Mary Murphy's Irish Isle
"To be with Mary in performance is something very
special. Her Irish warmth and charm surround you in every
note, drawing you into her world." - An Bord Trachtala
(Irish Trade Board ), Ireland
Combine a wee Irish lass with a honeyed crystalline voice,
a dynamic multi-instrumentalist and good cheer. What do you
get? A whopping great time! Come let Mary Murphy's Irish Isle
transport you across the Atlantic to a home of traditional,
original and contemporary Irish songs. Mary not only sings
lyrics - she transcends them. Her penned originals are seeped
in tradition, and one would be hard pressed to decipher the
originals from the traditional ones.
Ms. Murphy, a versatile and fiery singer/songwriter born
in Wexford, Ireland and residing in Canada has built her own
musical bridge on which she unequivocally invites all visitors
to step across. A typical show sees Mary not only sharing
her gifts of melody and lyric, but leading her audiences in
playful choruses in both English and Irish language, playing
percussion instruments and even performing a little step dancing!
It may be this gift of melody and lyric that is so attractive,
or her rich and seemingly effortless vocal style, or perhaps
her enticingly warm Irish nature; but whatever combinations
move this woman, they promote and sustain fans from every
age group and from every walk of life.
 Murphy,
the youngest of six children, has lived in three countries.
Ireland, Canada and the U.S. Having lived in three countries
makes for a woman of transcontinental life experiences. This
attribute has served Mary well and has shaped her as a woman
that people naturally gravitate to on a personal level. These
experiences have also shaped her writing, performing and interpreting
style. Mary is especially adroit and recognized for unleashing
spine tingling mid-tempo ballads. Mary's Irish wit and storytelling
also ring clear and proves to be yet another way in which
her audiences find themselves feeling personally connected
and drawn into her world.
Mary's producer/guitarist, Paul Keim, brings vibrant rhythmic
guitar, lute and mandola elements to Mary's overall sound
both live and in the studio and is the owner/operator of Dove
Creek Recording Studios in Courtenay, British Columbia. The
last two Mary CD's has seen Paul as writer of a number of
the melodies with Mary writing the lyrics. Her seventh CD,
'A Painted Moon' is a bountiful work of art that continues
to receive well deserved accolades and includes guest artist/Juno
winner David Francey. This CD also accorded a cash prize for
'Best Female Vocalist' from the Travelers Music Awards. While
touring Eastern Canada in 2007 Mary performed at the 'Ottawa
Folk Music Festival' as well as the 'Live from the Rock Music
festival' in Ontario, where Mary and her mixed band won 'Best
Band' - by audience consensus. In 2008, she began to tour
with Will Millar (Irish Rovers). Will calls her voice, "The
Heart and Soul of Ireland." Mary now holds the great
honor of being Will's highlighted vocalist on his tours.
 Her
newest release, 'Three Hand Reel', is an absolute showstopper.
To quote one reviewer, "Three Hand Reel is infectious
with the joy of making music. This release is a pure delight
that in the words of the title cut "you'll not want to
let the music end" and you'll be pressing the repeat
button to have it "go around again". She has written
and performed music for film, including 'McGregor's Lament',
which was recorded for a Charlie Sheen film with a one hundred-piece
Orchestra in Slovakia. She has been an encore guest of the
Chieftains, and has her music aired regularly on stations
around the world, including Sheryl MacKay's CBC 'North by
Northwest', Fiona Ritchie's NPR 'Thistle and Shamrock', the
well loved Irish 'Adrian Flannelly Show' WKDM New York, Harold
Moenkediek's Radio Bremen NPR Germany, the John O'Regan show
RTE Ireland, just to name a few.
Mary's creative fire is not solely billowed by a musical wind, but also lives on the volition of a literary one.
While the years have seen a plethora of short stories and poetic musings fall from this woman's pen, it is The Emerald Diaries - Secrets of an Irish Clan, Mary's first full-length novel that has been swept away by a publishing firm. This brand new novel has already stirred the hearts and minds of reviewers, book clubs, bookshops and the general public. But you don't have to take our word for it. Here are three reviews.
As you journey into Mary Murphy's new tale, you may just hear a faint cry of a fiddle on the sea wind. She weaves a tale with the same love and magic that generations of Seannachie (storytellers) used to cast spells over their hushed listeners.'
Will Millar, founder of the Irish Rovers, Canada
"...altogether engrossing. I was immediately transported to the crackling warmth of an Irish hearth fire and to the timeless stories one always finds there."
Potpourri Book Club, Corpus Christi USA
"...enchanting and filled with dreams. It is Mary's way with words and charming turn of phrase that captivates the reader and compels us to turn the pages."
Literary review, Ireland
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