For nearly four decades as one of the worlds most heralded Irish music ensembles, Cherish the Ladies has won the hearts of audiences around the globe with their rousing blend of traditional Irish music, captivating vocals, and propulsive step dancing. To quote the Boston Globe: “It is simply impossible to imagine an audience that wouldn’t enjoy what they do”! This Grammy-nominated ensemble literally pioneered a path for women in the once male-dominated Irish music scene and they have left an indelible mark, boasting 18 critically acclaimed albums and thousands of concerts performed globally, including selling out their last 15 performances at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
Under the leadership of the charismatic and hilarious flute and whistle virtuoso Joanie Madden, these women put forth an incredible experience that delivers an unforgettable spectacle of music, song, and dance showcasing unparalleled entertainment. Joining Madden are talents Mirella Murray on accordion, Mary Coogan on guitar, Kathleen Boyle on piano, Nollaig Casey on fiddle, vocalist Kate Purcell, Canadian Step Dance Champion Nathan Pilatzke, and Riverdance alum Brian Culligan.
The New York Times describes their music as “passionate, tender, and rambunctious,” while the Washington Post applauds their “astonishing array of virtuosity.” They have been honored as the BBC’s Best Musical Group of the Year and named the Top North American Celtic Group at the Irish Music Awards. Their collaborations include esteemed musicians such as The Boston Pops Symphony, Vince Gill, Nanci Griffith, The Chieftains, Pete Seeger, Don Henley, Arlo Guthrie, The Clancy Brothers, and Tommy Makem. As the most celebrated Celtic Pops act in history, they have performed over 300 guest solo performances with America's leading symphony orchestras.
Madden and her band have garnered numerous awards, including being immortalized with a street named in their honor on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx, New York. Their enduring success as one of the most beloved Irish groups is rooted in their blend of virtuoso instrumentals, beautiful vocals, traditional and original arrangements, and stunning step dancing — all delivered with exceptional talent, creativity, and humor.
“While the standard has been remarkably high throughout the festival, few concerts could hope to provide as much satisfaction as this one. Cherish the Ladies received a standing ovation, both for their music and ebullient good humor, and were a hard act to follow.“ - Kenny Mathieson, The Scotsman
"The Ladies are first generation Irish-American with pride in their roots, a terrific sense of fun and heaps of music in their fingers and toes. Cherish the Ladies is their name and cherish them this enthusiastic Glasgow audience did." Rob Adams, The Glasgow Herald
JOANIE MADDEN was born in the Bronx, New York to Irish parents and is the leader and founder of the band. Her father, Joe Madden, was a renowned accordion player and band leader from County Galway and her mother, Helen, immigrated from County Clare. Joanie distinguished herself early on, winning All-Ireland championship titles on the flute and becoming the first American to win the All-Ireland Championship on the whistle. She is the top-selling whistle player in history, with over 500,000 solo album sales thanks to her successful "Song of the Irish Whistle" series. To date, Joanie has recorded 6 albums and performed on over 200 CDs, including three Grammy Award-winning projects, which together have sold millions of albums. Her numerous accolades include being named one of Irish America Magazine's Top 100 Irish Americans and Traditional Musician of the Year as well as recognized as one of the most influential Irish Americans of the past quarter century by the Irish Voice Newspaper. Joanie has received one of the nation’s highest honors, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, joining a distinguished group of American citizens, including six U.S. Presidents, Ambassadors, Senators, Congressmen, and Supreme Court Justices, all honored for their exemplary service to the United States. Additionally, she is a recipient of the esteemed USA Artist Fellowship grant, highlighting her as one of the most innovative and influential artists in America. Her lifetime achievements have been further recognized by the Irish Music Awards with a Lifetime Achievement Award, and she was named one of the Top 50 Most Powerful Irish Women in the world by Irish America Magazine. Joanie’s crowning achievement came in 2021 when she was awarded the National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship, the highest honor the U.S. government bestows upon folk and traditional artists, recognizing her as a national living treasure for her lifetime achievement, artistic excellence, and contributions to the cultural heritage of the nation. Joanie Madden is a consummate musician and one of the most influential and revered figures in Irish music today.
MARY COOGAN Born in New York and raised in a musical household, Mary is a founding member of Cherish the Ladies. Her mother hailed from Castlerea in County Roscommon, and her father, Jim, was a talented accordion player whose parents emigrated from County Waterford. Jim passed down his love of Irish music to Mary, who became a self-taught player of the guitar, mandolin, and bouzouki.
In addition to her exceptional musical talents, Mary holds a master’s degree in education and has been recognized in Who's Who Among American Teachers. Her discography includes a beautiful solo album titled "Christmas" and a collaboration with her father called "Passing Time." Inspired by her close ties to children, she also created a delightful collection of music for young fans with her great friend Kathy Ludlow, titled "The Big Ship Sails."
Mary continues to teach music in person and online and is a highly sought-after accompanist. When not on tour with the band, Mary performs quite frequently with her husband, Bruce Foley.
