Part of the day-long St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at the United Irish Cultural Center on St. Patrick’s Day, Sunday March 17, 2024

3-5 pm
Emerald Pub
No Cover; Kindly Register

Enjoy and corned beef supper (other food options available) and the wonderful sounds of Celtic Jazz

“A wondrous mix of what this fine singer is all about – a deep passion for Irish traditional music and jazz…with O’Reilly’s voice weaving a spell”
Matt Nugent, Evening Herald

“Breathtaking amazing emotional intensity…sheer virtuosity”
The Irish Times

“A work of special importance in the development of the sung Irish language…an uplifting celebration of Irish culture that is finding new feet upon which to confidently stride into the future.”
Dublin Event Guide

Jazz Vocalist – Composer – Jazz Radio Host – Music Educator 

Melanie, originally from Dublin who has made her base in Wexford, is an international figure in the world of vocal jazz. Though she is a native of south Dublin, her spirit was drawn to the American art-form of jazz.

“There was something that attracted me to jazz at an early age, the exciting rhythms, rich harmonic chords and the improvisational spirit. As a teenager I began listening to jazz recordings of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie or Dave Brubeck; I became totally absorbed by this musical journey. I was hooked!”

The arts are in her blood. She was brought up in a family of performers and artists. Daughter of Abbey actress, and RTE radio presenter Bonnie O’Reilly, and niece of theatre impresario-founder of the Dublin Theatre Festival Brendan Smith, Melanie tread the boards as early as 11 years of age at the Brendan Smith Theatre Academy. She also sang regularly at the Feis Ceol competitions winning many awards.

“Being brought up in a family where the arts were an integral part of our lives has been a blessing; all kinds of music permeated the house; and as my parents had courted to the Big Bands when they were young, they handed on their love of swing jazz. My godfather, Uncle Brendan, gave me a wonderful gift in enabling me to follow my interest in performing, which has developed in me a sense of being “at home” on stage.

Celtic Jazz

After studying dramatic performance at the Brendan Smith Theatre Academy, Melanie started her professional career as a jazz singer and composer blending American jazz with Irish traditional music to create vocal Celtic Jazz – her trademark.

“I was lucky enough to hear live performances of Irish traditional musicians at the famous Foxrock Folk Club as a young teenager. Their performances were followed by Dublin jazz musicians such as the Louis Stewart Trio. The night both The Chieftains and Louis Stewart Trio jammed together blew my mind. I knew I was witnessing something special. An incredible fusion of two great traditions: Irish Trad music blending with the American art form. Old yet new.”