Knockshegowna singer's musical journey

Highly-talented country singer Aishling Rafferty has embarked on an exciting musical journey that will see her launch her debut CD in Nenagh next week.
A Leaving Cert student at Borrisokane Community College, Aishling has always has a family-nurtured passion for music. One of her earliest memories is of everyone sitting around in a circle at her Knockshegowna home and her father, John, playing guitar and singing 'How Much is that Doggie in the Window?'. Her grandfather and granduncles on the side of her mother, Patricia, played in a band and a granduncle on her father's side set up a music school in Canada.
The youngest member of her local choir, and a member of the Birr-based Midland Musical Youth group, Aishling has featured in numerous school productions. She also sings at Masses, at weddings and funerals, and she has performed in several local pubs. Country is her chosen genre. Citing Jimmy Buckley, Robert Mizzell and Jimmy's daughter Claudia among her key influences, Aishling finds that music works as a form of therapy for both performer and listener.
“Country music is my love,” she said. “Country songs are the telling of a story. Every song has its own story to tell.”
Her big break came last year when Aishling made it through to the final 12 of the Cowboys & Heroes national music contest. Featuring some 360 entrants, the Knockshe chanteuse shared the stage with some of the biggest names in the business at Ireland's leading Country and Americana festival.
It was a watershed moment for Aishling, who realised that she wanted to be a star of the stage. It gave her the impetus to start recording with Peter Maher at his Middlewalk studio in Cloughjordan. Finding Peter a joy to work with, she recorded six tracks over a series of sessions.
Titled 'My Journey', the release features a selection of some of the best-loved songs of Country – 'New Moon Over My Shoulder', 'I Told You So', 'Home to Donegal', 'Except for Monday', 'My Mother' and God's Pain'. They are all faithfully rendered in Aishling's own unique style – which has been compared by many listeners to that of Louise Morrissey – with a powerful, serene maturity that in many ways belies her youth.
'My Journey' will be available at the January 25th launch night at Nenagh's Hibernian Inn, at which 50% of sales will be donated to the Irish Hospice Foundation. Aishling's family is known for their efforts to raise funds for charitable causes over the years. Last year, she received the Garda National Youth Award in recognition of her contribution to the community, including the raising of €3,500 for the Irish Cancer Society, caring for her elderly neighbours, and volunteering in Lourdes as an assistant for the sick and elderly.
Also last year, the industrious student travelled to Romania to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, an international charity organisation that builds houses for families in need. Hoping that her music will help raise funds for the hospice, Aishling said she was much inspired by what she saw in Romania.
“When I came back I wanted to do something in Ireland to help people,” she said. “Everybody knows someone who has been affected by cancer or diagnosed with a life-limiting illness.”
Joining Aishling at the Hi B next week will be well-known Drogheda musician Ger Long and Borrisokane accordionist Keelan McGrath. There will also be food served on what promises to be a great night of live music. Anyone who cannot attend on the night but would like to purchase a CD is welcome to contact Aishling via her Facebook page –  'Aishling Rafferty Music' – where you can also view videos of her music, or phone 089-4387337. Recorded by Paschal Brooks (Ennis), the videos were shot at Coolbawn Quay to provide a beautiful backdrop to the music.
Welcoming all to join her in this step of the journey, Aishling took the opportunity to thank everyone who has supported her thus far, with a special mention to Peter Maher (keys and bass), Danny Sheerin (backing vocals) and Declan O'Hare (guitars) for helping to bring her musical vision to life.

CD LAUNCH DETAILS
Aishling Rafferty will launch 'My Journey' at the Hibernian Inn on Saturday, January 25th, at 9pm. The CD costs €10, half of which will be donated to the Irish Hospice Foundation.