Mags McCarthy is a lovely young vocalist, dancer and multi-instrumentalist raised on her family’s farm in County Cork, Ireland. Aside from fulltime teaching, farm chores as a rule include milking the cows, often morning and night! Her music education began at age 4 when she was first introduced to Irish dancing.
While growing up, Mags studied a variety of dance styles as well as musical instruments, eventually focusing on the violin. Taking a ‘timeout’ from college, Mags joined the world-renowned Irish dance troupe, Rhythm Of The Dance. During the next three years, she played for millions throughout 40 plus countries as a principal lead in this hit show, at one point even performing on stage with Ms. Dolly Parton at Dollywood in Tennessee.
One talent, unique to her alone, is being able to perform high speed, traditional Irish tap while playing fiddle at the same time. In addition to a strong interest in numerous charitable pursuits, over the years she has earned countless awards and accolades in all aspects of music, dance and even athletics as a Camogie player (similar to, but much rougher than hockey) plus as a champion runner.
After performing for President and First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House on St. Patrick’s Day in March 2009, Mags returned to Ireland, completing her university music degree with honours. With violin in hand, she then travelled to Los Angeles with her creative partner/producer-manager in order to pursue a long-standing dream of a pop career.
Always up for a challenge, one of two music videos shot in 2012, ‘Nothing Like A Friend’ found her working above and below the Santa Monica Pier and in the early hours of next morning, on a blistering 135ºF dry lakebed in the California desert. That same year she also accepted a gracious invitation from the town of Gilgandra, NSW, Australia to shoot a professional clip for another of her songs.
Following her time in Los Angeles, Mags earned a Masters in Ethnomusicology at University College Cork. As a result, she received her fully accredited, second level (high school) teaching certificate. She also holds the position of dance instructor at her Alma Mater, UCC in Cork. During this period, Mags continued developing her own fusion of Irish, contemporary and hip-hop dance styles,
Already an accomplished singer-songwriter, with her lovely but powerful pop-rock/country crossover voice, she captured her signature ‘Mags Sound’ in 16 new songs recorded in Nashville during late April, 2016. Once back in Ireland, a professional video was shot to accompany ‘Run’, one of the 16 tunes.
With customary generosity, Mags has spent her life doing for others, with a major emphasis on those less fortunate. While on tour with the dance company, she would often perform at hospitals, schools, retirement homes, etc., anywhere she felt could use a little cheering up. At 19, she self-produced an amazing performance DVD with all proceeds going to help build schools in Zimbabwe.
While still in L.A., she would often drop everything to play benefits for Cancer, Hepatitis C, etc. A little angel, more information on Mags, along with additional photos, can be found at https://www.facebook.com/mags.mccarthy.5 and on her fan page at: https://www.facebook.com/MagsMcCarthyMusic/?fref=ts Forever fun loving, with her own special charm, charisma and sparkling personality, Mags has always gone out of her way to try and spread a bit of joy and happiness. Touring the world with the dance company provided the perfect opportunity.
With a demographic spanning first awareness through all of life, we believe Mags will soon become everyone’s favourite star, every parent’s role model and every young person’s hero to cherish and emulate. ‘Cool’, one of a kind and yet totally down to Earth, Mags is beautiful inside and out. Unbelievably talented and totally dedicated to her art…but modest still.
Those who come to know and appreciate Mags soon get why her countless friends and those of us in management are so very proud of her. This is one young person who was born to be a superstar. It only remains now for the rest of the planet to catch up.