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Mary O'Hara - where is she now?
DigiTrad:
THE FROG'S WEDDING
Related thread:
Lyr Req: songs by Mary O'Hara (7)
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Subject: MARY O'HARA - where is she now? From: Ian HP Date: 29 Jan 99 - 02:47 PM The title of this thread is self-explanatory. Anyone any news? I haven't heard of her since the early 1980s. |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Bill D Date: 29 Jan 99 - 08:34 PM seems to me I heard she had been in a convent for many years, but had 'sort of' come out and sung a couple of times..without recording.I will see if I can trace my sources and be sure of what I am saying..(I have 2 or 3 wonderful vinyls of her) |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Date: 29 Jan 99 - 10:13 PM Good luck on this, Bill D. I also have a couple of her albums. As beat up as they are, such a pure voice. The latest recorded in 1958 when she was only 23! That would make her only 64 today. I, too, heard she had entered a convent, but I also think I heard she had left that life. I was introduced to her music in the early 60s by Skip Weschner who had a wonderful, nightly folk music program first from NYC and then from Los Angeles...but that's another story. I'll be watching this thread with interest.---John |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Sandy Paton Date: 30 Jan 99 - 12:47 AM And so will I, for several reasons. In the very early 1950s, I knew a splendid young poet in Seattle named Richard Selig. We climbed in the Olympics together, and fished in Lake Quinault. Richard won a Rhodes scholarship and went off to Oxford. Let me emphasize, he was a damned fine writer and a brilliant man. When Caroline and I went to England in 1957, I kept asking those we met who had an obvious interest in poetry if they had ever met or knew what had happened to Richard Selig. No luck. In September of 1958, as we walked into the School of Scottish Studies in Edinburgh, we met Mary O'Hara coming out and had a nice, long chat. It never occurred to me to ask her about the missing American poet. I learned later that she was married to him at the time we met her, and that he had died of some rare disease shortly after our meeting. I've been told that it was after his death that she entered the nunnery. I've long hoped to see her again and learn if she has copies of his poems that I might read. If any of you is in touch with her, please let me know how I might reach her. Richard Selig was a very important influence in my life. Sandy |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Philippa Date: 30 Jan 99 - 08:10 AM Now you've got me wondering too. I read a message in a harp forum from someone who heard she was living in the US, in the Boston area. - Sandy - if nothing better comes up, try her publishers (Michael Joseph, London, published "A Song of Ireland")and /or record companies (Shannachie and Tradition. You could also try other harpists and the harp/clársach associations. It sounds like you will have much to talk about together! - Mary O'Hara did a big recording session before she entered the convent after her husband's death, enough to issue two LPs. Then she stayed silent - must have been at least 15 years? (60s to around 1980) After she emerged from the convent [in England, I think], she toured and recorded and had quite a high profile for a while. On an in-concert recording of "Lord of the Dance", Mary O'Hara introduces the song saying she heard it while in the convent and it influenced her to go out and sing again. |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Art Thieme Date: 30 Jan 99 - 03:43 PM Mary O'hara did a concert at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago at the end of the 60's or the early 70's.I got to one of them. Also did one for a small Catholic college in Evanston, Illinois. These were after coming out of the convent. I recall her having "Morning Is Breaking" on an in-concert LP done in those latter days. Still was a fine voice but a bit "older & wiser" sounding... |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: katlaughing Date: 30 Jan 99 - 08:36 PM Hi, don't know if this is the same person you all are talking about, but this is what a search turned up for me: songsearch.icorp.net/ss/dir/olo_hara_mary.htm has several recordings listed. And: tns.cs.mit.edu/harp/archives/1994/subject.htm this is apparently linked somehow to a good sounding site for harpists and has a query about Mary from 1994 from someone who wanted to include an article about her. Don't know if it helps or not. Good luck, she sounds wonderful. Has anybody seen "Sister Wendy" on BBC America? Maybe she could expand from the classic world of art and search out Mary? ***grin*** |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Sandy Paton Date: 30 Jan 99 - 11:17 PM I must be even more of a newcomer to HTML than you are, Kat. I can't figure out how to make use of those addresses. They come up "no DNS" for me. Can we call on good ol' Joe? Sandy |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Alice Date: 30 Jan 99 - 11:30 PM Mary O'Hara has been the most inspirational Irish singer of all for me. I thought that at one time I had found a book on the 'net' about her in an out of print book website, called 'The Scent of The Roses', a line from the song 'Farewell, But Whenever'. I have lost my bookmarks a couple of times, and now I have not been able to find that book website again. Maybe I imagined it. Here is the message about looking for Mary O'Hara in Boston that Kat was referring to: In Search of Mary O'Hara |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Alice Date: 30 Jan 99 - 11:41 PM Hey, I wasn't dreaming!! I just found "Scent of the Roses" by Mary O'Hara at Amazon.com... but as I saw before, it is out of print. |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Sandy Paton Date: 31 Jan 99 - 01:38 AM Alice: Go to BOOKFINDER and ask for Mary O'Hara's Scent of the Roses. You'll find a bunch of used copies from various book shops, only one of which have I ordered ahead of you. Honest! And thanks for the information. Sandy |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Alice Date: 31 Jan 99 - 10:47 AM Sandy... please email to me: acflynn@mcn.net we may have ordered the same one. I'll go back and choose a different one if we did. alice |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: katlaughing Date: 31 Jan 99 - 12:22 PM Thanks, Alice, for straightening out the one address. Now, I'll have to see if I can get a copy of the book, too! kat |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Sandy Paton Date: 01 Feb 99 - 05:45 PM It turns out that Alice and I had ordered the same copy of the book, but we worked it out between us while Max and his cohorts were redesigning the Mudcat. She was kind enough to order a different copy, disguising my ultimate greed! Sandy |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: cleod Date: 04 Feb 99 - 03:02 PM I happen to have a cd of Mary O'Hara that I found quite by accident (I went into this cd/tape/lcd/vcd store in Hong Kong called KPS Video Express) -- I had absolutely no idea who she was, but the songs in the cd were nice so I gave her a try...it's entitled: "The Beautiful Music of Mary O'Hara", the company that produced this was Music Collection Int'l at Strand VCI House, Caxton Way, Watford, Hertfordshire WD1 8UF...and here's the product code :MCCD070. Oh, and the copyright says 1992. Songlist 1. Lord of the Dance
If anyone needs the liner notes, I'll post them tomorrow. I hope this helps! cleod |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Philippa Date: 05 Feb 99 - 05:31 PM I've dug out the photocopy of the liner-notes of Mary O'Hara's Decca recording " 'Monday Tuesday' and other children's songs", which John Moulden sent me when I was enquiring about the title song (translation of Irish title 'Dia Luain Dia Mairt'). Now I can give you more precise dates than I did on 30 Jan. According to the album cover, Mary O'Hara married Richard Selig in 1956. She was 21 years old at the time. Richard died of Hodgkin's disease only 15 months after the couple married. His widow spent the next four years actively recording and touring and performing. Then quite suddenly, she left it all for a "strict Benedictine monastery in England" and she "never intended to play and sing again". But before entering the convent, Mary recorded enough material for three albums, subsequently released under the the titles 'Mary O'Hara's Ireland', 'Mary O'Hara's Scotland' and 'Monday Tuesday...'. She spent 13 years in the monasterybefore resuming her career; I gather the years of seclusion would have been around 1962-1975. An internet search informs me of a chapter profiling Mary O'Hara in "Musicians" by Leslie Strudwick, one of a series of [2oth century] "women in Profile" published by Crabtree Press. The other musicians featured in depth are Liona Boyd, Midori, Ethel Smith, Vanessa-Mae and Mary Lou Williams. There's also some information on Cindy Blackman, Jane Ira Bloom, Laurie Frink, Ofrah Harnoy, Sharon Isbin, Wanda Landowska, Natalie McMaster and Fr‚drique Petrides. I hope, Sandy, that you succeed in getting in touch with Mary O'Hara again. |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Sandy Paton Date: 05 Feb 99 - 09:43 PM Thank you, Philippa. I'll keep trying. I have discovered that Oxford offers a "Richard Selig Poetry Award" to outstanding poetry students. At least two Americans have been so honored, but I have not yet seen their work. When I find it, I'll let you know. Sandy |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she now? From: Date: 30 Jul 99 - 01:36 PM any more news? |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Sandy Paton Date: 30 Jul 99 - 06:17 PM I saw a note on the FOLKDJ-L listserv indicating that "she is now managed by her husband" and gave his address as in Dublin. I decided not to pursue it further, being loathe to stir up painful memories of her first hudband's death. I might be able to locate the Dublin address by posting another note to the listserv. Sandy |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Lorraine Date: 31 Jul 99 - 09:40 AM I am a relative new comer to folk music- but when I was starting to get interested Bill D was kind enough to share the singing of Mary O'Hara with me. I know some folks feel it's too operatic but to me it was/is pure magic. Thank you Bill D for your intro. (to other stuff too).