tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62077865020495579702012-01-10T10:07:53.211-04:00Mary O'Hara -- Irish Harpist and SingerBlog Adminnoreply@blogger.comBlogger61100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207786502049557970.post-77489572734940820092011-09-22T13:02:00.000-03:002011-09-22T13:46:09.833-03:00Mary O'Hara -- Irish Harpist and Singer
"To summarize the life and times of a great artist in a few paragraphs is often quite difficult.
The life and times of singer-harpist and writer Mary O'Hara probably needs the breadth of wide screen cinema and the intimacy of a close friend revealing their innermost thoughts to give some idea of a truly remarkable career."
~ Jed Kearse ~
-- his cover notes on the compilation CD entitled TheBlog Adminnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207786502049557970.post-8691822489161192912009-10-18T14:55:00.010-03:002010-10-09T18:11:19.906-03:00Early DaysMary O'Hara was born in 1935, in Sligo, on the west coast of Ireland.
While still at school, she made her 1st national broadcast, singing and accompanying herself on the Celtic harp. Her reputation as a singer soon spread beyond her native Ireland.
The Edinburgh Festival, BBC television, the Ed Sullivan Show -- an instant public response rewarded her with her own prime-time BBC TV series and herBlog Adminnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207786502049557970.post-31181414495463429612009-10-18T14:50:00.006-03:002010-10-09T18:14:00.447-03:00Middle YearsWhile away, her recordings continued to sell with great success.
When her health began to give way under the rigours of monastic life, Mary decided to come out into the world again and more importantly, to play publicly.
I have a favourite old record of Mary performing live and near the end of the performance, she introduces "Lord of the Dance."
She says, in a gentle Irish lilt, that she must Blog Adminnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207786502049557970.post-10766127410150805002009-10-18T14:45:00.004-03:002010-10-09T18:12:53.205-03:00Later Years of Mary's CareerWhen she again resumed her singing career, after such a long absence, history repeated itself.
After an appearance on the Russell Harty TV Show, her impact on the public was such that the switchboard was swamped with requests for her reappearance.
Soon after,the first of many concert appearances at London's Royal Festival Hall was sold out, a resounding success that became a best-selling record.Blog Adminnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207786502049557970.post-32979906650956868682009-10-18T14:40:00.010-03:002012-01-10T09:57:25.215-04:00Semi Retirement
Mary remarried in 1985 to a 'kindred spirit' who happens to be a teacher, journalist, and historian of some note.
Mary O'Hara retired from performing of any kind in 1994. She says she felt a special relief when she knew she was going to retire!
After all, being a professional performer requires one to practice singing and playing the harp on a daily basis, for most of the day, leaving little Blog Adminnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207786502049557970.post-62275623068960235292009-10-18T13:18:00.018-03:002012-01-10T10:07:53.220-04:00Current AffairsMary and her husband spent 6 years in Africa while he was teaching, before returning to their home in England where they spend part of the year.
After searching for many years, the playwright John Misto contacted her for permission to write a play based on her autobiography The Scent of the Roses.
Harp on the Willow has played to sold-out crowds in Australia and received excellent reviews! Mary Blog Adminnoreply@blogger.com0