Selina O'Leary 'Wexford Town'

5th April 2009 at the Traveller Culture Festival, Fitzgerald's Park, Cork: Selina O'Leary - vocals; Ernestine Healy - concertina; Antonio Garcia Lopez - fiddle; Julie Tiernan - guitar; Ruairí O'Neill - low D whistle. (the following statement by Selina is from the Irish Traveller Movement's Facebook page on 8th March 2013 - International Women's Day) My name is Selina O'Leary. I'm 21 years old; I live in Tullow Co. Carlow. I am proud to say I am a member of the Travelling community. I come from a family of 12- 9 sisters and 2 brothers. Music has always been a big part of my life. My grandfather and all my uncles were very good accordion players and all my aunts could sing. I started to sing at a very young age. I was brought up listening to people like Aretha Franklin, Dean Martin and Dolly Parton. I wasn't interested in Modern music as such. The very first time I ever sang in front of a large crowd was at my sister's wedding and that was the beginning of it all which led me to Carnegie Hall, New York and Paris. I have been involved with the Margaret Wouters at the Music Project in St. Catherines Community Services Centre in Carlow for the last few years, and had all the help and support I need to get me where I am today. I am inspired by lots of people, family, friends, musicians, and singers but the person who inspires me the most in life is my mother. She has always encouraged me to push forward with my music. She has always believed in me and my talent. She never gave up on me and she has always been a great support for me and without her I would not be where I am today. I am very proud of what I have achieved. I have brought out a CD entitled "Thousands are Sailing" which has been very successful, I was on the Miriam O Callaghan show promoting that album. I have achieved a lot more than a lot of other Travelling girls. I have had the privilege of travelling to America to perform in one of the biggest music venues in the world, Carnegie Hall with my aunt Elizabeth. I also had the opportunity to sing with the Gypsy Kings, Eugene Gogol, and Stephan Eicher with Goren Bregovic in Paris in January of this year. I sing the lead song in Goren's album "Champagne for Gipsies" and a second song "On a Leash". The album is on sale in the UK and Ireland now and I will be on tour with him over the next year. I know this is just the beginning for me, and I have great support from all over the world. I hope to inspire other Traveller girls to follow their dreams. One of my favourite quotes is "Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game".