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Born in Loughmore, Co. Tipperary
Parents: John and Kathleen Nesbitt
Siblings: Sister Frances and brothers Seán, Michael, Noel and Karl
Started playing the piano at age four and the fiddle at age six. Máiréad also played the whistle, flute and the pipes, but did not continue with them.
Education
Started her formal music training at Ursuline Convent in Thurles
The Waterford Institute of Technology
Cork School of Music under Cornelia Zanidache
London Royal Academy
London Trinity College
Events Of Máiréad’s Career
1991
This year was the start of Máiréad’s professional career which was with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. She performed with them for five years (1991-1996). She did various "Late Late Show" performances on RTÉ television and on Channel 4
1992
Máiréad played in the orchestra and played two solo tracks on “The Seville Suite”
1995
February: Performed “The Duke of York’s Troope” on “Out The Gap” with Sharon Shannon
October: Performed a few tracks on “The Heart’s A Wonder” with Tommy Sands - “Sadako” and “Goodbye Love”
1996
From 1996 to 1998 Máiréad was the lead fiddler in Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance
1997
August: Performed “Causeway” on Donal Lunny’s “Sult”
September: Performed two tracks on Bill Whelan‘s “Roots Of Riverdance” such as “The Coast Of Galicia” and “Carcacena”
1998
Máiréad moved on as the lead fiddler in Feet of Flames where she remained until 2001
March 1: Recorded the track “Mrs. Jameson’s Favorite” on Mighty Session
September: Performed “Slides” on “Coolfin” with Donal Lunny
1999
November: The release of the 1997 recording “Lord of the Dance” with Michael Flately. Máiréad performed several tracks including “Strings Of Fire,” “The Lament” and “Celtic Violin Dueling”
2001
Máiréad released her debut album “Raining Up”
March : Performed two tracks on “Celtic Moods” with Fir Na Keol - “Riverdance” and “Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For”
October: The release of the 1998 recording “Feet of Flames” with Michael Flately. Máiréad performed several tracks including “Strings Of Fire,” “The Lament/Celtic Fire” and “Whispering Winds”
2002
January 23: Recorded a show with Celtic Tenors in Hamburg, Germany for a German television station NDR (Norddeutscher Rundfunk) called Grosser Irischer Abend (Grand Irish Evening). Máiréad Performed “The Butterfly,” and “ There Is No Night” in addition to “The Bird In The Bush” with the Gaelforce Dancers.
March 29: Máiréad and her band performed at the Gosport & Fareham Easter Festival
April 5: Performed “The Butterfly” on a UTV Television program called “Kelly,”
July 19: Máiréad and her band performed at the Hebridean Celtic Festival in Stornaway, Scotland
August 8: Máiréad played at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient in Brittany, France which is known as O’Stravaganza
December 13: Christmas concert in Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, Ireland at St. Finbarr’s Church.
December 15 & 18: Máiréad and her band did four tracks from Raining Up on FLOSC TV program (Bovaglies Plaid, Finan’s Isle, The Setting Sun and Butterfly)
2003
Máiréad performed “The Butterfly” on a CD released by the Irish Music Magazine
January 23: Performed with Bob Geldof at the Palace Theatre in Kilmarnock, Glasgow
January 24: Máiréad opened for “Shooglenifty” at the Fruitmarket
January 25: Performed at “The Lift Club” in Glossop, Derbyshire, England
January 28: Performed at “Ceolcastle” in Birmingham, England
February 1: Performed at the Main Auditorium of the concert hall with Carlos Nunez and Manus Lunny at The Celtic Connections 2003 Festival in Glasgow
March 16: On St. Patrick’s Day, Máiréad performed at the Centenary Square in Birmingham, England
March 28: Máiréad performed with the Afrocelts on The Late Late Show on RTÉ 1
April 1: Performed “An Raibh Tú Ag an Gcarraig?“ on “Celtic Chill”
May 18: Máiréad played at the “Ten Vrede Festival” in Diksmuide, Belgium
July 10: Máiréad and her band played at San Paolo D’Argon (Bergamo) in Chiostro Abbazia Benedettina, Italy
July 11: Máiréad and her band played at Gorizia in Teatro Tenda del Castello, Italy,
July 12: Máiréad and her band played at Guggiono (Milano) in Villa Annoni, Italy
August 3: Máiréad and her band performed at the Dranouter Folk Festival in Dranouter, Belgium
Máiréad toured with the Afrocelts until September 27th.:
- June 25: Dublin, Vicker St.
