Eabha (pronounced A-va) McMahon, musician from Celtic Woman, tells me she is helping out at her brother’s cafe as he recovers from the flu. It’s hardly surprising that flu is rampant with Ireland’s snowy and rainy winter. Eabha says the looming Australian tour couldn’t be at a more opportune time to get some relief from the cold and some ‘chilling’ of a different kind.
Last time Eabha was in Australia she recalls the girls visit to the Sydney Opera House, including dining in its restaurant. This time Eabha hopes to get in a visit to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. With Irish family in Australia, Eabha has a great appreciation of Australians, who, she says remind her of the Irish with their ‘friendliness and humour’. Of Tasmania she tells me as a child she always loved the Tasmanian devil cartoons and would love to visit his homeland!
Speaking of homelands Eahba’s role in Celtic Woman allows her to showcase the traditional Irish component that the girls want to present to the world. It’s especially important to Eabha whose life has been steeped in traditional Irish culture including speaking Irish as a first language and attending an Irish school. Eabha didn’t speak English until she was six years old. The Irish language continues to be a huge part of her life.
Eabha’s musical journey began at school when she was involved in musical presentations at her Wicklow school. It was years after she finished school that she took up the chance of putting one of her original songs ‘Just cry’ up on you tube. An old school friend saw the video, a friend who happened to be the son of one of the directors of the Celtic Woman musical group. Not long after she became known to the group, Eabha was given the offer to become a member and so began her hard earned fairytale.
In her time as a professional musician one of the most useful lessons she has learned came to her by way of author and songwriter Brendan Graham , who told her that when you write or perform music always keep it open, don’t define what a song is about so people can bring their own story to the music just as Eabha and her fellow band members each have their own individual interpretation of the song Danny Boy..
Graduating with a degree in human rights Eabha has worked on human rights issues in Mongolia for four months and in Vietnam with Christine Nobles foundation, for whom she is a director. As she explains to me, she is in the unique position of being able to use her music to supplement her work in human rights. Music has the unique ability to transcend and connects with all countries, cultures and belief systems and spread the message of ‘love, peace and unity’.
Eabha is happy in her role with Celtic Woman as she also pursues her solo music with an album out this year. She demonstrated storytelling skills early telling stories to her family. Nowadays, Eabha’s storytelling abilities continue, she often wakes in the middle of the night to race downstairs with a song idea in her head that she needs to transfer to the piano, where she might be found still working into the early hours.
The delightful Dublin diva has some words of encouragement for those who might have dreams like hers. She says don’t be afraid to take chances and to ‘trust your gut’ and as the Irish say ‘give it socks!’
You can see Eabha McMahon perform as part of Celtic Woman’s ‘Voices of Angels’ Australian tour at the following dates and venues …
07 Feb ’18 Convention Centre Brisbane
09 Feb ’18 Darling Harbour Theatre Sydney
11 Feb ’18 Civic Theatre Newcastle
12 Feb ’18 Margaret Court Arena Melbourne
13 Feb ’18 AEC Theatre Adelaide
16 Feb ’18 Riverside Theatre Perth
Paula Xiberras
