Dr. Mary Louise O'Donnell

Mary O'Donnell began her harp studies with the late Sr. Eugene McCabe at Mount Sackville School in Dublin and she later studied with Fiona Norwood, Sebastien Lipman and attended masterclasses with the renowned harpist and teacher Edward Witsenberg. In 1992 she was awarded an Entrance Exhibition to Trinity College Dublin and graduated with an honours degree in Music in 1996. As an undergraduate, she completed her ARIAM in Irish Harp and LTCL in Concert Harp performance. She also holds a Higher Diploma in Education and a Masters in Musicology (with a specialism in Ethnomusicology) from University College Dublin. In 2007, Mary was awarded an IRCHSS Government of Ireland scholarship. In 2009, under the supervision of Professor Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Professor Tom Moylan and Dr. Ruán O’Donnell, she completed her PhD at the University of Limerick on the social, political and cultural history of the Irish harp and its patronage from 1790 to 1845.

She has won many prizes at competitions throughout the country and at the Dublin Feis Ceoil, she has won first prizes in all Junior and Senior Irish and Concert Harp competitions, as well as prizes in singing and composition (Dr. Annie Patterson Medal). Mary is a former member of the National Youth Orchestra, RTE Cor na nOg, Belfast Harp Orchestra and has performed with many ensembles and orchestras (amateur and professional) throughout the country. She has appeared on RTE, BBC, CNN, and NBC and has toured extensively with different groups throughout Europe, North America, Africa and most recently to Asia. Mary began lecturing at St Patrick's College, Drumcondra in 2005 and was a tutor and lecturer at the University of Limerick from 2006. She is an examiner with the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin.