BIOGRAPHY
In BriefNiamh hails from Killarney, Ireland, where she started playing music at the age of 4. A multiple award winner on both fiddle and concertina, she toured for 8 years as a soloist with Riverdance, performing in over 2500 shows, before returning to Ireland where she is now based.
She released her debut album "Ón Dá Thaobh / From Both Sides" in 2007 to much critical acclaim - it was the only Irish album on MOJO's Top Ten Folk Albums for 2007. She received the "Best Trad Music Act 2008" award from UK publication 'The Irish World', and "Best Fiddle/Violin 2008" by the American based 'Irish Music Association'. Late last year she released her second album "Súgach Sámh / Happy Out" again to rave reviews - it was listed in NY Journalist Earle Hitchner's Top 30 albums for 2010, and as "probably the best album of 2010" in 'Irish Music Magazine'. She was nominated for "Top Solo Performer" in the 2011 Irish Music Awards and in January 2012 was awarded "Female Musician of the Year" in the Live Ireland Music Awards 2012. These awards, compiled by respected and renowned industry critic Bill Margeson, are (along with TG4) the most eagerly anticipated Irish Traditional Music Awards of the year.
Along with touring extensively as a solo artist and with her own band, Niamh has also performed and recorded with The Chieftains, and with Carlos Núñez. and recently released a new album "The Basque Irish Connection", in collaboration with Basque musician Ibon Koteron. She has taught both fiddle and concertina and regularly gives workshops and masterclasses.
In Full
Niamh Ní Charra hails from Killarney, County Kerry in the south west of Ireland. Strongly influenced by the wealth of local Sliabh Luachra musicians, she started playing music at the early age of 4, under the tutelage of well known local musician Nicky McAuliffe. Equally talented on fiddle and concertina, she has won numerous awards, including Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, Oireachtas, and Slógadh Náisiúnta and has represented Ireland at folk festivals in Britain and France. Somewhat of a child prodigy, she had support gigs for The Chieftains, and Noel Hill under her belt before she reached her teens.
Despite this rich background, she put aside her music to persue a career in Electronic Engineering. After graduating with honours, Niamh was employed by an Irish software company who regularly sent her on business trips to Boston. Here she was exposed to a continuous flow of Irish musicians (Arcady, Sharon Shannon, Nomos) as well as locally based musicians (Paddy Keenan, Seamus Connolly, Tommy McCarthy).
The draw of the music proved too strong, and Niamh decided to resign from work to persue a career in music. She moved to Cork to take a year-long course in 'Music, Management, and Sound' at Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa, where she graduated with distinctions in every subject - the only student ever to have achieved this feat. The college subsequently awarded her "Musician of the Year". She swiftly followed this with recordings for Irish radio and television, and performances with Riverdance's European troupe in Europe, Asia and on board the QE2, before joining the U.S. troupe in 1998. Niamh performed with Riverdance from that date until December 2005, touring with them in North America. From Mexico to Vancouver, and Los Angeles to Broadway, New York, Niamh has delighted audiences with her fiery fiddling, fancy footwork and dazzling smiles. More recently she shared her talents in Riverdance's Irish and Far East productions performing in her native capital as well as the more exotic locations of Tokyo and Taipei among others.
Niamh has returned to Dublin, Ireland where she is working as a freelance musician, regularly gigging accross the city. She has taught both fiddle and concertina at Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann's national headquaters, An Cultúrlann in Monkstown, and regularly gives workshops and masterclasses. She released her debut album "Ón Dá Thaobh / From Both Sides" in 2007 to much critical acclaim - apart from many great reviews, Niamh's album was the only Irish album to be listed in MOJO's Top Ten Folk Albums for 2007. She was also presented with the "Best Traditional Music Act" award, 2008, by The Irish World - the largest newspaper for the Irish community in Britain. Late last year she released her second album "Súgach Sámh / Happy Out", again to rave reviews - it was listed in NY Journalist Earle Hitchner's Top 30 Albums for 2010, and as "probably the best album of 2010" in Irish Music Magazine. She was nominated for "Top Solo Performer" in the 2011 Irish Music Awards and in January 2012 was awarded "Female Musician of the Year" in the Live Ireland Music Awards 2012. These awards, compiled by respected and renowned industry critic Bill Margeson, are (along with TG4) the most eagerly anticipated Irish Traditional Music Awards of the year.
Along with touring extensively as a solo artist and with her own band, Niamh has also performed and recorded with The Chieftains, and with Carlos Núñez. and recently released a new album "The Basque Irish Connection", in collaboration with Basque musician Ibon Koteron.
