Éabha McMahon
Quick Facts
Biography
Éabha McMahon (pronounced AY-va) is an alto Irish singer and a member of the ensemble Celtic Woman.
Early life
Éabha was born in Dublin, Ireland on 9 December 1990. She is a fluent Irish speaker and was brought up singing and speaking Irish at home in Dublin. English was not spoken at home until Éabha was 6 years old.
Éabha attended an Irish speaking primary school. When she was 5 years old, she was inspired by her teachers to become a member of the local Sean Nos choir.
Éabha holds a Human Rights degree from NUI Galway. She was a member of the musical society at NUI Galway.
After graduating, Éabha spent time in Vietnam and Mongolia. There, she worked with Christina Noble and the Christina Noble Children's Foundation.
Career
Éabha began her singing career in 1998 when, at the age of 9, she was chosen by Veritas to record an album for Beo go Deo, a children's book. She then began singing in sean nós, a traditional style, taught by such singers as Moya Brennan, Máire Ní Choilm, Íde Mac Mathúna, and Séamus Mac Mathúna.
At the age of 15, Éabha won the under-18 All Ireland Oireachtais final. From age 13 to 17, she was the reigning Leinster champion in the Irish music competition Fleadh Ceoil. Between the age 14 to 18, she was the Dublin champion in the Fairview Feis Ceoil 5 times.
Éabha joined Anúna in 2007, becoming the group's youngest member at the age of 16. In 2008 she recorded the PBS Holiday Special "Anúna : Christmas Memories", released that year on DVD and CD. In 2015 she featured as a soloist on the song Fill, Fill a Rún on the Anúna album Revelation.
In 2015, Éabha headlined a sold out solo show in New York City, in aid of Kylemore Abbey.
Luke Kavanagh, a former college classmate of Éabha's, saw a video on YouTube of her singing Just Cry, one of her songs. Luke referred the video to his father David Kavanagh, the chairman and chief executive of Celtic Woman Ltd. Éabha was subsequently invited to audition for Celtic Woman.
Éabha joined Celtic Woman in July 2015. Éabha replaced Lisa Lambe in the ensemble. Éabha was delighted to begin her new journey and she is proud to be representing her Irish roots with Celtic Woman.
Éabha is currently developing her first solo album which is due to be released in 2016.
Discography
- Christmas Memories (2008)
- Revelation (2015)
- Celtic Woman: Destiny (2015)
- Celtic Woman: Voices of Angels (2016)