Butterfly

Ireland has produced a number of known artists. Inspite of the dominance of pop music and culture, the ability to break the world market without losing its heritage is a trademark of this country's performers. This is  true with  U2 and Enya, two of the most popular Irish singers. Such style is also evident with Bob Geldof,  The Corrs, The Cranberries, Sinead O'Connor,Westlife, and the ensemble Celtic Woman . There is almost always a touch of their origin in their musicality.Apart from dancing, just every Irish seem to at least know how to sing or play an instrument. The latter is a part of the Ireland's school curriculum. Small wonder why every singer in this country is also a musician.

I learned how to play the guitar when I was in grade school. Then, it seemed like taboo for  someone like me in a male-dominated society, to play an instrument like that. These days? Just every school girl seemed to have been influenced by Sheryl Crow and the more popular Taylor Swift. I am striking a parallel with Celtic Woman's Mairead Nesbitt. Forty years ago, she may not have enjoyed the freedom and acceptance that she is reaping now as an instrumentalist, especially fiddling, which I regard as a higher level of performing. Gone were the days where exceptional talent could belong only to a male species.

Witnessing how this fleet-footed, dimunitive lady play, is like witnessing a thunder bolt of lighting from the sky! She fiddles then dances like a swan, no like a butterfly.  She is a powerhouse of emotions. She personifies both Venus, the goddess of beauty and love, and Shakti, the goddess of energy. She does not need to open her mouth to elicit a response or to be understood. Her emotions and fiddle are her words. Her body language is just a beauty to behold. Her presence in Celtic Woman gives a different facet to the group. As she performs Butterfly, an Irish traditional tune, I imagine the amount of discipline and training she poured before she got to that point. When I saw her perform in Lord of the Dance, it blew my mind! Is this even a mortal? There is just one more thing I ask of this being - sing a few lines!

Lord of the Dance

Mairead of Celtic Woman

It may no longer be a myth. Immortals are just here on earth, mingling with the humans.