Leitrim born & bred, I am a traditional singer, composer, researcher & educator. I have performed on various stages in a solo capacity as well as in collaboration with others. I have led & developed many community and socially engaged projects & continue to do so as well as to tutor groups, individuals, in person & online. My deep interest lies in the grass-roots people, customs, traditions, songs & music.
I am a firm believer that if we can appreciate the role that music & song has played in preserving & enriching our own culture, we can also gain a valuable insight into other cultures through their music traditions. Our traditional songs give us a unique insight into our history – the history that we don’t learn from books. They are an important part of our identity & our true story.
Projects
A collaboration with cellist Eimear Reidy supported by a Leitrim Arts Individual Artist Bursary and an Artist Support Residency with The Dock Arts Centre, Carrick on Shannon.
Larks are symbols of joy – singing their songs of hope and renewal. The first voices of the morning heralding a new day. The aim of this project was to herald a new day for many of the Leitrim songs and ballads that have been lost and remained unsung for many years.
The American Wake in conjunction with Jinny’s Bakery and Tearooms came about as a culmination of an exploration of ideas around bread and traditional song. Supported by Leitrim County Council, Leitrim Development, Creative Ireland and the Arts Council through the Small Sparks programme which offers local businesses the chance to work with local artists in the pursuit of common interest and benefit.
Together with artists Edwina Guckian and Brian Mostyn, we have been researching the customs and folk traditions of Ireland associated with straw.
After a few years of working together, Leitrim-based visual artist and ceramicist, Kate Murtagh-Sheridan and myself launched a series of fresco paintings, prints and a beautifully illustrated book which brings the story of Brian O’Lynn alive.
Back to the Future Through Memories & Songs – a Creative Ireland project created over Zoom during Covid restrictions
Rakes of Music
The “Rakes of Music” collection, which I curated in assocation with Leitrim Library, allows the general public online access to a lot of music that Leitrim has produced over many centuries. From songs and music dedicated to the O’ Rourke’s of Breifne to manuscripts of tunes that were passed on by various fiddle masters, ballads that addressed the local political as well as personal and humorous events, dances that were performed on particular occasions, myriads of fife and drum bands that were established throughout the county, the many early musical recordings of Leitrim emigrants in America – this collection gives access to recordings, articles, pictures and footage that paints a picture of the cultural history of Leitrim and brings to life much of the musical material from the shelves and archives of Leitrim Library’s Local Studies section.
Rakes of Music Launch Night
“Ballinamore Library was filled with “rakes of music” for Culture Night on September 20th 2024 as traditional artists Lorraine and Noel Sweeney, Brian Mostyn, Kate O’ Reilly, Conor Ward, Ailíse and Fionnuala Maxwell and Tara Kelly provided tunes, songs and a few steps to launch Leitrim Library’s new online archive of Leitrim music.”
Sharing songsheets & sing-along recordings of the local songs shared at “Little Larks – Taking Flight” session series, a session which supports younger voices being heard, which is supported by Leitrim County Council and Creative Ireland.
Sharing songsheets & sing-along recordings of the local songs shared at each “Lend an Ear” session in the “Taking Flight” series, which is supported by Leitrim County Council and Creative Ireland.
Sharing details of “Tying the Knot” – exploring song, bread and wedding traditions of Ireland and our local international community, in conjunction with Jinny’s Bakery & Tea Rooms, Drumshanbo.
Recordings, compositions & performances
Workshops, Classes & Online Lessons
I facilitate various workshops with school groups, through libraries, singing classes, summer schools and through The Leitrim Larks project.
A song written for and performed by the children of St. Brigid’s National School as part of Cruinniú na nÓg 2023 and in conjunction with Drumshanbo Library.
As well as a useful highly rated online course on the Udemy platform, where you can learn 9 traditional Irish songs, a little bit of ornamentation and have access to the lyrics, recordings and resources for a set fee, I also offer one to one Zoom lessons.
Fionnuala Maxwell 