Post-Christmas musical treat

LEGENDARY Irish musician Sharon Shannon is renowned for embracing all musical genres and collaborating with many different artists including U2, Sinead O Connor, Willie Nelson, Steve Earle, Jackson Browne, Nigel Kennedy and Christy Moore. She is the only traditional Irish musician to cross over into mainstream pop/rock and, had number one singles, albums and DVDs in the Irish pop charts. Her version of the Steve Earle-penned The Galway Girl, with Mundy on vocals, was the biggest downloaded single in 2008 and 2009. She is a multi-platinum selling artist and has won several Meteor Awards, including being the youngest ever recipient of the Meteor Lifetime Achievement Award. Her music has been featured in several Hollywood movies, TV series and the award-winning Bulmer's TV commercial campaign. She is currently finishing off a new album of original material recorded with the RTE Concert Orchestra and this is due for release in the New Year. In March 2012, she takes her big band to all the major festivals in Australia and New Zealand including the Volvo Ocean Race on St Patrick's Day in Auckland. She has been a big supporter of the presidential campaign of Michael D. Higgins and performed for his inauguration at Dublin Castle. It was her second presidential performance in less than six months as she performed at College Green, Dublin for President Obama in May. Sharon brings her show to the Royal Theatre, Castlebar on December 27. Tickets, priced €30, are available from 0818-300000 and Ticketmaster.