon Dubh Buí", "Don Oíche úd I mBeithil", "The Flower of Magherally", "As I Roved Out", "The Lily of the West", "The Sea-Apprentice Boy", "Thug Mé Rúide" live 1999 - Geantraí na Nollag, "The Verdant Braces of Screen", "White Birds"
F3: "Beidh Aonach Amárach (There's a Fair Tomorrow)", "Blackwaterside", "Daily Growing", "Dobbin's Flowery Vale", "The Lass of Glenshee", "Molly na gCuach Ní Chuilleannáin", "The Pretty Young Girl", "Stór, A Stór, A Ghrá"
E3: "Aige Bruach Dhún Réimhe", "Ar Bhruach na Carraige Báine", "Bacach Shíl' Andaí", "Beidh Aonach Amárach (There's a Fair Tomorrow)", "The Blackest Crow", "Cailín Deas Crúite na mBó", "Ceol an Phíobaire" T With The Maggies version, "Éirigh 's Cuir Ort Do Chuid Éadaigh", "Girl from the North Country", "The Sea-Apprentice Boy", "Soilse na Nollag" live - Nollaig na Maggies, "Uncle Rat", "White Birds"
E♭3: "Ceol an Phíobaire" 2008 Masters of Tradition version, "A Stór A Stór A Ghrá" T With The Maggies version
D3: "Aige Bruach Dhún Réimhe ", "A Stór, A Stór A Ghrá" live - Nollaig na Maggies, "The Blackest Crow ", "Ceol an Phíobaire", "Má Théann Tú 'un Aonaigh ", "Soilse na Nollag" live - Nollaig na Maggies, "Uncle Rat"
C♯3: "A Stór A Stór A Ghrá" T With The Maggies version

NOTE: Background/harmony 3rd octave & 2nd octave notes on Altan albums assumed to be bandmates/collaborators Dáithí Sproule, Frankie Kennedy, Mark Kelly, and/or Ciarán Tourish, not Mairéad (if credited for vocals).

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Italics mark non-melodic notes.
Underlines mark notes that are obscured in the song mix.
Bold marks particularly impressive vocal moments.

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{Special Thanks & Credits}
'S thanks clem for his wonderful vocal summary. Mo bhuíochas.