Happy St Brigid’s Day to one and all! Today, February 1, heralds the first day of spring and is also the feast day of St Brigid. It’s really a celebration of spring, new life and in the ancient Celtic Calender was a huge day of celebration. During my teaching days in a Brigidine School, we always marked the occasion with a school celebration. I love February 1 as for me it marks the beginning of all sorts of possibilities. In fact, my garden is starting to wake up after the long winter and the bulbs are starting to peep. I seriously have to get out and do some work though!

Before I fill you in on what is happening this spring, I must thank you all so much for your lovely comments about the IMA Awards. I was thrilled with the results and am still on a high about the awards. Thanks  to all of you who voted and made it all possible!

I am delighted to announce that I am releasing "Distant Shore" here in Ireland on March 5! I really wanted to release the album at home and am excited that it's finally coming to fruition.

I'm also heading back to the US for my show on in Maryland on March 14 and it'll be great to get back! I'm really looking forward to getting back on stage again with Dan and Mary.

It may sound very strange after all my talk about spring, but I'm getting into the Christmas mood! I'm putting together the track list for my forthcoming  Christmas album and I’m going to start recording very soon. I love Christmas music, so I'm going to find it hard keeping the list to 13 or 14 tracks. It should be fun and I'll be recording again in Nashville, my new home-away-from-home.

Enjoy this first day of spring and I'll leave you with a few lines form a great song “Don't Be Afraid Of The Light That Shines” by Luka Bloom.

Out of the cold, dark winter space

We come together, looking for Brigid's grace

We dip our open hands deep into the well

Where our rivers run to,

Who can tell, who can tell?

Don't be afraid of the light that shines within you

Lots of love,

Congratulations to Orla for winning four Irish Music Awards!
 
We are delighted to announce that Orla won four Irish Music Awards, taking the prize in all four categories in which she was nominated. Orla sends a special thank you to everyone who voted and made the awards possible!
 
Orla won awards in the following categories:
·        Top Solo Performer in Concert (US, IRE, EU, UK)
·        Best Female Vocalist
·        Top Harpist (US, IRE & EU, UK)
·        Tommy Makem Award
 
The Irish Music Awards is an annual awards presentation hosted by the Irish Music Association to honor the best of the best in Irish Music. The Irish Music Awards  promote and support Irish Music, and musicians worldwide. The second annual 2009 Irish Music Awards were presented January 27, 2010 at O'Malley's Pub in Weston, Missouri.
 

 

 

 

 

Orla promoted Distant Shore on January 9, 2010 in the Green Hill Productions booth at the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market  

Here are some photo's from Orla's recent performances. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

It's a beautiful crisp frosty morning as I look back on a year that has been pretty exciting. It's hard to believe that a full year has passed since I embarked on my solo adventure and what an adventure it's been!

I've had so many lovely experiences over the year from recording in Nashville with Dan Shea, finally releasing the album, heading back to visit some old friends at PBS, taping the "Beautiful World" PBS special with Jim Brickman in Niagara Falls, touring with Jim, doing some solo shows with Dan and Many and recording "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" for the troops overseas.

I really didn't realize how much I missed being on stage until I was back there singing my songs and telling my stories. To all of you who came along to the shows, I extend a huge thank you. None of this is possible without the huge support and goodwill of you all. Thank you so much for being behind me every step of the way over the past few months.

I'm looking forward to chilling out here at home over the holidays and re-charging the old batteries before I getting back to work in the New Year. We have lots of exciting projects in the pipeline for 2010!

I wish you all a very happy Christmas and in my wish for The New Year I'm borrowing a few lines from a song that I've been listening to a lot since I've returned home from The States:

"Many hearts to keep you warm

Many guides to speed you through the storm

And may the saints and angels watch over you"

-- Mike Scott, Saints And Angels

Love Always,

The Holiday Special, the third in a series of specials, marks the first featuring full length
performances. This holiday edition includes music performed for the troops by various artists including: Aaron Lewis, Dave Koz, Flyleaf, Kellie Pickler, Orla Fallon, Papa Roach, Saving Abel, Straight No Chaser and switchfoot.