- June 29: Glastonbury, England
- July 16: Northgate Music Theatre in Seattle, Washington
- July 17: Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, British Columbia
- July 18: Zoo Amphitheatre in Portland, Oregon
- July 21: Chautauqua Concert hall in Boulder, Colorado
- July 22: Gothic Theatre, Englewood in Denver, Colorado
- July 25: Star Blue festival in Toronto, Ontario
- July 26: Summerstage, New York
- July 27: Artscape in Baltimore, Maryland
- August 1: Belfast
- August 2: Cambridge Folk Festival in Cambridge, England
- August 3: Dranouter Folk Festival in Dranouter, Belgium
- August 15/16: Milwaukee Irish Festival in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- August 22: Eden Project in Womad, Singapore
- August 28-30: Womad, Singapore
- September 27: Royal Festival Hall in London, England
October 7: Máiréad and her band played at the 4th Irish Music Magazine Awards Ceremony at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, Ireland. She also was voted “Best Traditional Female” this year by Irish Music Magazine Reader’s Poll
November 1: Máiréad played in the premier of a new dance show “Irish Dance Invasion” at the Thalia Theatre in Budapest. She also played on the 16th and in subsequent performances. Máiréad, along with Tibor Kasza, composed the original music score for this show. The show also toured in Hungary, Romania and Israel. The show later became known as “Invasion” The following actions in the Erkel Theatre (Budapest, Hungary VIII. Republic Square 30) is the 4 April 4, 2004
December 5: She played the solo fiddle in the O‘Stravaganza performance at the Cité administration in Sochaux, France
2004
May 28 to July 31: Máiréad played in the play “The Shaughraun” by Dion Boucicault at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin.
August 28: Performed at The Festival Of World Cultures at the Main Stage, Newtownsmith, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin
September: Máiréad performed privately for HRH The Princess Royal (Princess Anne) on her visit to Dublin
September 15: Participated in a recording of a new group called Celtic Woman at the Helix
November 24 to February 26, 2005: Máiréad played in a new run of “The Shaughraun” at The Abbey Theatre in Dublin
2005
March: Released the first CD/DVD with Celtic Woman that was recoded in 2004 at The Helix
September: Commemorative Concert for leo Rowsome
December 25: Celtic Woman participated in the “Weihnachtsshow der Volkmusik” presented by Stefan Mross in Germany on channel ARD
2006
February: Performed selected tracks on “The Celtic Goddess” with Anne Buckley
2007
January: Released “A New Journey” with Celtic Woman
April: Performed three tracks on a Scotland TV programme music series called “Tacsi” with Ceol Tacsi - “Bovaglies Plaid,” “The Butterfly” and “Captain H”
September 4: Máiréad played the solo fiddle at a civic ceremony held at the Belfast City Hall in rememberance of two world wars.
October 27: Celtic Woman provide music for “Skate For The Heart” which aired on January 13, 2008
October: Released “Christmas Celebration” with Celtic Woman
December: Performed two tracks on “Drum_Believable” with The Dhol Foundation - “Simply H” and “After The Rain”
2008
October: Tinker Bell (Máiréad was the solo fiddler)
December 18: Máiréad joined several Irish music performers in the Esplanade in Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland. The performances combined with An Beal Binn, a Wicklow charity that promotes the Irish Traditional Arts. This Scléip na Nollag (Christmas Bash) was a sold out event.
2009
October: Tinker Bell And the Lost Treasure (Máiréad was the solo fiddler)
2010
January 2: Performed with Berne Symphony Orchestra in Switzerland with such songs as “Celtic Dawn” and “Tinkerbell Suite”
January: Released the CD/DVD “ Songs From The Heart” with Celtic Woman
March 27: Celtic Woman performed at Radio City Music Hall with the PS22 choir
December: Released the CD “Lullaby” with Celtic Woman
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