The Henry Girls & Na Leanaí

Join us for a double bill of female creativity celebrating St Brigid’s with Na Leanai and The Henry Girls.

The Henry Girls are sisters Karen, Lorna and Joleen McLaughlin from the most Northerly part of Co. Donegal. The trio formed as a professional music group in 2001 after Lorna and Karen returned from living in Australia where they started to perform and write songs. Joleen the youngest of the three was finishing her leaving certificate and was becoming a very promising harp and piano player so it was a natural progression to join together. They wrote and recorded their first album later that year, produced by Maire Breathnach. They have since gone on to record 5 more original studio albums, a couple of Eps and a live album of music by The Boswell Sisters of New Orleans (released February 2020)

Infused with the rich cultural heritage of their native Donegal but with a

transatlantic flavour their music has been described asʻfull bodied and powerfully dynamicʼby Froots magazine. They have successfully learned to interweave their traditional roots with contemporary elements, earning them both commercial success and spectacular critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic.

As well as writing and recording albums The Henry Girls have written and performed music for Theatre productions, Dance pieces, Childrens shows and film and television , including the Canadian/Irish co-production “A shine of Rainbows (2008) for which they received an IFTA nomination for their contribution to the musical score.

Na Leanai

Carrying on the proud musical legacy of the Sands Family from County Down,Na Leanai are the next generation bringing fresh energy to Irish folk music. Their name — meaning“the children” in Irish — reflects their shared roots as cousins and siblings raised in song. Known for their powerful family harmonies and rich arrangements on fiddle, flute, guitar, whistles, and percussion, they have captivated audiences across Europe, including in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands.Na Leanaihave released two acclaimed albums,Kindred Roots (2015) andBranching Out (2017), the latter produced by the renowned guitarist Steve Cooney.