Mary Bergin

	Mary Bergin started life in Shankill, Co. Dublin. Tin whistle was her first love (though she did also played piano and violin) and she also became interested in the flute later on. Music was always in the house with her mother playing fiddle and her father the melodeon. Noted musicians were also regular visitors and through her youth she had the good fortune to hear people like Mrs Crotty, Mrs Harrington, Willie Clancy, and Nioclas Toibin (in Ring). Mary's whistle-playing style is a subtle mix of the staccato-tonguing technique and ornamental finger work, punching out the rhythm with the tongue whilst ornamenting with the fingers. Her first solo albums 'An Feadog Stain" ('The Tin Whistle') was recorded in 1979 and is still a reference for all whistle (and flute) players. She is joined on this by Alec Finn and Johnny McDonagh, both members of De Dannan at the time (as Mary had been a few years earlier). This successful combination also features on the follow-up 'An Feadog Stain 2'. Mary currently plays with the baroque/traditional group Dordan. Their first album 'Ceol Traidisiunta agus Baroc' was released by Gael Linn and the second two ' A Celtic Christmas' and 'Celtic Aire' are on the Narada label. Mary won the TG4 'Traditional Musician of the Year Award' in 2000.