Home

LATEST NEWS

August 2017 

For the third year in a row Paula plays the largest arts festival in the world – Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Last two years have been SOLD OUT shows – aiming for three in a row!

 

July 2017

Paula was delighted to be part of launching and hosting the “Having The Craic Sessions”  – a monthly Irish Style Open House for Singers & Musicians.  The first night of the sessions was thronged with musicians, singers of all shapes, sizes, abilities, genres and the Craic was Mighty! 

 

June 2017

Having been interviewed about playing at Beverley Folk Festival and performed live on air, Paula’s album “Let Me Fly” was chosen as “Album of The Week” on Beverley FM

 

May 2017

While on mini-tour in France, Paula was delighted to be invited to do a live session and interview with highly respected presenter Loïc Turmel, on one of the largest regional radio stations in France – Radio Rennes.  Paula even managed to do the whole interview in French – O La La! Listen back to the Paula’s songs and “Francais” here:

https://soundcloud.com/chemins-de-terre/lundi010517_paula-ryan

 

CA FAIT DU JOIE AU CHOEUR A TOUR LE MONDE – CHANTEURS, PARTICIPANTS ET AUDITEURS ! IT PUTS JOY IN THE HEART OF ALL – SINGERS, PARTICIPANTS, & LISTENERS! That was the verdict of prestigious French newspapaer Ouest France (with 2.5 million daily readers – the most read Francophone newspaper in the world ahead of French national newspapers Le Figaro and Le Monde) on the singing workshop and concert in the lovely village of Chatillon-sur-Colmont in Pays de Loire, France organised and led by Paula and her fellow singers/musicians from Soundsphere, Sarah and Judith

 

April 2017

 

March 2017

The second half of March for Paula was all about a hectic series of gigs to mark  

St Patricks Celebrations – Great Craic!  

 

 

The first half of March for Paula was all about an uplifting series of gigs to mark

International Women’s Day

 

 

 

February 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd3SWEPMP_g

FLYING HIGH!

The video for Paula’s original song and title track of the album “Let Me Fly” is finally released and quickly reached over 50, 000 views on youtube! The song is a tribute to pioneering female aviator Amy Johnson and the video features fabulous footage of Amy in action.  

 

January 2017

Not a bad way to kick off 2017 gigs with a jam packed, queuing down the stairs all day, gig at the Winter Folk Day in York Resident’s Festival and a rousing response to my latest original song “My Handsome Man”

 

December 2016

A wonderful honour to close a brilliant year, Paula’s song “O My Blue Eyed One” is used as soundtrack to film “Landscapes of Remembrance” which was commissioned by  York Archaeological Trust supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund. The film is about discovering the ways in which the fallen from World War One are commemorated in the landscape around us. 

 

 

November 2016

 

October 2016

WHAT A SESSION!  IN WHAT TURNED INTO AN ALL DAY SESSION, PAULA SINGS “AULD TRIANGLE” WITH DUBLIN FOLK MISCREANTS LYNCHED, AMAZING ELIZA CARTHY & LEGEND OF FOLK, MARTIN CARTHY AS PART OF BRILLIANT MUSICPORT FESTIVAL ON TOUR!

 

September 2016

Paula is selected by Yorkshire Post, one of the UK’s longest established daily national broadsheets,  as

“Pick of the Best Music”

for her performance at

Saltaire Festival

on the

Live Room “Inside Out” stage.

 

 

 

Interview and performance by Paula on “Rach Meets” show with TV/Radio presenter, writer and blogger Rachel Masterson on community TV in Longford with Outtake Community Media

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNAc-9Xzj_A&feature=youtu.be

 

August 2016

Another full house at the

largest arts festival in the world

– Edinburgh Fringe Festival – 

for Paula’s 

“Festival Folk At The Oak”

show!

 

 

July 2016

As part of a fascinating creative project

“Mining The Music Seam”
at the prestigious

National Coal Mining Museum

 Paula composed and performed

 “LIVES LIVED LIVES LOST”

a moving tribute to mining heroes and heroines, their families, friends and communities.

