Singer Eimear Quinn performs with Iarla Ó Lionáird, Tolü Makay and the National Symphony Orchestra at the National Concert Hall as part of The Festival of Voice on Friday 27 June. We asked Eimear the BIG questions . . .
The festival also sees performances by The Sixteen, John Spillane, Dublin Gospel Choir and more.
We need your consent to load this Spotify contentWe use Spotify to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
Eimear made her international debut in 1996, when she won the Eurovision Song Contest for Ireland with The Voice written by Brendan Graham. Since then, she has toured and performed extensively internationally and has released six albums to date, the most recent being Songs of Winter Dreaming in 2024.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I love life and feel truly blessed to have the relative health to enjoy it. I've had an obsession with all things metaphysical since I was a very small child lying awake pondering infinity. I like to paint. It makes time pass differently somehow.
How would you describe your music?
I think it's distinctly Irish. I'd like to think of it as an authentic blend of all of my musical influences; classical, sacred, folk, ancient, ambient, contemporary songwriter, and then of my physical landscape and cultural heritage.
It's mostly trying to make sense of my driving emotions and a pursuit of serene bliss. Some describe it as ethereal and spiritual, and that makes me happy. It's all ultimately a vehicle of communication, from this one Irish woman, to anyone who's interested in hearing.
Who are your musical inspirations?
I'm deeply inspired by people who are unapologetically themselves.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
First ever concert I attended was the Tallaght Choral Society's annual Handel's Messiah with a young Emmanuel Lawler as Tenor, and a young Regina Nathan as Soprano. First opera was the DGOS production of La Traviata in the early eighties. First Concert at the NCH was a school concert given by the NSO when I was in 5th class.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Purple Rain by Prince, on vinyl.
What's your favourite song right now?
I'm listening a lot to a song called The Mermaid of Zennor by Sarah Class and It's hypnotic. She duets with Isaac Waddington.
Favourite lyric of all time?
A song called En Sourdine by Gabriel Faurė. It's a setting of a poem by Paul Verlaine that describes a languid day, spent ignorant of the outside world, until the spell is broken by a nightingale's song. Most likely Verlaine intended to describe a day spent between lovers, but I often picture lying lazily with my daughters in a summer meadow somewhere while I listen. It has that depth of intimacy.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Natural Great Peace music by Richard Page, poem by Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche - spoken, with teachings by Sogyal Rinpoche. I have a little CD from when I went to hear him teach in the Helix in 2006.
Where can people find your music/more information?
I have a website and it's usually up to date with the latest concerts and recordings. In terms of social media, I'm most active on Instagram @eimearvox.
Alan Corr
