Noel O’ Grady is a uniquely gifted singer who entertainingly straddles the works of great Irish writers such as James Joyce, Brendan Kennelly, William Butler Yeats, John B. Keane, Seán O’ Casey, and Patrick Kavanagh.
A four-time Oireachtas Na Gaeilge winner for traditional singing in Gaelic, his interpretation of love songs has one often listening to the familiar yet hearing it for the first time.
Noel believes that poetry and music combined can penetrate the heart, and sometimes reach that sacred place within – the soul.
He has graced venues such as Vicar St, the National Concert Hall, Berlin, Sarajevo and Russia. His debut album, The Enchanted Way has received universal acclaim.
Last September Noel represented James Joyce and Ireland in Russia, in a celebratory week of international events marking the centennial of the death of Leo Tolstoy. Tina Sani, world renowned ghazal singer from Pakistan, on hearing Noel in concert sing The Stolen Child by William Butler Yeats, requested him to record a duet with her.
Noel's light, lyrical,sensitive, Irish tenor voice has been likened to Joyce's singing voice. Sadly there are no recordings of Joyce's singing voice.
Noel's Interpretation of The Lass of Aughrim is used extensively throughout Joyce's Dublin: An Exploration of "The Dead".
For highlights of Noel's recent concert, please check out the video below.