LIVES LIVED LIVES LOST

Lives Lived Lives Lost

Like jetsam on the waves tossed

Friends and families pay the cost

Lives Lived Lives Lost

So many worked the dark coal face

So many worked and died

So many worked the dark coal face

So many families cried

So many families cried

 

Lives Lived Lives Lost

Like jetsam on the waves tossed

Friends and families pay the cost

Lives Lived Lives Lost

 

So many trapped in pits so dark

So deep beneath the ground

So many tapped in pits so dark

So many never found

So many never found

 

Lives Lived Lives Lost

Like jetsam on the waves tossed

Friends and families pay the cost

Lives Lived Lives Lost

 

So many gone before their time

Like birds that never flew

So many gone before their time

We sing this song for you

We sing this song for you

 

Lives Lived Lives Lost

Like jetsam on the waves tossed

Friends and families pay the cost

Lives Lived Lives Lost

© P Ryan, 2016

 

 

June 2016

In preparation for Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Paula will be playing a wonderful preview Concert & Picnic on 30th July 2016 alongside CHECHELELE (York’s Wondeful World Music Choir) and LUNABAI (Superb Female Duo).  Its going to be a lovely summer evening affair with Pimms, Prosecco and Great Music! Don’t Miss It!

 

May 2016

A REVIEW WORTH WAITING FOR, OF PAULA’S ALBUM “LET ME FLY”, FROM CLASSIC ROCK SOCIETY MAGAZINE – “Paula Ryan – Insanely talented”…… “Let Me Fly – Enchanting Album”

 

April 2016

HOW WONDERFUL TO GET A MENTION ON BBC RADIO 6 MUSIC FROM ONE OF THE FEMALE CELTIC BROADCASTERS/MUSICIANS/SINGERS I ADMIRE MOST – LOVE THE WAY SHE TRANSCENDS SO MANY GENRES OF MUSIC WHILE REMAINING TRUE TO HER ROOTS – THE INSPIRATIONAL CERYS MATTHEWS

 

March 2016

WHAT AN ENDORSEMENT!

THE AMAZING VOICE OF CLANNAD – THE INCOMPARABLE MOYA BRENNAN – LIKES PAULA’S NEW ALBUM “LET ME FLY”

 

PAULA’S ALBUM “LET ME FLY” IS NAMED ALBUM OF THE MONTH FOR MARCH BY PAUL McDEVITT AND JIMMY STAFFORD ON IRELAND’S NO 1 LOCAL RADIO HIGHLAND RADIO

 

February 2016

This month definitely marks a major milestone for Paula’s music as it sees the release of her long awaited and much anticipated new album entitled:

“LET ME FLY”

The album  has already generated a “buzz” with a great response from critics, radio, audiences and listeners alike.

 

ACOUSTIC MAGAZINE  – “Intriguing Mix…..Ambitious Scope of Material…..Impressive List of Accolades……….Haunting”

fROOTS – “Attractive Irish/African beats…..Melodic…..Uplifting…..”

LIVERPOOL SOUND & VISION – “Let Me Fly is an album of beauty and attraction, the Gaelic voice haunting the imagination and one that has truth within its soul”

HIGHLAND RADIO – “Beautiful album….Great Songs”

LIZ FRANKLIN. FOLKAL POINT, RADIO TEESDALE  – “Love the album”

 

Read full review of “Let Me Fly” here:

http://www.liverpoolsoundandvision.co.uk/2016/02/12/paula-ryan-let-me-fly-album-review/

 

To listen to and buy “Let Me Fly” as a download please click here:

“LET ME FLY“

 

To listen to and buy “Let Me Fly” as a physical CD please click here:

“LET ME FLY”

 

To listen to and by “Let Me Fly” on iTunes please click here:

“LET ME FLY”

 

“LET ME FLY” is now available on cd and from all major download sites (itunes, amazon, spotify etc.)

