Róisin teams up with Kerry great

An accomplished singer has teamed up with a Kerry footballing legend to record a beautiful rendition of the famous ballad Dingle Bay.

Róisín O’Reilly was eager to sing the tender folk song alongside a spoken word contribution from her uncle Mick O’Connell.

Róisín’s late aunt, Rosaleen O’Reilly, a native of Poles, the decorated footballer O’ Connell back in 1972 and settled on Valentia Island.

Over the years Róisín and Mick have shared a love for Irish ballads and so “this recording of Dingle Bay was a special undertaking,” according to Róisin.

“A memory that particularly stands out for me is rowing over to Begnish Island with Michael every summer to visit the Casey brothers, Mike and Jim, the last inhabitants on Begnish Island. I always sang Dingle Bay on those visits.

“Sadly the Casey brothers are no longer with us however I was honoured to sing it as a tribute to Mick Casey at his burial at Kilnavernogue graveyard in Carhirciveen on a beautiful sunny August weekend which will be etched in my memory forever. It was an eternal moment, filled with the beauty of friendships, community, and of the natural surroundings. It was Mike Casey’s, farewell.”

Róisín O’Reilly originally was signed to Universal Classics & Jazz, London and released her first album with them in 2003.

Before that she was a member of the Irish group Anuna for many years with whom she recorded and toured extensively.

Since then she has worked with many notable artists including The Chieftains, the late, Sir George Martin, recorded and toured with Liam Lawton and has performed in many venues around the world including the renowned Carnegie Hall in New York.

Over the last five years Róisín collaborated with Irish songwriter Brendan Graham and featuring in his ‘You Raise Me Up’ concerts in the National Concert Hall in January of this year.

Dingle Bay is available on all platforms now.