Treasa Ni Cheannabhain

Background

She was born in Cill Chiaráin in Carna, Conamara, an Irish-speaking area, and three of her daughters are also well known as singers.

Career

Both her immediate and extended family are musical. Her mother was a second cousin of the distinguished sean-nós singer Seosamh Ó hÉanaí, and another notable singer, Peadar Ó Ceannabháin, is a cousin. They were arrested and briefly detained, and Treasa"s husband had his passport confiscated to prevent him helping Treasa to leave.

The collection of the money had been aided by the release of a Civil Defense in Irish and Arabic, entitled An Phailistín, to which well-known Irish musicians Sharon Shannon and Donal Lunny contributed.

Achievements

• Treasa won Corn na mBan (the Women"s Cup for singing) at the Oireachtas in 1995 and was runner-up in Corn Uí Riada, another prestigious competition.