 

 

January 2016

What an AMAZING start to 2016 – Paula’s original song “O My Blue Eyed One” is nominated as Track/Song of the Year 2015 by the prestigious and highly respected FATEA Annual Awards. The awards are nominated by the Fatea team and recognise excellence over 2015. The winners of the FATEA Awards will be announced during a two hour radio special, this year hosted by Blues & Roots Radio

Download “O My Blue Eyed One” here:

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0172RM4G6?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=

See the fantastically talented array of nominees for Fatea Awards 2015 here:

http://www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazine/Nominations2015.html

Listen to the Along The Tracks – Fatea Awards 2015 – radio show here:

https://www.mixcloud.com/AlongTheTracks/fatea-award-2015/

 

December 2015

To raise funds for the wonderful work of The Wilberforce Trust charity providing help and support for people with sight loss, Paula’s specially composed song  entitled, “Vision” was released by the trust in December.  It is available on CD from the Wilberforce Trust and also can be downloaded from the Trust’s website at the following link – all proceeds go to the Wilberforce Trust. Please support a great cause by downloading the song. 

www.wilberforcetrust.org.uk/downloads/paula-ryan-vision

 

 

November 2015

 

October 2015

“O MY BLUE EYED” – PAULA’S SINGLE WHICH EVOKES THE HEARTBREAKING DILEMMA OF A RELUCTANT SOLDIER TORN BETWEEN DUTY, LOYALTY AND HOME, FAMILY AND LOVE WAS RELEASED ON iTUNES AND AMAZON AND RECEIVED CONSIDERABLE CRITICAL ACCLAIM AND LOTS OF AIRPLAY

http://www.amazon.com/O-My-Blue-Eyed-One/dp/B016X63U0Q

“….really powerful….what songwriting is about, making you think….” – Neil King, Fatea Magazine

“…lovely sound and so meaningful…” – Colum Sands, BBC Radio Ulster

“Gorgeous song” – Noel Casey, After Midnight, Dublin City FM Radio

“Beautiful song” – Martin Bridgeman, Folk/Roots, KCLR Radio, Kilkenny, Ireland

“…..reminds me of Tabor, which can only be a good thing” – Chris, Totally Radio

 

 

September 2015

https://vimeo.com/138384859

IN WHAT MUST RANK AS ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE PERFORMANCES OF PAULA’S CAREER TO DATE, PAULA PERFORMS IN THE ROLE OF WYKE IN “VOICES OF FREEDOM” – THE OPENING NIGHT SPECTACULAR OF THE FREEDOM FESTIVAL CENTRED ON THE RIVER HULL

http://www.freedomfestival.co.uk/event/voicesoffreedom.php

 

 

August 2015 

ROUNDING OFF A REMARKABLE SUMMER IN STYLE,  PAULA PERFORMS (28-31 AUGUST 2015) AT ONE OF UK’S LEADING FOLK FESTIVALS, SHREWSBURY FOLK FESTIVAL, IN CONJUNCTION WITH TOP NAMES IN FOLK, ROOTS & ACOUSTIC MUSIC (SHARON SHANNON, RICHARD THOMPSON, KATE RUSBY, STEVE KNIGHTLEY,  OYSTERBAND + MORE), AND TO TOP IT ALL, PAULA PLAYS A PRIME SATURDAY EVENING PERFORMANCE ALONGSIDE THE 2015 BBC RADIO 2 FOLK GROUP OF THE YEAR THE FABULOUS YOUNG UNS!  

See the full line up for Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2015 www.shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk/line-up

 

HOW EXCITING!

PAULA

performs at

EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL

-the largest arts festival in the world 

 

 

July 2015

Wonderful recognition for Paula’s original WW1 song “O My Blue Eyed One” which will be performed alongside compositions by world famous composers & songwriters such as ‪Elgar‬ , ‪‎Britten‬ , ‪Poulenc‬ , ‪‎Ivor Novello‬ , ‪John Lennon‬ in the “A Long Way To Tipperary – Songs of War and Peace” concert at one of the most significant multi-arts festivals of the Irish summer festival season Clonmel Junction Festival featuring the Clonmel Junction Festival Choir + the internationally acclaimed ‪‎RTE‬ ConTempo String Quartet + beautiful lyric soprano Gina Oberoi + prize-winning bass-baritone Kevin Neville. A real honour! 