Acoustic Guitar Magazine named Mary as one of the top Celtic guitarists in Celtic music.
MIRELLA MURRAY grew up in Claddaghduff on the northwest coast of Connemara in County Galway. Her father, John Joe, a notable sean-nós dancer from Inishark Island, instilled in her a deep appreciation for traditional Irish music. Mirella studied the piano accordion with Mary Finn and went on to win the All-Ireland championship in both solo accordion and duet with Liz Kane. Mirella collaborated with the renowned fiddle player Tola Custy from County Clare to record "Three Sunsets," which was voted one of the top five albums of the year by The Irish Times. Her performances have taken her to the International Women's Day Festival in Moscow, the Galway Arts Festival, and tours across Austria, Scandinavia, Switzerland, Spain, and France. She was also a featured soloist in the off-Broadway production of Johnny Cunningham’s "Peter & Wendy," an adaptation of J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan," which received two OBIE Awards. Mirella is also an exceptional teacher, with twenty-two of her students having won All-Ireland titles, showcasing her outstanding musicianship. She has amassed a vast repertoire of tunes from her travels, and her influence is acknowledged by musicians such as Sharon Shannon, Lúnasa, and the Bumblebees, who credit her for many uncommon melodies.
KATHLEEN BOYLE hails from Glasgow, Scotland, and comes from a family deeply rooted in the traditional music of Donegal. Her father, Hughie, a talented musician, passed on his love of music to her. Kathleen is an accomplished pianist and accordion player, having won All-Scotland and All-Britain titles on both instruments. She made history as the first graduate to earn a degree in traditional music from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Kathleen is highly sought after as a teacher and lecturer on both accordion and piano, holding positions at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music, and The Irish Academy of World Music at Limerick University. Her distinguished performances include playing at Holyrood Palace for His Royal Highness Prince Charles and for Irish President Mary McAleese. Her international tours with Cherish the Ladies and Dochas have taken her across the globe, including the UK, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Denmark, Austria, Germany, Sweden, America, Canada, and China. Dochas was voted Best Newcomers at the Scots Traditional Music Awards and nominated as Best Folk Band. Kathleen's first solo album, "An Cailín Rua" (The Red-Haired Girl), received rave reviews, followed by her latest recording, "Back to Donegal," an album she recorded with her father and family members.
NOLLAIG CASEY is one of Ireland's most gifted musicians, with her own unique way of playing traditional Irish music on the fiddle and has such a distinctive sound that it would be impossible to mistake it for that of anyone else. This “sound” is so attractive to other musicians that there exists hardly any major Irish artist of the last thirty years with whom she has not worked – and many international artists have been equally entranced.
A graduate from University College Cork with a bachelor’s in music degree at the exceptionally early age of nineteen, she embarked upon a professional career first joining the RTÉ Symphony Orchestra where she remained for three years until she joined the groundbreaking Irish band, Planxty. In addition to her work with Cherish the Ladies, Nollaig has recorded and worked with Enya, Van Morrison, Sinéad O’Connor, Nanci Griffith, Ricky Skaggs, Rod Stewart, Dónal Lunny, Mary Black, Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy, Carlos Nuñez, Jim Rooney, Andy Irvine, Moving Hearts, The Indigo Girls, Spandau Ballet, Christy Moore, Liam O'Flynn, Dan ar Bras, Sharon Shannon, Maura O'Connell, Dick Gaughan, Paddy Keenan, Máirtín O'Connor. She can also be frequently found performing with her husband, legendary guitarist Arty McGlynn and along with her sisters, Máire and Mairéad as the Casey Sisters. Nollaig has toured the globe with a wide variety of artists in Ireland, the UK., France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Libya, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Japan, the U.S.A., Australia and New Zealand.
KATE PURCELL is the lead singer and guitarist for the band. Hailing from Feakle in County Clare, an area rich in traditional Irish music and home to fiddle virtuoso Martin Hayes, Kate grew up surrounded by music. Her father, a talented singer with an extensive repertoire, influenced her from a young age, instilling in her a love for singing and playing. Kate's early influences were primarily Irish traditional music and folk, but she also developed an affinity for contemporary styles, including blues and American country. She began her musical career performing at local venues and, as her reputation grew, secured a residency at one of Ireland's premier destinations, Dromoland Castle, where she continues to entertain regularly. Regularly featured on Irish TV and radio, Kate has recorded four solo albums that have received awards from Irish Music Magazine, Live Ireland, and the Chicago Irish American News. Known for her gorgeous voice, she has shared the stage with top acts in Irish music, including Cherish the Ladies, Lunása, Máirín Fahy, and The 4 of Us, and has toured extensively across Ireland, Holland, England, and the USA.
DANCERS
Cherish the Ladies will be joined by two incredible dancers: Nathan Pilatzke, a 25-year Chieftains alumnus and four-time Canadian Ottawa Valley step dancing champion from Eganville, Ontario, and Brian Culligan, a native of County Clare. Brian is a member of the Irish dance sensation Cairde, boasting over 2 million TikTok followers, and also tours as part of Riverdance.
