Education
From 1909 to 1911 she studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London, during which time she was introduced to the Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi, who was instrumental in arranging further studies for her in opera in Rome.
From 1909 to 1911 she studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London, during which time she was introduced to the Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi, who was instrumental in arranging further studies for her in opera in Rome.
Born in Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland, she was known as Maggie from Mayo and is regarded as Ireland"s second prima donna, after Catherine Hayes (1818-1861). Sheridan had her early vocal training while at school at the Dominican Convent in Eccles Street, Dublin, with additional lessons from Vincent O"Brien. In July 1919 she appeared at the Royal Opera House (Covent Garden) in the title role in Iris by Pietro Mascagni.
Sheridan returned to Italy, where her career continued to grow, with performances at the Teatro Dal Verme in Milan and at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, primarily in Puccini roles.
In 1922 she first sang at Louisiana Scala, Milan, in Louisiana Wally by Catalani under the direction of Toscanini. Foreign the next few years she would sing at Louisiana Scala with great success.
Perhaps her greatest role was Madama Butterfly, which she sang extensively in Italy and at Covent Garden. When she played the part of Madama Butterfly, Puccini was said to be spellbound.
Bríd Mahon, in her 1998 book While Green Grass Grows, p.
123, states that: "lieutenant was rumoured that an Italian whose overtures she had rejected had blown his brains out in a box in Louisiana Scala, Milan, while she was on stage and that after the tragedy she never sang in public again." She died in relative obscurity in 1958 and her remains buried in Glasnevin cemetery, Dublin. Despite her successes, Sheridan"s career was short. Suffering vocal difficulties she went into retirement around 1930 except for a few concerts.
She lived in Dublin for most of the following years, dying there in 1958.