Over the last few months the Pentagon Channel has gone on location to record special holiday song performances and greetings to air for the troops stateside and overseas. Featured songs range from original pieces to a cover of Elvis’ Blue Christmas, a jazzy Santa Baby and more!

One of the first artists to participate, Jazz artist David Koz was honored to provide music for this special. "Especially at holiday time, our minds and hearts go out to the men and women of our armed services dedicating their lives selflessly so that we may enjoy the comforts and safety of home,” he said.

Not all featured artists are American but still wanted to show how much they appreciate the service and sacrifice of the troops. Irish born Orla Fallon, former Celtic Woman member, said "It was such an honor and a privilege to be asked to perform at this special Command Performance. It was a very small way of saying thanks to the very special people who give so much to us all to protect our freedom."

An artist familiar with the military, Jon Foreman, lead singer of Switchfoot said, “Coming from a military town like San Diego, we're well acquainted with the sacrifices that enlisted men and women make for their country. We're honored to be able to play a few tunes for them.”

The Pentagon Channel is excited to provide this special to the troops to provide a unique taste of home for the holidays while they are deployed. “Having previously been deployed to Afghanistan, I know what it’s like to be away from family during the holidays,” remarks Pentagon Channel host SSgt Brian Buckwalter. “I know this piece will bring some joy to the men and women serving over there now. We hope this shows them that they are not forgotten about during this holiday season.”

In keeping with the holiday spirit, Command Performance is also happy to bring a little something extra...stocking stuffers! Command Performance had many more original musical performances that couldn’t fit into the holiday special and we decided those performances were too great to miss.

 

Located on the Pentagon Channel website at www.pentagonchannel.com/stockingstuffer, our special gift performances are headlined by the acapella group "Straight, No Chaser" with their unique version of the "Twelve Days of Christmas". You'll also hear more songs from Fly Leaf, Papa Roach, Deer Tick...and more!

The Command Performance Holiday Special will debut on Dec. 16th and run through New Year’s Day for troops around the world. Please check www.pentagonchannel.mil for times.

Command Performance is a weekly program designed to take a sneak-peek into the world of music and entertainment from a military perspective. It takes servicemembers backstage with their favorite performers by giving them the opportunity to pose questions in interviews aimed exclusively at members of the military.

 

About the Pentagon Channel

The Pentagon Channel, the Department of Defense’s satellite television channel, broadcasts military news and information for and about the 2.6 million members of the U.S. Armed Forces -- Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve. Broadcasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the Pentagon Channel helps ensure that U.S. forces remain the best informed in the world.

Today, the Pentagon Channel is available on-base to more than 1.3 million service members who live and work on over 370 military bases, camps and installations in the U.S. The channel is also available to the 800,000 service members and their families serving overseas in 178 countries via the American Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS).

The Pentagon Channel reaches more than 18 million households through commercial
distribution on satellite and cable systems nationwide. DISH Network, Verizon FiOS and divisions of Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, Charter, Mediacom, RCN, Armstrong, Midcontinent, Knology, GCI, and a number of smaller cable companies and local access channels in communities around the country carry the Pentagon Channel. In addition, Pentagon Channel programming is streamed live 24/7 at http://www.pentagonchannel.mil, is available via video-on-demand, and podcast – both audio and video - from this website.

For more information, please contact:
Karen Nowowieski
Executive Producer
Pentagon Channel
Karen.Nowowieski@pentagonchannel.mil
703-428-0483

 

 

After 12 busy days in the U.S., I touched down in Dublin on Saturday morning to incredibly wet and windy weather. The inclement weather seems to be following me (or I'm following it!) as I ran into the tail end of Hurricane Ida for the first few days of my travels in The US. Thank you to those of you who sent e-mails asking if we were affected by the flooding here at home. Thankfully our home escaped the awful flooding that has hit a lot of the country. Many people were not so lucky however and my thoughts go out to all those people whose homes and businesses were affected. 

