Laois folk singer the stunning voice behind new television advertisement
It’s been a year of firsts for Laois folk singer with golden voice Emer Dunne
A Laois folk singer is the beautiful voice behind a lovely new Irish television advertisement.
Emer Dunne from Mountmellick is singing the famous ballad Mo Ghile Mear on the Beacon Care Fertility Clinic’s new Irish version of their television advertising campaign.
A delighted Emer told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that it is her first time to be featured in a TV business advertisement.
“It came about quite organically. I got an email from an agency who had been looking for a song for the ad. They came across my clip and loved it and asked could they use it.
“To be honest I thought first it was a phishing email, I get a lot of those where you’re being offered money with some link. I realised it was genuine. I was happy to give them the licence to use it then.
“They had an English version out already. This is the Irish version, it’s a lovely ad, they did a great job. It was just a lovely opportunity. They gave me an idea of when it would be starting last Monday and I was there sitting waiting with my cup of tea,” she said.
It has been a year of firsts, with Emer performing in North America with Culture Ireland for St Patrick’s week, then later in the summer fulfilling her dream of her first tour in the US, the Folk Songbook Tour.
Emer’s most recent gig was a concert in the Church of Ireland in Rosenallis for Laois Culture Night.
“It was lovely, we had a full house, they are hoping to use it more now as an event space for concerts,” she said.
Next up the busy Emer is travelling as part of the Irish delegation to Womex, the world’s biggest professional music conference, taking place in Gran Canaria for a week.
“That’s a first too, it’s been a great year for me, all these new experiences.
“There are Irish musicians showcasing. It’s with Culture Ireland, it’s a big Expo so during the day we will be representing Ireland and talking about Irish artists at the stand, and then I also get to meet and network with people in the industry and in different types of music.
“I am excited about it, they’ll be long busy days but I am looking forward to it and happy to be there. At night there are the showcases, so I’ll get to see lots of different types of world music, and cheer on the Irish musician too, Daoirí Farrell.
There is a chance coming up shortly to hear Emer sing, in an upcoming photography exhibition at Mountmellick Community Arts Centre.
“So with Creative Ireland Laois, we had invited Laois photographers and societies to submit photos as backdrops for my concerts in America. Now we are having an exhibition of those photos in the lovely new space in the arts centre, in mid October.
“I will be doing workshops with local schools about being a professional musician too,” she adds.
Then it is back to the creative side for Emer, who plans to work on another album, following up her Number 1 debut album Hourglass.
“My plan next is to release it probably next year,” Emer confirmed.