Mary (10) takes top prize at Feis Ceoil
At just 10 years of age, Mary McParland is already making her mark as an award winning singer, having taken first prize in the under 12 girls vocal solo at the most prestigious classical music feis in the country - Feis Ceoil Dublin.
The St Malachy's Primary School, Camlough pupil was praised by the adjudicator for her exceptional vocal talent, musicality and stage presence.
Former winners have gone on to take their place as leading Irish musicians and opera singers across the globe. Mary was delighted to receive congratulations from leading opera singer Tara Erraught, who won the cup in 1998 and is often found on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera in New York and beyond.
She might be just 10, but Mary is an old hand when it comes to singing, having been a member of Flynn Performing Arts since she was three years of age.
“Fiona Flynn does wonderful work here in Newry and we're so lucky to have the top singing teacher in the country on our doorstep,” Mary's mum Joanne told the Newry Reporter.
“Mary won the overall award for best singer under 12 at Warrenpoint Feis this year and the overall award for best singer in junior categories at Newry Feis in 2024. Fiona decided to enter her into the Feis Ceoil and we went along at the beginning of June - not expecting anything. I'm a classical musician myself and I grew up going to Feis Ceoils and I know the standards.”
The 28 competitors sang a Russian lullaby and then the short-listed seven had to sing their own version of an Irish Folk song. Mary chose a beautiful song by Brendan Graham called 'Orphan Girl'
Standing on a stage and performing alone may sound like a daunting task, but while Mary does naturally feel nervous before a performance, she takes it in her stride.
“I suppose she's used to it now. She does still get nervous and I suppose that's normal – I can testify to that from decades of performing as a violinist,” explained Joanne who runs the Newry Chamber Music and teaches at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin.
“But once she stands on stage the nerves seem to go. And however nervous she is, I think it's far worse as a parent watching.”
Musicality certainly runs in the family as Mary's little brother Malachy also won the overall cello award at Newry Feis this year but Joanne says: “He's a different kettle of fish, nerves don't bother him at all - he just jumps up on stage and gets on with it.
“I suppose they have no choice when it comes to music in the family as I do it for a living, but I try not to push them. I see so many pushy parents so I want them to just enjoy it at this age and see what they want to do themselves. Mary just really loves what she does and at Fiona Flynn's school there are so many kids her age singing around her.”
Twelve of those children performed folk songs at a local care home recently and Joanne said it was a joy to see.
“It was gorgeous to see the inter-generational aspect of it. The fact that they were singing old-fashioned songs to people in their 80s and 90s was really lovely.”
It will be some time before Mary, who is heading into P7 this year decides if singing is something she wants to pursue as a career.
“She's just back to being a little girl now playing with her friends and falling out with her brother on a daily basis,” said Joanne with a laugh.
“But she was absolutely thrilled to win and couldn't stop smiling for about three days and we'll all really thrilled and proud of her.”