Pavee Song – Pavee Culture: Thomas McCarthy in Concert

One of the most exciting and moving voices in traditional singing today, ‘you would stand in the snow to listen to Thomas McCarthy sing’. Thomas comes from a well-known musical Irish Traveller family who kept the tradition of singing strong. He is the grandson of a renowned seanachie and grew up surrounded by the singing of his late mother, her father and aunts and uncles. McCarthy is also a passionate activist on behalf of his people and is an ambassador for Traveller singing and Traveller song.
Thomas has a unique ability to connect with his audience and is described by Gradam Cheoil as captivating “This singer has a voice of great strength, tone, character and sublime beauty’.

His technique is a joy to listen to. His art is particularly illustrative of the power of storytelling through song, beyond simply singing the song. His style of presentation, of narrative and history before and around the song, is captivating. He has a unique ability to connect with his audience. On top of that, he carries with him that distinctive style of singing – a movement in the longer notes – known as ‘the warble’.

In 2019, McCarthy won “The Gradam Ceoil Award – Traditional Singer of the Year”, The Gradam Ceoil is the most prestigious award for Traditional music and song in Ireland.  Thomas  has collected more than 1,200 songs and  is committed to preserving this powerful and beautiful part of Irish Traveller culture.

What The Press Are Saying….

“Tom has an outstanding voice, he sings from the heart, as if he were living the story”  – The actual quality of Thomas’s voice stops you in your tracks rather and holds you spellbound thereafter.”  David Kidman: Living Tradition,

“One can see exactly what it is that makes him such an extra ordinary singer” Rod Stradling in Musical Traditions magazine,

“A warm and engaging character, he is a fine though modest ambassador for his Community and Country.” Hector Gilchrist in his Sidmouth Festival.