-Humm maybe this isn't the right forum. Oh well- Lorraine |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Alice Date: 31 Jul 99 - 10:26 AM Lorraine, this definitely IS the right forum for Mary O'Hara. If you read my older posts, you will see that I am not only a fan of Mary O'Hara, but I have provided alot of references here regarding vocal technique and voice training. If you can get a copy of Mary O'Hara's "Scent of the Roses" through an inter-library loan, you will read about how at the age of 8, she won the Sligo annual festival of Music and Drama singing competition that drew contestants from all over Ireland. She was born with beautiful sounding vocal cords, had training later in school, and continued to study traditional songs and practice vocal technique. A clear, high voice somehow gets labeled 'operatic' when really it is not opera at all. You'll really enjoy her autobiography. alice |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Barbara Date: 31 Jul 99 - 02:12 PM You're right, Alice. I found the book on a shelf at our local moldy old used book store and carted it home. (Now if only I could find her records there, too) I was a little puzzled as to what in the convent stressed her so. Did you understand that? Blessings, Barbara |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Alice Date: 31 Jul 99 - 04:43 PM Barbara, she was ill, and her superior decided her health would improve outside the monastic life. She had been given anti-depressants while in the monastery, and they were causing panic attacks. She went to another doctor after she left the community, and said, "if you think these tablets are the cause, I'm ready to stop taking them."....'I gave them up that very day in Cambridge and have never touched them or their like since. There was no repeat of the stark panic'.
I always wondered why, until I read this book, why she was not better known in the US. But, since she was on contract to DECCA, and they didn't think her traditional songs were commercial enough, they didn't release her recordings here. You can now get her tapes and CD's from CDNow, right here at the Mudcat link. |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: GUEST,Philippa Date: 27 Dec 00 - 06:42 PM I just saw Mary O'Hara on tv, a programme made this year. Apparently she's with a former priest who's teaching journalism and computers and public relations in Tanzania.# They've been in Tanzania for two years, and in Kenya for two years before that. Mary was shown studying computers. Maybe we'll hear from her at the CAt someday. #(I think this is the husband who managed her second singing career - see Sandy's message above) |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: little john cameron Date: 27 Dec 00 - 07:34 PM http://tns-www.lcs.mit.edu/harp/archives/current/2696.html |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: little john cameron Date: 27 Dec 00 - 07:36 PM http://songsearch.icorp.net/ss/dir/o/o_hara_mary.htm |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: little john cameron Date: 27 Dec 00 - 07:49 PM http://www.cddb.com/xm/search?q=Mary+O%27Hara&f=artist |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Jimmy C Date: 28 Dec 00 - 01:22 AM I bought a copy of the book " The Scent of Roses" soon after it was published and have treasured it ever since. Here is a brief synopsis of the liner notes In the 1950's Mary found fame and fortune as a harpist and singer She met and married an american poet and Rhodes scholar Richard Selig 15 months after the marriage Richard was dead, struck down by cancer Mary then joined a Benedictine monastery of Stanbrook. After 12 years in Stanbrook she left to resume her musical career she was very successful I don't know where or what she is doing today, This book is a must for anybody who admired Mary O'Hara and her music. It was published by Michael Joseph Limited, 44 bedford Square, London, WC1. in October 1980. |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Alice Date: 28 Dec 00 - 12:58 PM Philippa, thanks for that update. Wouldn't it be great to have her join on some song discussions? Jean Ritchie and Mary O'Hara at the Mudcat - heaven for me. Alice |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: GUEST,Ewan McVicar Date: 09 Jan 01 - 06:06 PM I would also recommend A Song For Ireland, written by Mary O'Hra, published by Michael Joseph, copyright date 1982, ISDBN 0 7181 2161 9. Song lyrics, beautiful photographs, and bits of narrative about the songs and her performing them. There was a 'companion album and cassette on Valentine Records LP VAL 8053 and VL 68053". My copy is a library discard and cost all of 60p ($1). |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Alice Date: 09 Jan 01 - 06:38 PM I have it, Ewan. It's wonderful. I got a very good condition copy through a used book website on the internet. It is beautiful, right next to my computer keyboard, and I read it often for the lyrics and her notes about the songs, history, how she learned them, her experiences relating to the songs,etc. The book came with a newspaper clipping in it about Mary O'Hara that the previous owner must have left between the pages. The clipping is from the Echo, dated 7.5.93, about a benefit concert she gave to help the Sue Ryder Home raise money for the Leckhampton Court home in Church Road, Leckhampton. |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Don Firth Date: 10 Jan 01 - 04:47 PM My one reminiscence of Mary O'Hara: In the late Fifties on the Ed Sullivan show, Sullivan ran a film-strip that had been shot in Ireland. I believe he introduced it by saying that Mary O'Hara had just won some harpers' competition (or some other award). The film-strip showed Mary O'Hara seated on a green hillside, flanked by two other young women, all three with harps. They were playing and singing The Castle of Dromore in three-part harmony. That was one of the most beautiful and affecting things I have ever seen or heard. Although, believe it or not, that was the only time I have ever seen or heard Mary O'Hara (I looked for records at the time, but couln't find any), I have never forgotten it. Don Firth |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Alice Date: 10 Jan 01 - 11:27 PM Don, you can get CDs of Mary O'Hara's recordings from CDNow. Order through Mudcat, and help support the forum.