Listen to Paula’s recording of “O My Blue Eyed One” here

https://soundcloud.com/paularyan/o-my-blue-eyed-one

 

 

June 2015

Brilliant News! Paula has been asked to perform the leading role in the opening night spectacular of the Hull Freedom Festival which is the flagship arts festival of the City of Culture 2017. The river Hull and the iconic Scale Lane swing bridge will provide the backdrop for the performance appropriately entitled “Voices of Freedom” and which will also feature the mass choral voices of the Hull Freedom Chorus and will be illuminated by a magnificent light show. 

 

 

May 2015

Delighted to announce that Paula has been invited to perform at the prestigious York Barbican venue (1500 seater) as part of a night of Irish Culture organised by the brilliant York Irish Association alongside wonderful singer/songwriter John Spillane, Irish Ambassador Dan Mulhall, the O Connor Academy of Irish Dancers, uilleann piper, Brian Stafford & fiddler, Josie Nugent

 

 

April 2015

No doubt about the highlight of April for Paula – performing alongside icon and legend of Irish Music, the great

 ANDY IRVINE  

 

 

March 2015

Paula was delighted to be invited to perform as part of an historic event – the first ever St Patrick’s Festival in York. What a wonderful occasion it was – a fitting celebration of our national day! Slainte!

Paula rounded off the St Patricks celebrations “Havin The Craic” at Conlans Bistro

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_8414915

 

 

February 2015

The excitement continues with the news that Paula will, this summer, play the World’s Largest Arts Festival

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival 

which takes place every August for three weeks in Scotland’s capital city.  Paula will be performing in the award winning theSpaceUK Theatres and at Edinburgh’s renowned live music venue, the Royal Oak. See gigs page for details of Paula’s shows at the festival. OCH AYE!

www.edfringe.com

www.royal-oak-folk.com

www.thespaceuk.com

 

 

January 2015

Exciting start to 2015 with the news that Paula will play

Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2015

alongside an array of fantastic musicians and singers including 

Sharon Shannon, Kate Rusby, Richard Thompson, Oysterband, Caitrin Finch & Seckou Keita, Steve Knightley, Spooky Mens Chorale, O Hooley & Tidow, Peatbog Faeries + more

http://www.shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk/line-up

 

 

December 2014

Paula was proud to be part of the launch of

“HEART FELT”

album by

SOUNDSPHERE

as a tribute to fellow songstress and friend

ANGELA MICHEL

which raised over £1,000

MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES

November 2014 October 2014

On 29 October 2014  plays in

MATT MOLLOYS

home to the renowned flute player with

THE CHIEFTAINS

as part of  

THE ACOUSTIC YARD SINGER/SONGWRITER SESSIONS

which hosts some of the finest singer/songwriters from Ireland

September 2014

TO CELEBRATE THE TIPPERARY HURLING TEAM REACHING THE ALL IRELAND HURLING FINAL, PAULA WROTE A NEW SPORTS ANTHEM CELEBRATING THE GREAT HISTORY OF THE GAA IN TIPPERARY

www.soundcloud.com/paularyan/take-me-back-to-tipperary

August 2014

PAULA’S COMPOSITION

“RAISE OUR VOICE”

WINS PRESTIGIOUS

ORIGINAL PEACE SONG AWARD

Paula’s original song “Raise Our Voice” was the #WINNER of the Shrewsbury Folk Festival Peace Song 2014 competition. Given that Shrewsbury Folk Festival is one of the Guardian Music’s recommended Folk and World Music Festivals which features some of the most amazing Folk and World musicians and singers, it was a major HONOUR for Paula that her song was chosen as the Song of Peace in this year of the centenary of WW1 (supposedly but sadly not, the “war to end all wars”).

July 2014

PAULA’S WAS SO PROUD TO BE SELECTED TO PERFORM, IN HER OWN HOME COUNTY OF TIPPERARY, HER ORIGINAL, INSPIRING & UPLIFTING  FREEDOM SONG

entitled

“RAISE OUR VOICE”

in the

 TIPPERARY INTERNATIONAL SONG OF PEACE 2014

as part of the

ANNUAL TIPPERARY PEACE CONVENTION.

