Elisabeth McCarran

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Elisabeth McCarran

Elisabeth McCarran (born 15 January 1978) is a British musician. A vocalist and prolific pianist and song-writer, McCarran founded Irish traditional music group Draioicht na hOiche with Desmond FitzMaurice, and was one of the main song writers since their debut album Lúthien Tinúviel.

Draioicht na hOiche, (correct Irish spelling Draíocht na hOíche) meaning 'Magic of the Night' was formed on May 1, 2002, as a successor of the previously University-supported group The Leprechauns. In the beginning of April 2002, Elisabeth and her old friend Desmond FitzMaurice whom she knew from the UCL sessions and musical festivals, decided to begin a new project separatedly from the University College of London cultural program. In a week Linda Andrews joined DNO after seeing the three musicians (together with Mic Mahoney) perform at Cavendish Square in London. Linda soon brought her best friend Guinevere Hughes and Mic contacted Harry Staunton, who in his turn recommended Sean Power as the best piper he knew. In the end of May 2002, two more members of the troupe joined too, Ellen Butler from Glasgow and Anita Phelan, of mixed Icelandic and Irish descent, expanding the band members to nine, and Mary Vaughan joining last in the end of 2004.

Apart from her participations with DNO, Elisabeth McCarran has enjoyed a long artistic career in both instrumental performance and vocal singing, including a number of appearances at the annual Eisteddfod in Wales. She is married to Allan Harris, and has given birth to a son in May 2005.