There is a photo of Mary O'Hara on the set of a Saint Patrick's Day Ed Sullivan show in her autobiography. The stage set shows the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem in the center by a fake thatched cottage, other performers placed around in different spots, and the caption "The Ed Sullivan Show, New York, 1961. Finale, Mary had bought her own dresses, but she was put into an Irish colleen outfit." |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Jimmy C Date: 11 Jan 01 - 04:39 PM Alice, That particular part of the book struck a chord with me also. I believe Mary said the the Shamrock was her least favourite Irish emblem. I personally like it and the story behind it's use, Shillelaghs were also used in Ireland, and leprauchauns of course are just a spin-off of the mythical fairy people. These are in themselves harmless enough but I do agree with her that Green beer and Delaney's donkey types do "smack of stage Irishism" etc. This week a major greeting card company pulled certain St.Patrick's Day cards from their catalogue due to the offensive nature of some of them. Example - A card showing an arrowed line from a bar to a table to a toilet with the caption " the St.Patrick's day parade route" is only one example. A few years ago I was performing in an "Irish Pub" owned by a Greek, the place was of course packed for St.Patrick's day, The only people not drinking green beer were native born Irish. All other were swilling it down. When I was a boy the Feast of St.Patrick consisted of going to mass, with a little sprig of shamrock in your lapel. It was no big celebration, a very dignified affair really. Mary's book " The Scent of Roses" is a must as you say for anyone who admires this lady. |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: bloozcat Date: 12 Jan 01 - 03:59 PM I have several editions of what i believe to be her most recent BBC tv series......on video....recorded at the time.....I seem to remember the series taking place In the early 1990's...... She would have guest performers on the show each week....I havent watched them for many a moon..as I have been too busy recording acoustic musicians myself...Actualy I have qiute a sizeable collection of videos of british television shows.....In amongst them qiute a bit of country blues and other music programmes... regards... bloozcat...London...England.. http://communities.msn.co.uk/bluesandfolkmusic |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Alice Date: 11 Feb 01 - 04:24 PM Just a note to let people know that Jimmy C. is currently offering a copy of her autobiography in the Mudcat Auction. This is an inspiring story for any musician, whether you know Mary O'Hara's music or not. |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Alice Date: 11 Feb 01 - 06:48 PM Today I found a source on the net that has Mary O'Hara's CD, expanded with more songs than what was on the original Tradition album, for $8.99. Click Here |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she now? From: GUEST,Philippa Date: 03 Sep 02 - 10:38 AM The television programme about Mary O'Hara and her husband Patsy O'Toole in Tanzania is scheduled to be broadcast again on TG4 (Ireland)this Thursday 5 Sept 2002 at 10 pm. (see my message of 27 Dec 2000. If you're watching Irish tv that night, you can also see a repeat of "Bringing it all Back Home" on RTE network 2 at 8 pm. |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Alice Date: 03 Sep 02 - 10:58 AM Philippa, thanks for that update. At the same time you posted this info, someone on another music forum was wondering whatever happened to Mary O'Hara, so I returned to this thread and your message. I only wish I could get Irish tv. - Alice |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Bonnie Shaljean Date: 03 Sep 02 - 12:56 PM The blurb in the RTE Guide says "She now lives with her husband Patsy O'Toole in a house in Tanzania which has neither air conditioning nor electrical power for half the day. This is because the couple want to lead lives which are similar to their neighbours in Dar Es Salaam."
