The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
A STRIKINGLY original artist working in the field of jazz, folk, and contemporary music, Edel Meade will be in Glór on Thursday, April 28.
Described as the “most courageous Irish album of the year” in The Irish Times, Brigids and Patricias Edel’s stunning new solo album was released on International Women’s Day 2021.
Her new collection of original songs and spoken word reflects on what it means to be a woman living in 21st century Ireland.
Shaped by Irish history, folklore and contemporary society, the album draws on the stories and experiences of Irish women including Tipperary woman, Bridget Cleary, Limerick aviatrix Lady Mary Heath and contemporary trailblazing women including Catherine Corless and Vicky Phelan.
Standout songs include Song For Bridget Cleary, (Bridget Cleary was burnt alive by her husband in 1895, not far from where Meade grew up in Co. Tipperary, although he insisted she had been taken away by the fairies!).
Long Way To Go is a provocative spoken word piece addressing misogyny and the Cervicalcheck scandal in Ireland and Ode To Old Noll, a blistering song about Oliver Cromwell who wreaked havoc in Ireland and sent thousands of Irish people to the West Indies in the 17th century.
Among those exiled were some of Meade’s own ancestors, descendants of whom live on the Caribbean island of Montserrat today.
“I wanted to explore what it means to be an Irish woman to understand who I am as an artist,” says Edel.
“I felt I needed to look at historic events as well as contemporary social issues, and of course, I believe it’s an artist’s duty to reflect the times.”
Edel’s performance will be followed by a post-show talk on Clare woman Biddy Early: Wise Woman or Witch, and the representation of women in Irish folklore with Dr. Ailbhe Nic Giolla Chomhaill and Edel.
Edel is from Clonmel, Co. Tipperary and she spent over a decade working as a professional jazz singer in Dublin, however, she longed for a deeper connection with the music she was performing and moved to Limerick in 2018 to hone her song writing skills at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at University of Limerick.
The change in geographical location gave her the freedom to explore new musical terrain and to explore her identity as an Irish singer, Irish songwriter, and Irish woman.
Owen Ryan
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked for a number of other regional titles in Limerick, Galway and Cork.
