Fionnuala Deacy grew up listening to music in her family home in Cloughanover near Headford in Co. Galway. She recalls falling asleep to her father playing the accordion in the kitchen at night. Fionnuala was good at singing and was asked to perform at family occasions. That’s what got her into this style of music.

Fionnuala was blessed with an inspirational music teacher, Mairéad Berrill, Head of Music at Headford’s Presentation College. Mairéad also worked as a visiting teacher to Fionnuala’s primary school and nurtured her innate talent from an early age. She sang as part of the school choirs, doing one, two and three part harmonies for which she found she had an instinct.

Fionnuala studied music for her Leaving Cert under Mairéad Berrill’s seminal influence. She learned the recorder, tin whistle, guitar, accordion and most importantly singing. Mairéad was her vocal coach during  the seven years Fionnuala spent completing all eight grades in singing for Trinity College London. Fionnuala still draws on Mairéad’s advice to inspire her when she’s performing at live events.

Over the years Fionnuala has recorded extensively on the professional music scene. She has sung backing vocals for Don Stiffe, Fr. Peter Waldron and Seán Keane with whom she’s toured extensively. She’s worked with John Waters and Tommy Moran on the original arrangement for They Can’t Stop the Spring, the Eurovision Entry by Dervish in 2007. She’s also worked with a host of other singer-songwriters who
needed arrangements done on an amateur basis as well as being part of The Lounge Lizards, the Blue Moon Music Club’s resident house band at Campbell’s Tavern in the early noughties.

Many attest to Fionnuala’s perfectionism and her commitment. She’ll do everything to get a performance or arrangement just right. She’s always nervous before an event but feels that keeps her on her toes.

Fionnuala continues to add strings to her musical bow. In 2010, she completed a City & Guilds Level 1 Certificate in Sound Engineering with the Academy of Sound, Dublin. She’s studying piano and taking grade exams wih the Royal Irish Academy of Music. This on-going professional development serves her in her practice as a musician, performer and arranger.