Bringing it all back home is what Muriel O’Connor will do on Monday 11 April when she launches her new album in the Woodlands Hotel in Adare. Muriel is a proud Limerick lady and hails from the city where the broad Shannon sweeps out to the sea.

The former Aer Lingus employee, who has always had a love for the music scene, has been a regular performer on the circuit for many years. Most of her shows were in the Munster region, including a summer residency at the former Clare Inn Hotel, but she has branched out into countrywide shows in recent years.

One of the special nights in her career was last March when she won female singer of the year at the Irish Country Sound Entertainment awards.

“That was a huge occasion for me and I was over the moon to be honoured at a national awards ceremony,” says Muriel.

“The response was terrific and it brought home to me the power of the Irish Farmers Journal all over this country. That award helped elevate my profile in an amazing way. There is no doubt that 2015 was a rollercoaster year for me and one of the most successful of my career so far. With my musical partner, Fran Curry, we travelled the highways and byways of Ireland.

“We also found time to record this album, which is a mixture of songs that are much loved at our gigs and songs that I have wanted to record for some years. It includes two of my hit singles, Waltzing An Angel Tonight and Something Blue, which is a duet with Fran.”

The album was recorded at Gaff Studios in Tipperary, and was produced by Fran who was a member of The Bards for many years and who also featured on tours with the Foster and Allen band.

The 11-track album, entitled Muriel’s World, includes a variety of songs, ranging from The Leaving of Liverpool to the old Stephen Foster classic, Camptown Races. Also featured are two songs associated with Sean Hughes and The Outlaws from Monaghan, The Best Part of The Day Is The Night and Five Minutes More. Her latest single, Late Starters In Love, is also on the album.

Prior to the launch, Muriel and Fran will undertake a short UK tour.

Muriel and Fran will be joined by TR Dallas and Declan Aungier for the launch night in the Woodlands Hotel in Adare.

“It will be lovely to have the launch so close to home and a lot of friends will be there for the big night. We are also delighted to have TR and Declan as our guest artists and patrons are in for a lovely show in Adare,” says Muriel.