The Girl With The Beret – New Album

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I’m delighted to announce the release of my New Album, called The Girl With The Beret.

It is available now for pre-order on Bandcamp and will be officially released on Monday 3rd October, 2016.

 The Girl with The Beret’ is a 1916 Concept Mini-Album, inspired by my great-grandaunt Katie, otherwise known as Catherine Rooney (née Byrne).
According to her witness statement, recorded with the Bureau of Military History (Ireland), she was the first woman to enter the GPO in Dublin on the day of the Rising on Easter Monday 1916. Having followed her brothers down O’Connell St., she kicked in a side window of the GPO and climbed in. She tended to the wounded, earning herself the title of ‘The Petticoat Heroine’ in the press in later years. 

Katie also delivered several dispatches during the week, including one important note written by Joseph Plunkett and given to her by Pádraig Pearse. She concealed the note in her hair and brought it to the Four Courts. Katie describes running under fire and narrowly escaping death, when a bullet passed by her head leaving two holes in her beret. She also describes her family’s involvement in the War of Independence, in the years following the Rising. Their house, at 17 Nth Richmond St., was used as a secret HQ for a special squad called the ‘Guards of the Active Service Unit’. Firearms and ammunition were temporarily hidden in various secret places in the house, including the first Thompson gun smuggled into Ireland. Her Mother, Mrs Catherine Byrne (née Dowling), provided a safe house during this time, feeding and tending to the many men who were involved and needing a place to hide. 

 

Comprised of a series of songs and spoken word tracks, which flow seamlessly from one into the other, The Girl With The Beret weaves the story of a young woman caught up in the 1916 Rising in Dublin.

A fusion of alternative folk, popular ballad and classical strings. It gives a unique insight into the perspective of an ordinary girl living at that time and what it meant, as a female, to be involved in the Rebellion.

Featured musicians:

Kate O’Callaghan, Seamus Devenny, Tim Jarvis, Declan McClafferty and Martin Smyth (from alt. rock band In Their Thousands), Stephen McDaid, Billy Robinson, Paul Devenny and Kevin Murphy.

Recorded and Mixed by Orri McBrearty at Attica Audio, Donegal.

Mastered by Richard Dowling at WavMastering, Limerick.

 

 

New Double Single Release – FEEL & YOUNG HEARTS RUN FREE

I’m delighted to announce my Double Single Release of ‘FEEL’ & ‘YOUNG HEARTS RUN FREE’ with new label Andromeda Artisans.  Available now on iTUNES and all major digital streaming sites. Enjoy Xx

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Earagail Arts Festival July 2015

The Lark & The Robin will feature in the Earagail Arts Festival on the 23rd July in Carndonagh, Co. Donegal.

The wonderfully intimate Inishowen event is hosted by singer/songwriter Kate O’Callaghan with Seamus Devenny. Featured special guests on this festival edition of The Lark & The Robin, joining Kate and Seamus, will include critically acclaimed Mullingar troubadour Peter Doran and Devon based Indie-folk songwriter Jess McAllister.  A unique, collaborative celebration of Song and the Art of Songwriting – not to be missed!

“A ferocious emotional and musical intelligence at work” – Tom Robinson, BBC 6 Music on Jess Mc Allister.

Eaf 2015

Confirmed for Swell Festival 2015

Delighted to be playing again at this awesome music and arts festival on Arranmore Island July 10th – 12th – The Mighty Swell Festival. Get your tickets now.

Swell 2015

 

Vantastival – May 2015

We had a great time playing at Vantastival in Bellurgan, Co. Louth. Highly recommend checking out this wonderful festival – great music, friendly atmosphere AND lots of camper vans….tis heaven 🙂

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The 36th Clifden Arts Festival 2013

Really looking forward to this year’s Clifden Arts Festival in Galway. I will be performing 4 shows at the festival, with Seamus Devenny, from 23rd to 26th September.

Includes 2 shows supporting Session Americana.

Clifden - Kate  Clifden - Kate & Seamus

 

See Clifden Arts Festival Full Programme of Events.