22-year-old singer songwriter Amy Meehan who grew up on a farm at Manorcunningham near Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, often helping her dad, especially at lambing time, plans to release her first album in 2025.
“I have been writing new songs bit by bit towards it for a while now,” said Amy, who has shared the stage with well-known artists such as Daniel O’Donnell and Moya Brennan over the years.
“Moya recently accompanied me with the harp and backing vocals on a new song ‘The War’ written by my friend, Rachel Akkoc. I recorded this song in my small home studio to avoid expenses as all proceeds are going to the Irish Cancer Society,” she said.
Every year, Amy accompanies the Donegal Relay For Life Cancer Survivors Choir on piano and guitar during its annual Relay For Life event in the ATU Letterkenny.
“i loved to sing from an early age, listening to a variety of different music genres such as rock; pop; country; classical; jazz and blues and I would sing, play guitar, piano and ukulele.
“I got some guitar lessons and got involved with a local musical theatre group. I started learning the drums earlier this year. i just loved performing on stage and over the years worked hard to improve my guitar and piano skills.
“When my parents realised that I was serious about music they purchased an old baby grand piano, surprising me with it on my birthday. My family is very musical on both my mum and dad’s side so that probably had an impact on my music tastes,” she said.
She was interviewed on the Gerry Kelly show on two occasions in BBC radio Ulster in Belfast and performed for the MLAs at events throughout Northern Ireland that same year.
“For two consecutive years in 2015 and 2016, I entered the Junior Eurovision song contest. This was recorded in the RTE studio in Dublin, and was televised on TG4. It was an amazing experience writing the songs and being tutored to be interviewed in Irish,” Amy said.
Amy went on to support other artists in venues around Ireland and the UK. These included: Liam Reilly’s Bagatelle on its Irish tour; Glen Campbell’s daughter, Ashley Campbell, on two occasions in Northern Ireland; and Aoife Scott, daughter of Frances Black.
Amy was thrilled to get a call from Paul Carrack from Mike & the Mechanics in August 2019 to support his Irish tour in October 2019: “For me, this was the highlight of my music journey so far, opening shows in the Millennium Forum, Derry; Bord Gais, Dublin; and Cork Opera House for him.
“I was absolutely over the moon when he approached me again to be his support act on his 2020 UK tour in the music hall, Aberdeen; Edinburgh Festival Theatre; Glasgow SEC Arena; Liverpool Philharmonic for two nights; and The Sage, Newcastle, ending up in the London Palladium where we played the final show just before it shut suddenly for lockdown,” said Amy.
She has recorded two original songs ‘Say Goodbye’ and ‘For You’.
“Say Goodbye’ is dedicated to my cousin, Shane, who died from cancer at age 17 in 2019. I wrote ‘For You’ after my Irish tour with Paul Carrack and was inspired by all of the support my parents gave me along my musical journey. I performed both of these songs at all of Paul Carrack’s concerts,” she said.
After doing her Leaving Cert for which she studied agricultural science, she secured a place at Ulster University and graduated with a first class music degree. She plans to complete her Green Cert in the near future.
“I am planning to do my master’s degree in music soon, but I am currently busy teaching in schools which I really enjoy. I am quite busy with wedding bookings for 2025 and 2026 and of course will help around the farm at busy times,” Amy said.
She encourages young people to get involved in performance related music: “It has so many benefits to their confidence and mental wellbeing. To be able to get on a stage and perform to an audience is so satisfying and gives such a sense of accomplishment.”