User talk:Nbrolly

Nodlaig Ní Bhrollaigh (Brolly), born in 1977, is a singer/songwriter and musician from Dungiven, County Derry. She lives now on the shores of Lough Swilly in County Donegal with her husband and three children. Nodlaig inherited a wealth of traditional and folk music from her parents, well-known folk singers, Anne and Francie Brolly. Classically trained, Nodlaig plays harp and piano. Having studied flute with Patrick McShane in Derry city from the age of 8, she went on to study at the Ulster College of Music in Belfast and was lead flautist with the Irish National Youth Orchestra.

Her debut album entitled, “Under a Pale moon” was released in 2004 by Wren Records and marked a return to her traditional/folk roots and featured original songs and contemporary compositions. The album was critically acclaimed in the U.S.A., was described as “a jewel” and “pure listening pleasure” (Nick Rossiter, Rambles) and was in the Top 10 published by the Irish Music Magazine.

Nodlaig has performed at festivals in America and Europe and headlined the St Patrick’s day concert with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra in 2005. She has toured with Phil Coulter and performed at the Dinan International Harp Festival in Brittany. Nodlaig collaborated with Paul McSherry and Brendan Hendry on the album, ‘Stringtones’ released – “one of the best programmmes of recorded music I have heard in a long time” (The Living Tradition).

In 2011, Nodlaig established the Ruaidhrí Dall School of Harp and Song in Dungiven Castle and performs as a soloist and with her Scoil Ruaidhrí Dall ensemble for Harp Ireland.

Nodlaig is passionate about her work as a composer and her new album, ‘Cuimhní Rúnda’, features verse and tunes revived with contemporary arrangements as well as original pieces inspired by the heritage and landscape of the North West, personal connections and the artistry of Maurice Harron, sculptor.

‘The Roe Valley Suite’ brings together arrangements of some of the most beautiful Gaelic airs that originate in the Roe Valley area of County Derry. Nodlaig set music to ‘An Bheann Fhada’ the last surviving Gaelic verse from the Benedy, an area of outstanding natural beauty outside Dungiven. ‘Land of Dreams’ composed by Nodlaig and arranged by Graeme Stewart (Ulster Orchestra) for choir and orchestra, was commissioned for the launch of CS Lewis Square in Belfast in 2016.

A Gaelic speaker, the Gaelic language is an important source for Nodlaig’s work and features in many of her compositions.