The Tipperary Peace Convention was instituted with the aim to promote the concept of peace through music and discussion.  Each year the Tipperary Peace Convention nominates a person who has made a noteworthy contribution to peace making to receive the Tipperary Peace Award. Previous recipients of the award have included such inspiring recipients as Nelson Mandela and Malala Yousafzai.

Listen to Raise Your Voice here:

www.soundcloud.com/paularyan/raise-our-voice

June 2014

TO MARK THE TOUR DE FRANCE IN YORKSHIRE, PAULA TOOK PART IN THE FIRST EVER YORKSHIRE FESTIVAL 2014, WHICH CAPTURED THE IMAGINATION OF ARTISTS AND PUBLIC ALIKE, ATTRACTING OVER 750,000 PEOPLE TO 1,400 PERFORMANCES OF THE HEADLINE EVENTS, WHICH INVOLVED 7,000 PARTICIPANTS AND TOOK PLACE IN THE 100 DAYS RUNNING UP TO THE GRADN DEPART IN YORKSHIRE.

PAULA MADE HER OWN VERY SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE OCCASION WITH HER ORIGINAL SONG IN ENGLISH AND FRENCH, CELEBRATING THE BEAUTY OF YORKSHIRE

entitled

“ENGLAND’S GREEN HEARTLAND / COEUR VERDANT D’ANGLETERRE”.  

Listen to “England’s Green Heartland / Coeur Verdant d’Angleterre” here:

www.reverbnation.com/paularyan/songs/21189152

May 2014

PAULA WAS HONOURED TO BE INVITED TO DO SUPPORT FOR THE UNIQUE AND WONDERFUL SINGER AND PERFORMER

MARY COUGHLAN

AT SOURCE ARTS CENTRE, THURLES

PAULA WAS HONOURED TO BE INVITED TO DO SUPPORT FOR IRISH SINGING SENSATION

CARA DILLON

AT HANGAR FARM ARTS CENTRE, TOTTON

April 2014

SPECIALLY FOR THE BBC RADIO 2 CECIL SHARP COLLECTION,  PAULA RECORDED TRADITIONAL SONG BARBARA ELLEN

Listen to Paula’s recording of Barbara Ellen here:

www.soundcloud.com/paularyan/barbara-ellen

Read all about the BBC Radio 2 Cecil Sharp Collection here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03phcm3/live

March 2014

PAULA’S RECENTLY COMPOSED SONG IN IRISH/GAELIC

“SUANTRAI DONNACHA”

IS SELECTED AS A FINALIST IN THE PAN CELTIC IRISH NATIONAL SONG CONTEST 2014

Listen to Suantraí Donnacha here:

www.reverbnation.com/paularyan/song/20155953

Listen to the English version of the song Donnacha’s Lullaby here:

www.reverbnation.com/paularyan/song/20155913

February 2014

PAULA WAS PRIVILEGED TO PERFORM AT THE OXFORD HUMAN RIGHTS FESTIVAL

THROUGH MUSIC, POETRY, FILM AND OTHER ARTS AND MEDIA THE FESTIVAL ATTRACTS DIVERSE AUDIENCES TO ITS EVENTS AND THEREBY RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT A WIDE RANGE OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Paula’s songwriting contribution to raising awareness is perhaps best exemplified by her song “Our So-Called Civilised World” which decries all discrimination and pleads for greater tolerance across the world

www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_8414362

January 2014

WHAT A LOVELY WAY TO KICK OFF 2014!

SONGWRITING/VOICE PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP

with

TRANSITION YEAR STUDENTS AT THE PRESENTATION SCHOOL

in

LIMERICK – THE NATIONAL CITY OF CULTURE 2014

and then on to

SHANNONSIDE WINTER MUSIC WEEKEND

in

SIXMILEBRIDGE, Co. CLARE

December 2013

THE WORLD HAS LOST ITS GREATEST TRUE HERO!

MADIBA YOUR LIKES WILL NEVER BE SEEN AGAIN!

