Cathie Ryan

Cathie Ryan has been in the vanguard of Irish music for over 30 years. Beginning with her eight-year tenure as lead singer of Cherish the Ladies through five critically acclaimed solo CDs, she remains one of Irish music’s most respected singers. Born in Detroit to Irish parents from Kerry and Tipperary, she grew up in a home steeped in singing and storytelling and continues to research, excavate, and sing the old songs. Her songwriting is inspired by the traditional songs she grew up with as well. Cathie is also a respected educator who has taught workshops on Irish traditional singing, and myth and folklore throughout North America and Ireland, including Boston College’s Gaelic Roots and the Swannanoa Gathering, among others. She is renowned for her crystalline voice, a singing style that incorporates the ‘sean nos’ she learned from her grandmother and father, an unerring taste in song, and excellence in recording and performance. Cathie tours internationally with her band, headlining at performing arts centers, festivals, and guest starring with symphony orchestras. She has released five CDs and is featured on over 50 compilations of Irish music, including A Woman’s Heart: A Decade On.