The best part of making this debut album was that I got to spend time with one of my favourite childhood friends Nuala Springorum her husband Marcel(co- writer and producer of this album) and their adorable children. I’ve always loved singing. One of my earliest performances was aged 5 when I played Gretl in the local production of The sound of music. Ever since I sang for relatives on my Communion day and charged 10p a song, so my mortified mum tells me.! Whether it be a hairbrush, a lightbulb or a can of hairspray I was always performing in my bedroom as a teenager. Singing Bonnie Tyler, Alison Moyet, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Sheryl Crow among others. I was always trying to emulate them. The first time I performed was at my sister Mary’s wedding when I was 15yrs. I asked the band if I could sing Whitney Houston “I will always love you”. I was very nervous, it was the first real performance but family, relatives and guests were enthusiastic in their reaction which inspired me to sing as often as possible. Over the years, I’ve won two singing competition and I’ve sang with various cover bands, also joining up with guitarists as a double act in Limerick, Edinburgh and Sydney. I learned something from each experience. I’ve had the joyful priviledge of singing for weddings including my other 2 sisters Edel and Catriona’s and the sad honour of singing for funerals including my beloved sister Mary and my late dad Gerard who both encouraged me to sing. As a nurse it always gives me joy to sing for the patients when the occasional appropriate opportunity arises In more recent years I’ve sang in Limerick with the cover band Off Limits and with The Dunes in Jeddah Saudi Arabia…an amazing experience that saw us perform at compound and embassy parties and open air festival days. I’ve gotten wonderful encouragement and also learned a great deal about music from both bands. I love asking musicans if I can sing with them whether it be with traditional musicans in Ennis or with a rock band during a hen night in Athlone!. I’ve had the thrilling opportunity of singing songs with Imelda Mays band and with Altan. Early in 2016 I decided to try and write my own lyrics and melodies and after a few months I had a few songs partially written. For months I wasn’t sure what to do with my songs to be honest, then on October 8th 2016 my husband Stephen and I attended the evening reception of Nuala’s sister Catherine’s wedding to Aidan. Nuala’s husband Marcel had heard that I enjoyed singing from Nuala so he asked me if we could prepare two songs to perform for the crowd with their wedding band Panic Animal. We prepared the songs in such a short time and with great ease and we really enjoyed performing for the wedding guests. Later that month I decided to tell Marcel about my songs and my dreams of making a cd. As it happened he too had similar aspirations so I sent him my songs to work out guitar chords and contribute welcomed ideas. What followed was a fantastic musical journey taking me down to Cork to Nuala and Marcel for rehearsal and Marcel to Limerick. As each song developed the planning became more exciting. It was also endearing to hear our loved ones singing our songs to themselves! Our first day in Bantry in late January with Brian in the recording studio made it all feel real. And it gave us confidence to keep going. All I’ve wanted out of this cd is to know that I’ve tried and anything after that is a bonus and privilege. Its been lovely to see our friends enthusiasm, whether it be helpful feedback about the songs or encouragement on our Facebook page.