Maura O'Connell

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Maura O'Connell's 1995 album, Stories

Maura O'Connell (born 16 November 1958 in Ennis County Clare, Ireland) is a singer known for blending Celtic and folk sounds and filtering them through contemporary American country music.

She stated in an early interview: "I really hadn't intended on becoming a professional musician, but that isn't to say that I didn't have the dreams of being a Judy Garland in some sort of wonderful musical". Like Garland, Maura O'Connell came from a musical family and sang locally with her sisters.

After performing in Ireland with the traditional Celtic band De Dannan, O'Connell became interested in broadening her sound, and moved to the USA in 1986, eventually settling in Nashville Tennessee.

There, she recorded a string of critically well-received albums, initially for the Philo label, and later for Warner Brothers. Her 1989 Helpless Heart album was nominated for a Grammy.

In addition to her solo work, O'Connell has collaborated with a number Celtic, folk, pop and country artists, including Van Morrison,Brian Kennedy, Moya Brennan, Mary Black, John Gorka, Bela Fleck, Dolly Parton and Shawn Colvin.

Maura O'Connell had a cameo role in Martin Scorsese's 2002 film, Gangs of New York.