One point re the Thursday 5th September broadcast (10 pm Irish time): TG4 is the Gaelic-language station, so I don't know if it will be in English, or sub-titled, or what. The programme is called Na Gaeil i gCein (please excuse lack of fadas, don't know how to do them in plain text). I found TWO copies of Scent Of The Roses in secondhand bookshops while I was on holiday in California recently, and bought one for a quarter! |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy Date: 03 Sep 02 - 01:10 PM ebay has a first edition hardback going currently at 1 Euro. |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Susanne (skw) Date: 03 Sep 02 - 05:47 PM I have a Mary O'Hara double CD I bought last year. How do I put it up for Mudcat auction? Or should I refer to the help forum? |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: GUEST,Guest, Big Tim Date: 09 Sep 02 - 04:05 PM Just received a tape of the show from my brother in Ireland today. Have watched it once. A few impressions: Mary and her husband, Pat, a former priest, from the Aran islands, a fluent (probably native) Irish speaker, now live in Tanzania, somewhere not too far from Dar, it seemed. Initially on a two year contract, now extended by 18 months. Whe they first met she was so out of touch with the music business that he had to send her out to buy copies of her own albums! They are both still practising Catholics, of the liberal variety, finding the Church in Tanzania "conservative". Mary is happy and relieved to be retired from public performances, glad to be free of the daily grind of voice and harp practice. She now felt "a great sense of peace". They are both "very Irish" but "never experience homesickness". She sang one song, in a boat with local fishermen, sounded OK to me! Pat is a teacher, concentrating on computer skills, journalism and public relations. Mary is also computer literate, at the early stages. Not sure if Pat is the college principal or not but he was obviously in a position of some authority. By her own admission she is not a good teacher though she does try to do a little bit. One of Pat's young students said "apart from a teacher we find him as a friend". |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 10 Sep 02 - 10:07 AM Ive been a fan of Mary O'Hara for about 25 years since I bought several of her records, including the recording of the concert where she sang Lord of the Dance & said this beautiful song got her singing again - the 1977 Royal Festival Hall concert. I have since bought several CDs of hers. Thanks to all for information on her life since then.
sandra |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: JJ Date: 10 Sep 02 - 08:00 PM I bought Mary O'Hara's Royal Festival Hall album when Tower Records here in NYC was disposing of its vinyl maybe eight, ten years ago. And now I find that someone halfway 'round the world loves it as much as I do. Thank you, Sandra, and thanks to all who have filled in the blanks above! |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Big Tim Date: 13 Oct 04 - 07:11 AM Mary and Pat have now retired from Tanzania, and latterly, Iran. They got back to the UK last week and are living quietly in the south of England, where they are "enjoying life". |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: GUEST,banjoman Date: 13 Oct 04 - 07:39 AM Don't know if this is useful or not, but I met Mary O'Hara in 1988 at a Mayoral function in Basingstoke where she read a short poem as part of the mayor's annual Carol service. The normal practice was to invite local celebrities to this event., and I think that Majot Ron Ferguson (Fergies Dad) was also there. She was living at the time in North Hampshire,I had the opportunity to have quite a long chat with her (and I presume the guy with her was her husband) afterwards and talked mainly about the problems which a relative (father?) was experiencing as a result of increasing sight problems. I was working at the time with blind & partially sighted people and was able to give her some information and useful addresses. I did ask her briefly about the music and she said she was not doing very much at present and that she may be going to live abroad. This seems to tie in with much of what has been said already in this thread. |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Big Al Whittle Date: 14 Oct 04 - 05:24 AM There were long articles about her in folk review in the late 70's early 80's - edited by Fred Woods as I remember. Perhaps he would know something. |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she know? From: Mudlark Date: 14 Oct 04 - 12:36 PM I remember being stunned by O'Hara's voice back in the '50's. This thread is exactly one of the things that makes me love the Mudcat. |
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Subject: RE: MARY O'HARA - where is she now? From: RoyH (Burl) Date: 14 Oct 04 - 05:42 PM Weelittledrummer, sadly Fred Woods has been dead for some years now. Burl |
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