“It is music and dancing that makes me at peace with the world and at peace with myself” – Nelson Mandela

Listen to my tribute in song here

http://www.soundcloud.com/paularyan/lion-in-a-cage

(The song received substantial airplay  including Radio Warwickshire, Roots Music Radio,  JosieJo Radio, and Bishop FM to mark the great man’s passing) 

November 2013

So enjoying my musical collaborations with two superb musicians/singers/songwriters Ranjani Mahesh and Ali Bullivent.  Love the original and truly “global” nature of the sound we create together which features some really interesting and unusual instruments (Veena, Marimba) and is a real fusion of Indian, Celtic, and contemporary sounds. 

Check it out at  

  www.reverbnation.com/pendantworld

October 2013

It was definitely an INTERNATIONAL, INCLUSIVE & INSPIRATIONAL  weekend for Paula playing at MUSICPORT in the lovely port of Whitby.  MUSICPORT is  the UK’s largest indoor World Music Festival which has established itself as a presitigious event in the festival calendar and attracts world music stars from across the globe (Toumani Diabate, Levellers, Misty In Roots, Courtney Pine, Talvin Singh, Richard Hawley, Hugh Masekela,  Chumbawamba, Altan,  Mory Kante, Osibisa etc.). 

A wonderfully busy weekend for Paula with 2 solo performances + mcing the open mic showcases each day and a extra performance on the Sunday with Ranjan Maheesh + Ali Sallison as part of ‘Pendant World’.    A MAD, MULTICULTURAL, MUSICAL MELTING POT OF SINGERS AND MUSICIANS FROM NEAR AND FAR – Paula couldn’t have felt more at home!!!!!!

SEPTEMBER 2013 AUGUST 2013

While hosting the Open Mic competition and MCing on the Village Stage, Paula witnessed some absolutely amazing musical collaborations at Shrewsbury Folk Festival! 

“The Pale Moon was rising….” when Paula performed at the world renowned Rose of Tralee Festival in Kerry.  The music on the AAA Acoustic Stage in the Mall was fab and Denny Street was heaving! 

Paula performs as part of FESTIVAL CLUAIN MEALA & CLONMEL BUSKING FESTIVAL against the magnificent backdrop of Clonmel’s Medieval Walls!  Clonmel has never looked and sounded so FESTIVE!

JULY 2013

A night of great music, fun and laughter guaranteed at Reeth Memorial Hall on 12/07/2013 when Paula supports wonderful singer and hilarious entertainer Vin Garbutt! Great Songs & Great Craic!

JUNE 2013

Paula will be singing live on BBC Radio Leeds – Sunday 2nd June 2013 on the Folk & Roots show with the Durbervilles as part of a preview of the City of York Weekend Folk Festival!

Festival season is upon us and Paula will be perpetuating the festival spirit performing at:

Filey Folk Festival

www.fileyfolkfestival.bravesites.com

Cottingham Springboard Festival

www.springboardfestival.org

Festival on the Moor

www.festivalonthemoor.co.uk

BAMfest

www.bamfest.co.uk

City Of York Weekend Folk Festival

www.blackswanfolkclub.org.uk/folkweekend13/programme.pdf

Bradford Festival

http://www.bradfordfestival.org.uk/whatson/paula-ryan-

with gigs at places such as the Kenyon Bar, Nenagh, Co. Tipp, and an appearance with Soundsphere at the Roundhouse, London thrown in for good measure….and that only takes us to mid June!

MAY 2013

The highlight for Paula for May, most definitely – Songwriting workshop and fabulous House Concert with the songwriting genius that is BOO HEWERDINE on Saturday 18 May 2013 at Bielby, nr. Pocklington. INSPIRATIONAL!

APRIL 2013

Paula will be live on air with Jim Keane on Tipp Mid West Radio singing some songs and chatting about songwriting, singing, performing etc. – Wed. 24/04/2013  9pm Tune in at www.tippmidwestradio.com 

MARCH 2013

Paula celebrated St Patrick’s Day 17/03/2013  playing support for iconic Irish Musician

DECLAN SINNOTT 

What a way to celebrate Paddy’s Day! Slainte!

FEBRUARY 2013

Paula talks to RTE presenter DAITHI O SE

before performing at the 

Pan Celtic National Song Contest