It was really wonderful to be back on stage in the U.S. again after over a year. It was only when I was  on stage that I realized just how much I missed the buzz and sheer joy of performing live. Jim Brickman and all his team really went out of their way to make me feel at home. Jim puts on a great show and it was wonderful for me to make music with Jim, Anne, Tracy and Garrett.

It was almost surreal to head back on to the tour bus again and it's funny how after a short time it’s easy to get back into the whole routine of touring again. Jim has wonderfully supportive fans and it was lovely to meet some of them after the show. I was also thrilled to meet some old friends . Thank you so much to those of you who came along to offer your support. You have no idea how much your presence meant to me! 

I didn't get a lot of sleep over the past 12 days as my schedule was pretty full. Every morning I was up for TV appearances and I also had the privilege of recording "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" for The pentagon Channel. It wasn't long until my 6 shows with Jim and all the gang had come to an end.

I had a day off in Boston last Tuesday. I love Boston and it was almost a year ago since I had been there. It was lovely to walk around this delightful city and just chill out for the day. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I was too tired to hit the shops so I had a lovely lunch and dinner and just crashed out before leaving my hotel the following morning at 4 a.m. to catch my flight to the west coast. 

The Seattle airport was my next port of call  and it was great to meet Dan and Mary at the baggage claim. We drove to Tacoma and got settled into the hotel for a short time and it was soon time to head to the venue for a sound-check and rehearsal for our show that evening. 

This was my first solo show in America for many years and I have to say that I loved every minute of it! Ed and all the team at KBTC couldn't have been more welcoming and the evening went by all too quickly. Thank you so much to all of you who came along that evening. I loved meeting and chatting to you all after the show and you really made the evening for me.

We were all up early again the next morning to fly to Sacramento and it was nice to (finally )hit some milder weather. Once again we received a warm welcome from the good people at KVIE. Kevin and all his team couldn't have done more to make us feel at home. I was thrilled to meet so many dear friends after the concert! I am most grateful to all of you who came to my solo shows. Some of you drove long distances and made huge efforts to come along. Your presence really meant so much to me and I thank you all.

I want to wish all my American friends a very happy Thanksgiving. As American families all over the globe celebrate this wonderful day it warms my heart to see that the true meaning of pride in one's country and heritage is very much alive and well. It inspires me very time I visit your shores. 

Blessings,

 

 

 

 

 

Orla shares her thoughts on why she became a musician... 

 

Oct. 30

 

I can scarcely believe that a week has passed since I returned home from my whirlwind trip to the States! What a trip it was- I certainly covered a lot of air miles in the week!

 

My first port of call was Cleveland and I paid a visit to WVIZ. I was given a warm welcome by presenters Kent and Peg. We had a great time chatting about Ireland and places to visit over here. I also sang “Innisfree” and “Bean An Tí” from the new album. I really enjoyed being on the show and am looking forward to my concert there on December 4.

 

From Cleveland, I headed for the west coast and Sacramento was my next stop. I received a wonderful surprise when I arrived at KVIE to discover that Sgt Kasey Schmidt who is just home from  Iraq had left a yummy box of See's Candies for me! It was so thoughtful of Kasey and I was so touched by his lovely gesture. I had trouble not opening the chocolates and devouring them before the show but I resisted the  temptation (almost) and we all tucked into the chocolates once I had finished singing.

 

It was lovely to see Kevin Smith-Fagan. I had met him at several Celtic Woman concerts so it was great to meet an old friend again. Cheryl Watson was lovely and I really had fun.

