Nóirín Ní Riain

Nóirín Ní Riain (born Nora Mary Antoinette Ryan, 12 June 1951) is an Irish singer, writer, teacher, theologian, and authority on Gregorian Chant (plainchant, plainsong). She is primarily known for spiritual songs, but also sings Celtic music, sean-nós and Indian songs. Nóirín plays an Indian harmonium (surpeti), shruti box and feadóg (whistle). She was Artist-in-Residence for Wexford and Laois. She performs with her sons Eoin and Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin under the name A.M.E.N. and gives workshops about "Sound as a Spiritual Experience".

Biography Born in Caherconlish, County Limerick, Ní Riain studied music at University College Cork (UCC), specialising in religious music for post-graduate work. She developed as a performer, focusing particularly on religious, Irish traditional, and international religious music.

She has performed worldwide. Notable events include: the International Peace Gathering at Costa Rica to introduce the XIV Dalai Lama in 1989, the United Nations summit at Rio de Janeiro 1992, the European Cultural Month at Kraków, Poland 1992, the UN Earth Summit in Copenhagen 1995, The 40th Eurovision Song Contest 1995, and the World Women Summit in Beijing 1995. She has performed in the Royal Festival Hall with Sinéad O'Connor, with the American composer John Cage, with the sons of Karlheinz Stockhausen (Markus and Simon), with Paul Winter at summer and winter solstice concerts in the Cathedral of St John the Divine in New York, and with the Scola Gregoriana of Notre Dame University, Indiana, where she performed the leading role in Anima, by Hildegard von Bingen. She sang several times in India as a delegate of the Irish government, and performed in Sarajevo.

She was married to the pianist and composer Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin.

The Cork singer and teacher at UCC, Pilib Ó Laoghaire (1910–1976) persuaded her to become a singer instead of studying law, and taught her Irish traditional sean-nós singing. At UCC, she studied under Aloys Fleischmann and Seán Ó Riada.

As a child, Ní Riain often visited Glenstal Abbey in Murroe to listen to the chants of the Benedictine monks. Later she performed and made several recordings with them, under which the trilogy: Vox Clamantis in Deserto (Caoineadh na Maighdine), Vox Populi (Good People All) and Vox de Nube (A Voice from the Cloud).

She has a PhD in theology, from Mary Immaculate College (University of Limerick). Her thesis was "The Specificity of Christian Theosony", an in-depth study and representation of sounds – primarily vocal sounds – as a means to religious experience from a Christian perspective.

On 29 July 2017, she was ordained as the Rev Nóirín Ní Riain, minister in the One Spirit Inter Faith Seminary Foundation, and performs wedding, naming and divorce ceremonies.

Discography

Solo albums 1978 – Seinn Aililiú, Gael-Linn. 1980 – Caoineadh na Maighdine, Gael-Linn. 1982 – Darkest Midnight, Glenstal Records. 1988 – Stór Amhrán, Ossian Publications Ltd. 1989 – Vox de Nube, Gael-Linn. 1990 – Nóirín Ní Riain with The Monks of Glenstal Abbey, CBS Records. 1993 – Soundings, Ossian Publications Ltd. 1996 – River of Stars, Audio Book, Sounds True Inc. 1996 – Celtic Soul, Earth Music Productions. 1997 – Gregorian Chant Experience, The O'Brian Press Ltd. 2004 – Mystical Ireland, Sounds True Inc. 2004 – Biscantorat: Sound of the Spirit from Glenstal Abbey (CD), Hummingbird Records. 2004 – Biscantorat: Sound of the Spirit from Glenstal Abbey (DVD), Hummingbird Records.

Ní Riain & Sons Nóirín has released two albums with her sons Eoin and Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin under the name 'Amen'. Ní Riain's sons are also well known as Irish pop band size2shoes. 2007 – Amen, Nóirín Ní Riain & Sons, The Daisy Label; RMG Chart Entertainment Ltd. 2008 – Celtic Joy, Nóirín Ní Riain with Eoin and Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Gemini Sun label; Sounds True Inc., (US release of 'Amen') 2013 – Hearth Sound, Ancient Songs from Ireland and the World, Nóirín Ní Riain with Owen and Moley Ó Súilleabháin, NNR Recordings. (iTunes)

Guest roles / collaborations 1977 – Óró Damhnaigh, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Gael-Linn. 1984 – James Last at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, Polydor. 1992 – Solstice Live, Paul Winter, Earth Music Productions. 1994 – Sieben Psalmen, Meditation in Wort und Klang, Markus & Simon Stockhausen, Pater Friedhelm Mennekes, EMI Classics. 1996 – Lumen, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, European Song Contest, Virgin Records. 1997 – Illumination, Richard Souther, Sony. 1997 – Agnes Browne, Anjelica Huston, Hell's Kitchen Films/October Films. 2001 – In deiner Nähe, Close to you, Markus Stockhausen, Aktivraum. 2008 – Sanctuary, Various Artists, Independent.

Albums produced 2007 – In Praise of Mary, The Cistercian Nuns of St. Mary's Abbey Glencairn, The Daisy Label.