Biography (click here to download)

Recipient of the 2011 Gradaim Ceoil TG4 Amhránaí na Bliana/Singer of the Year, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh grew up in Dún Chaoin, Co. Kerry. There, she was immersed in the vibrant West-Kerry tradition with its wild dance music, soulful slow airs and many beautiful songs. Her father, a fiddler, would bring her to music sessions from a young age. There she began to play music on the flute and tin-whistle and to sing sean-nós songs, learning from wonderful local singers. She also attended Siamsa Tíre, the National Folk Theatre of Ireland, for several years. She was awarded an M.A. in Traditional Music Performance from the University of Limerick in 2002. She currently tutors both flute and singing in the University.

Muireann toured and performed with various musicians and groups before joining the group Danú in 2003. In 2004 Danú won the BBC 2 Folk Award for "Best Group". At the same awards, the song "The County Down" by Tommy Sands that Danú had recently recorded, won "Best Song".Muireann herself won "Best Singer" at the liveireland.com Awards in 2005. She has toured the world with her music visiting countries as far flung as India, Bulgaria and Jordan and performed for such dignitaries as An t-Uachtarán Mary McAleese, An Taoiseach, The President of Bulgaria and the EU Assembly. She continues to tour regularly with Danú whose new album "Seanchas" was released in April 2010.

Now a regular contributor to television and radio programmes at home and abroad, she featured prominently in the "Highland Sessions" BBC television series.  She also co-hosted and performed at the 2007 and 2009 Gradaim Cheoil TG4 and has presented and contributed to many music programmes. Muireann is extremely sought after both as a vocalist and flute player and has collaborated with many musicians at home and abroad such as Julie Fowlis, Darrell Scott, Liam Clancy and The Bulgarian Women’s Choir. She released her solo album Daybreak: Fáinne an Lae' in 2006 to great acclaim. In 2008 she recorded "Dual" , a collaborative project with Julie Fowlis, Éamon Doorley and Ross Martin exploring the links between Irish and Scots Gaelic music and song. Muireann also gives workshops regularly at home and abroad and was an adjudicator for three years for the Gael-Linn "Siansa" competition for young Traditional Irish bands.

Beathaisnéis:

Faighteoir Amhránaí na Bliana ag Gradaim Ceoil TG4 2011, tá an-éileamh ar Mhuireann Nic Amhlaoibh mar amhránaí, ceoltóir, múinteor agus láiritheoir. Tógadh í i nDún Chaoin i gCorca Dhuibhne, Contae Chiarraí, áit a bhí ceol mór-thimpeall uirthi. Bhí ceol aige baile chomh maith, agus ba nádúrtha an rud di amhráin agus poirt na h-áite a shú isteach!

Bhain sí máistreacht amach sa cheol traidisiúnta i 2002 ó Ollscoil Luimní, áit a mhúineann sí amhránaíocht agus flúiteadóireacht anois. Tá sí mar bhall den mhór-ghrúpa traidisiúnta “Danú” ó 2003 agus tá an domhain mór siúlta aici leo. I 2010 d'eisigh Danú a ndlúthdhiosa ba dhéanaí dar teideal "Seanchas".

Is ceoltóir aonarach í chomh maith, agus eisíodh a dlúthdhiosca féin “Fáinne an Lae” i 2006 a bhfuair ard-mholadh. Tá sí tar éis láiritheoireacht a dhéanamh do Ghradaim Ceoil TG4 i 2007 agus 2009 agus do Gheantraí. Do ghlac sí páirt sna chláranna Anam an Amhráin,  Imeall, Geantraí, Ceolchuairt agus The Highland Sessions leis an BBC. I 2008 do thaifead sí an talbam “Dual”, tionscnamh le Julie Fowlis na hAlban, Eamon Doorley agus Ross Martin a bhí bunaithe ar an nasc idir ceol na hÉireann is na hAlban. Ba mholtóir í ar feadh trí bliana do Shiansa Gael-Linn,
comórtas do ghrupaí óga traidisiúnta.