This Celtic singing ensemble captivates audiences with their energetic jigs and heart-rending ballads.

The first all-women Irish music ensemble, Cherish the Ladies, celebrates their roots with sensational singing and exuberant Celtic music. The commanding stage presence of these six multitalented musicians matches their elaborate and clever songwriting. New York Daily News calls Cherish the Ladies “one of the foremost traditional Irish music groups in the world.”

Folklorist/musician Mick Maloney initially organized the collective of talented women for a one-time concert in the early ’90s. Audiences were so stunned by their captivating authentic Irish music and commanding stage presence that Maloney insisted they begin a tour. Cherish the Ladies’ popularity and dedication to preserving the spirit of their native music led to sponsorship by the Ethnic Folk Arts Center and the National Endowment for the Arts to produce a critically acclaimed concert series.

Cherish the Ladies emulates their Irish roots with lively musical arrangements complemented by invigorating step dancers who join them on stage. The Washington Post praises their “astonishing array of virtuosity,” which comes from the dynamic collaboration of complex melodies and energetic rhythms. Taking their name from a traditional Irish jig, their engaging dance music and renditions of soothing traditional Irish ballads made the 1992 debut album, The Back Door, an instant success.

Cherish the Ladies’ 10 critically acclaimed albums include the 2004 release, On Christmas Night, which has been heralded as “the ideal holiday collection, exuding warmth and elegance” by music outlets such as allmusic.com, and is one of the highest selling Celtic Christmas albums. Cherish the Ladies’ most recent release, Woman of the House (2005), guest featured Celtic singer/songwriters Sharon Shannon, Triona Ni Dhomhnaill, Phil Cunningham, Kate Rusby, and Eddie Reader. Reminiscent of their first album, Woman of the House succeeds in capturing the rollicking Irish spirit.

The innovative, talented women behind Cherish the Ladies are Heidi Talbot (vocals, bodhrán), Mirella Murray (accordion), Roisin Dillon (fiddle), Mary Coogan (guitar, banjo, mandolin), and Joanie Madden (flute, whistles, harmony vocals). They have shared the stage with such noted entertainers as James Taylor, Joan Baez, and Emmy Lou Harris, and collaborated with the Boston Pops Symphony for the Grammy-nominated Celtic Album (1999). They also gained national acclaim representing Irish music and culture at the Official Cultural Olympiad for the summer Olympics in Atlanta. Cherish the Ladies’ lively spirit and dedication to the preservation of Irish heritage has made them a joyous musical icon in the Celtic scene.

—Alissa Bourbonnais