Nuala Kennedy
“Dundalk native Nuala Kennedy, is a critically acclaimed and award-winning touring and recording artist. She sings, plays flute and whistle, and is a writer of songs and tunes. Her work draws on songs and tunes from both the Irish and Scottish traditions and often blends sources and influences with a studied understanding of history and transmission, but she’s always out to find ways to make them sound like today.” —The Irish Echo
World renowned traditional singer and flute player Nuala Kennedy grew up playing Irish music in Dundalk, County Louth and now lives in Ennis, County Clare with her Appalachian singer husband A. J. Roach and their two young children. Her newest release (August 2024) is an atmospheric duo album of songs recorded with Eamon O’ Leary entitled ‘Hydra’.
‘Sumptous folk songs’ * * * * Folk Album of the Month, The GUARDIAN
Special guests on Hydra include violinist Liz Knowles who provides string arrangements on the album, and Brian MacGloinn (Ye Vagabonds) on mandolin, as well as the ‘Liffeyside Chorus’ featuring Will Oldham (Bonnie Prince Billy), Anais Mitchell and Cathal McConnell.
Nuala’s fifth solo album ‘Shorelines’ (2023) was recorded in and inspired by the rugged coastline of Clare and her experiences since she moved there in 2019. At its core is a powerhouse touring trio with Clare fiddle maestro Tara Breen (Chieftains) and Dublin guitarist Tony Byrne (Danu).
**** MOJO * * * * * SONGLINES **** THE IRISH TIMES * * * * * RnR
“Tales of fortitude and resilience, endurance and grit fuel this exceptional concept album from the singer, flute and whistle player and composer Nuala Kennedy. ” * * * * The Irish Times
Nuala is known for her creative reworking and reimagining of traditional songs and for her unique Irish flute style, formed in Dundalk and honed in her long-time adopted home of Edinburgh, Scotland.
She is a musical adventurer who is recognized world-wide as a superlative performer of traditional music. Nuala joined Irish-American Supergroup SOLAS as singer for their 30th Anniversary Reunion in 2025. She has graced the cover of Irish Music Magazine, Sing Out! and appeared on the mainstage at festivals and venues around the world including Rudolstadt (GER) Celtic Connections (UK) Milwaukee Irish festival (USA) Telemark (NOR) Eurofonik (FRA) National Folk Festival (AU) and Celtic Colors (CAN). Her discography includes several releases on Nashville’s Compass Records (USA), Vertical (UK), Borealis Records (CAN) and Ta:Lik Records (NOR) as well on her independent label Under the Arch Records (IRL).
“Cheeky, dynamic and full of ideas.” —Scotland on Sunday
“A flute player and composer of remarkable finesse, fearless of the unknown.” —The Irish Times
Kennedy’s roots in Irish music, but she ‘something of a genre bender’ according to Living Tradition magazine. Outside of traditional music, Nuala trained as a classical pianist under Prof. John O’ Connor, Dublin and has toured and recorded with Indie-Poet Will Oldham/ Bonnie Prince Billy, Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub), Euros Childs (Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci), with cutting-edge Canadian composer the late Oliver Schroer (nominated for two Canadian Folk Awards) and is a member of Snowflake Trio, with Norwegian musicians Vegar Vårdal and Frode Haltli (ta:lik records, 2019), as well as Denmark’s Himmerland World Music Collective.
Nuala is featured on ‘Celtic Soundtracks / Movie Themes’ by California’s Eric Rigler (Braveheart, Outlander, Titanic) and collaborated with composer Brian Reitzell on the score for hit television series ‘American Gods’ (2017).
At Whispering Pines Studio in Los Angeles she produced American folk singer-songwriter Nels Andrews’ 2020 album ‘Pigeon and the Crow’, featuring Sebastian Steinberg (The Dixie Chicks, K.D. Lang, John Zorn, Eddie Vedder) on bass, Anais Mitchell (Hadestown) on vocals and Chris Wabich on steel drums (Leonard Cohen, Kevin Ayers, Sting ).
Nuala duets with Janis Ian on her Grammy nominated 2022 release ‘The Light at the End of the Line‘ .
