Grammy-nominated band to perform at the Belltable in Limerick

CHERISH the Ladies, “one of the world’s most acclaimed” Irish music ensembles, is coming to Limerick.

Formed in New York City in 1985 to celebrate the rise of women in Irish music, this Grammy-nominated group has performed globally, including at the White House and the Olympics, and recorded 18 acclaimed albums along with the Emmy Award-winning PBS programme, An Irish Homecoming.

The band has captivated audiences for 39 years with their vibrant blend of traditional music, enchanting vocals, and spirited step dancing.

Led by Joanie Madden, a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellow, the group features Mirella Murray on the accordion, Mary Coogan on guitar, Nollaig Casey and Liz and Yvonne Kane on the fiddle, Kathleen Boyle on piano, Kate Purcell on vocals and guitar, and world champion step dancers like Nathan Pilatzke.

Their music is described by the New York Times as “passionate, tender, and rambunctious,” and praised by the Washington Post for its “astonishing array of virtuosity.”

Named BBC’s Best Musical Group of the Year and Top North American Celtic Group at the Irish Music Awards, Cherish the Ladies has collaborated with The Boston Pops Symphony, Vince Gill, and Pete Seeger.

Lead musician Joanie Madden was born in New York of Irish parents and raised in a musical household.

She tutored under flutist and National Heritage Award winner Jack Coen, and within a few short years, she had achieved great success winning the world championship in Irish music on both the concert flute and tin whistle.

She also became the first American to win the Senior All-Ireland Championship on the whistle.

She has sold over 500,000 solo albums and has performed on over 200 recordings, including three Grammy-winning albums.

She was the youngest member inducted into the Irish-American Musicians Hall of Fame and the Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Hall of Fame, and was chosen for the Wild Geese award and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

In 2010, Joanie was forever immortalized in Bronx when a street was named after her and the band on the Grand Concourse: “Joanie Madden and Cherish the Ladies”.

Joanie will be performing with Cherish the Ladies in the Belltable Theatre on Saturday, October 26.

Tickets are available at limetreebelltable.ie.