Caitríona O'Leary

Biography

Caitríona O'Leary (born 1969) is an Irish singer, composer, and arranger. She is known internationally for performances of traditional Irish music, early music, folk music, contemporary music, and her own work.
Called a “national treasure” by the Sunday Business Post and the “world’s leading early-music avant-gardist” by AUDIO Magazine, her recordings have met with broad critical acclaim. Her recording of The Wexford Carols, the result of many years of her researching and reconstructing traditional Irish Christmas songs and then teaming up with producer Joe Henry, guest singers Tom Jones, Rosanne Cash, and Rhiannon Giddens, and an all-star band featuring Dónal Lunny, Greg Cohen, reached #1 on the Billboard and Amazon charts. Her follow up album, Strange Wonders, The Wexford Carols Volume II, was produced by Ethan Johns and Dom Monks and featured guest performers Alison Balsom, Olov Johansson, Seth Lakeman, and Clara Sanabras.
The COVID pandemic and resulting lack of public performances led to filmic collaborations with director Eric Fraad - Love’s Fever, Island of Saints, and Day Six, all film versions of her musical projects.