| As winter draws close and our nights get darker with each passing day, one of Ireland’s most lauded new folk artists Niamh Bury arrives at just the right time with a seasonal gift in the form of ‘Wexford Lullaby’, which she shares via Claddagh Records on Friday 17th November 2023.
The single is accompanied by a beautiful stripped-back video, filmed at Casino Marino. “Wexford Lullaby is a song I sing at all times of the year, but it feels most at home when the nights start drawing in towards the winter solstice,” explains Niamh. The melody is based on ‘The Wexford Carol’, which comes from Enniscorthy and dates back to as early as the Middle Ages. John Renbourn of Pentangle rewrote the lyrics of this version and Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill recorded it with The Voice Squad for his 1998 album, Traveller’s Prayer. In Renbourn’s take, a parent lulls their child to sleep, imagining the life that’s in store for them. It’s very tender, but also tinged with sadness – even this little life must one day run its course, just as summer turns to winter.” Since the release of her debut single in July, Niamh Bury has been earmarked as one of the most exciting new folk artists in Ireland. July saw her grace the cover of the Sunday Times Culture Magazine and August saw CLASH magazine dedicate a full length feature to her. Her most recent single ‘Discovery’ The rarity with which emerging artists garner this level of media coverage was further cemented after the release of her third single ‘Discovery’ in October, after which RTÉ aired a version of the song arranged by Cormac McCarthy and performed by Niamh Bury with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra in RTÉ Radio’s iconic Studio 1. Niamh’s singles have struck a chord with radio playlisters, resulting in over 1.5 million radio impacts across 20 different stations in Ireland. RTÉ Radio 1 have added all of Niamh’s single releases to their coveted Radio 1 Recommends list. With influences as wide-ranging as Laura Marling, Fiona Apple and Paul Simon, to name a few, Niamh Bury’s music will resonate with fans of artists like Big Thief, Ye Vagabonds and Billie Marten. Over the past six months alone, Niamh Bury has collaborated and shared the stage with acts like Dermot Kennedy, Ye Vagabonds, Martin Hayes, Myles O’Reilly, Niamh Regan and Cinder Well. Notably, this year Niamh was selected by Dermot Kennedy to play with him in an exclusive gig at one of Dublin’s favourite pubs, The Long Hall, as part of Guinness’s Live and Rising campaign. Her songs are maps of conversations – both real and perhaps yearned for – with oneself, loved ones, imaginary characters and those who have passed on to other worlds. Each is an attempt to arrive at some kind of empathy, understanding and acceptance. The music is both lush and spacious, giving the listener room to swim, dip or fly between verses. She has performed at St. Patrick’s Festival, Body & Soul, Quiet Lights, and Dún Laoghaire Folk Festival, captivating audiences with uniquely stirring vocals, adept lyricism, and striking interpretations of old songs. Niamh is one of the chief organisers of the iconic traditional singing session The Night Before Larry Got Stretched, which famously takes place in The Cobblestone Pub on the last Sunday of every month and whose founders include members of Lankum.
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