 

My final destination on this whistle -stop tour was Seattle/Tacoma and once again I was given a wonderful welcome by everyone. I also met my old friend George Thornhill and it was wonderful to see him and have a chat. Ed, the show's presenter, was in flying form and we had a ball !

 

I'd really like to thank everyone at all the PBS Stations for their warm welcome and encouragement. I'd also like to thank everyone who picked up the phone and pledged to buy tickets for my concerts and CD's.

 

I'm really looking forward to my solo concerts and my concerts with Jim Brickman. Thank you so much for your support and I'm looking forward to seeing you at the shows.

 

I'd also like to say a huge thank you to Kelli Johnson for putting together a gorgeous new fan-site, www.OrlasGarden.com , so please check it out. Thanks so much Kells for your hard work and dedication. You're the best!

See you all very soon!

Grá agus sonas,

Orla at WVIZ

Orla KVIE Sacramento

Orla KBTC Tacoma

Orla and KBTC crew

 

 

Congratulations to the most recent winners of the Distant Shore Free CD contest! Tim Bilak, Richard Mitchell and Hope Pittman!

If you haven't entered yet, its not too late! The promotion runs until October 31.

Enter here:
Free CD Contest http://apps.facebook.com/orlafalloncontest/

Orla discusses playing the harp. Enjoy!

 

 

  

 

 

 

I returned home to Ireland on Thursday last after a whirlwind few days in the US. Thank-you all so much for your lovely messages of support for the album in the run up to its release and post-release. It's always very daunting releasing your new work into the world, so to speak . It's like letting your baby loose into the wild and wonderful world, but I have been delighted the feedback that I have received for "Distant Shore" and all is going very well.

My big regret with the album, however, is that "Fix You" didn't make the final cut. My manager, Denny Young, who is doing a wonderful job, felt it didn't fit on the album.  In any relationship, there are disagreements and this was one of ours :-).  I feel it's a great song with a very powerful message and I wish I had listened to my gut!  Sorry Denny.

The good news is that “Fix You” is available as an iTunes exclusive.  It’s the bonus track on iTunes and I am so happy that it is available to everyone.

I have always loved the track and have huge respect for Coldplay.  A few years ago I was getting ready to go out for New Year's Eve and Songs Of Praise was on TV.  A choir was singing "Fix You" and I was totally stopped in my tracks.  I never really listened to the words before and was immediately drawn to their spirituality.  I immediately thought this would be a great album track.

I gave the track to Des Moore when we were on tour with Celtic Woman and he loved it.  It was so funny though as he wouldn't allow Eoghan to hear the Coldplay version as the bass line is very distinctive on their version. Eoghan, Des, Feargal and I were determined to come up with our own version that would do the song justice but allow its lovely message to come through.

I love the imagery in the song – of a guiding light, guiding you home.  This imagery comes up in a few other songs on the album, namely "Shooting Star" and "Voices On The Wind," and we had a really special time in Windmill Lane recording the track. We were also joined by the amazing drummer Liam Bradley and the vocal is the original vocal that I sang with the guys.  There we were all five of us lost in the moment and lost in the incredible message of the song.

I am so delighted that the good guys at EMI Nashville decided to put the track out exclusively on iTunes. It was very important to me that it wouldn't be confined to a memory of that lovely time in Dublin on a January day.  It was one of those moments that you never forget and I'm glad that I got the chance to share it with you all.

 

Orla will be interviewed today on the following stations and locations:

 

WTVC 9 ABC - Chattanooga, TN

WCPO 9 ABC - Cincinnati, OH  

1000 Universal Studios - Orlando, FL   

KUSA-NBC - Denver, CO 

WBFF-FOX - Baltimore, MD 

AP-TV - Los Angeles, Ca 

KING-NBC - Seattle, WA  

Check your local listings for more information.

Remember - TODAY is the official release date of Orla’s ‘Distant Shore’ CD!

Orla shares with us the inspirations behind her NEW CD 'Distant Shore' which was released today!

 

Sunday, September 20th

Hello from New York!

It's a beautiful sunny day here and I've just come in from a walk along the Hudson River. It's lovely to be back in New York again. I got in on Tuesday last and have been busy since.

I had a wonderful time Wednesday on WLIW21 in New York. Thank you so much to all of you who made calls. Laura and David, the hosts of the show, were great fun and we all had a ball!

I had a day off yesterday so it was lovely to check out some of New York's shops. I'm staying dangerously close to them so it was great to get in and check out some of the amazing treasures inside!

I also paid a visit to Magnolia Bakery. I had heard so much about the place and I couldn't believe my eyes when I got there only to find a long line of people queuing up to get in! It was worth the wait though as I had a yummy banana cupcake with caramel icing. Pure bliss! Good thing I don't live near it or I'd end up paying visits every day!

I love the buzz and the energy of New York. The weather has been beautiful since I arrived and the city looks great!

It's All-Ireland Football final day at home in Ireland with the great rivals Kerry and Cork in the final. I keep calling home for updates. My Mother is on high doh as she hails from "The Kingdom" Kerry. Exactly today 22 years ago my Grandad passed away just as the national anthem was being played just before The All -Ireland. He's smiling today as Kerry won!! They're all on top of the world at home!

I can't believe that the album release date is just 2 days away! I really can't believe that after all the waiting, it's almost here. Thank you all so much once again for all your wonderful words of encouragement and support.

I hope you all enjoy the album!

Lots of love,

Orla shares with us how she selected songs for 'Distant Shore'.

 

 

It's your last chance to PREORDER 'Distant Shore'! Click HERE to place your PREORDER TODAY!

Orla shares her thoughts on the songs and recording of her upcoming CD 'Distant Shore' ...

 

 

I wanted to post a note to thank you all for your lovely birthday gifts, card and wishes. I was totally blown away by your kindness. I had a lovely birthday and am looking forward to getting back to work soon to promote the new album!

Grá agus sonas,

 

 

 

Orla talks about the musical influences that have helped to shape her life...

 

Hello to you all,

 

I made it home safe and sound early Friday morning after a whirlwind trip to Philly.

 

It was wonderful to catch up with Jim Brickman and Mark Masri again. Even though the weeks are flying by, it feels like ages since we were all filming "A Beautiful World" in Canada. The guys were both in great form and I really enjoyed chatting to them and performing with Jim. We all received a warm welcome from the people at QVC and they made us feel right at home from the moment we walked through the doors.

 

The wonderful people at Salvi Harps once again provided me with a beautiful harp and  I was delighted to have the opportunity to perform my beloved song "Inisfree" on the  show.

 

I was also thrilled to meet the legendary performer Tony Orlando at the studio. I grew up listening to songs such as "Tie A Yellow Ribbon" and "Knock Three Times" as my parents are huge fans. In fact, my mother was excited to tell me that "Tie A Yellow Ribbon" was played on the radio here in Ireland the day I met Tony!  A more gracious and gorgeous person you could not meet than Tony. He was so encouraging and friendly and we had such a great time chatting and listening to his stories.

 

I also had the pleasure of catching up with two special friends, Kelli and Zee. I hadn't seen the girls since my Celtic Woman days and it was wonderful to see them in the audience and to spend time with them afterwards.

 

As you can see, I had a wonderful trip and really enjoyed my time in Philly.

 

Thank you all so much for all your wonderful messages of support and encouragement over the past few weeks. I am getting very positive feedback on the extracts of songs from the album and I'm really delighted that you all like what you hear.

 

I better try and catch up on some sleep now as my sleep patterns are all over the place since I've come home !!

 

Lots of love to you all,

Orla

Orla shares her thoughts on playing and performing 'Beautiful World' with Jim Brickman.

 

 

 

 

Click HERE to view Orla's new video ecard of her rendition of the song "My Land".