Irish country performer Mags McCarthy has performed at the White House, while her latest single is finding success in the U.S charts. Julie-Ann Sherlock speaks to the artist not from Nashville, where she records and tours, but from the family farm in Dripsey, County Cork.

When the opportunity to take a career break from her role as a school music teacher to explore the possibilities of a country music career in Nashville arose, Mags McCarthy grabbed it with both hands. 

"I had been going over and back for years but decided I wanted to give it a real crack, so I took a career break, which I'm actually still on, and packed two suitcases and a fiddle!" Mags, aged 30, explains with glee. "It was an amazing experience, but it was also a bit scary at first not really knowing anybody. 

As the legendary home of country music, Nashville, Tennessee, beckons to the world’s burgeoning country stars. “I got to meet lots of fantastic musicians; there is a real music community here and I got to know musicians for Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood and Reba McEntire and they are really supportive. I have no regrets." 

Through her new music network, Mags was able to go backstage at the holy grail of country music — the Grand Ole Opry, a famous country music stage concert in Nashville. "These musicians were playing and told me to come backstage. I went for a few nights and it’s a bit like going through an airport with all the security, but I knew all the greatest country artists and all my favourites had walked that stage and played there. It was a great experience and gave me more hope and determination."

Back home in Dripsey, just outside Cork City, Mags is grateful to be spending time with her family in Ireland as the world faces the COVID-19 crisis, but is looking forward to getting back Stateside when it’s safe to do so.

"Having to fly back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean and say goodbye to my mum and dad every time is tough, and I think the older I get, the harder it is, but I love it and am excited to go back. It's obviously difficult at the moment, but we are alive and well and healthy.

“I love being in the country and able to get out in the fresh air and to go feed animals. I get up around 6am and go for a run, then help out on the farm milking cows from 7am. But I am writing music too, calling people in America and using social media to stay in touch with all my contacts over there."

It seems that for the young singer-songwriter, her emerging career in Nashville is now beginning to take off. "I started to play around Nashville in all the big venues — I would play one and then get invited to play another down the road. Then I was asked to play the CMA (County Music Association) Fest where a lot of the big artists perform. It was a huge opportunity — I had my own band at this stage, I was writing and recording songs and starting to get some airplay on Country Radio."

As live events around the world pause to wait out the COVID-19 storm, social media has become increasingly important to performing artists like Mags.

"I jumped on TikTok ages ago as I love keeping up-to-date with the newest social media. It’s where the younger fans are, so I have to go there! I mostly use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and now TikTok to connect and I spend hours a day answering fans and chatting to them on the various platforms. I am also on YouTube and Spotify. My father is always giving out that I am constantly on my phone and should be out feeding calves! But they understand that it is part of my job." 

A few years ago, Mags got to meet one of her idols, country music icon Dolly Parton. "I absolutely adore Dolly. I got to meet her back in 2005 and 2006 when I was dancing with an Irish dancing show. I was the principal lead in the show when we played Dollywood and she came out and performed with us on stage. I got to meet her and she is one sweet lady. She is gorgeous, as is her writing and her singing; as an entertainer she is just incredible."

In fact, Mags’ current single pays homage to her music hero: "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" is a cover of a Dolly Parton song that Mags was given permission to release. With lyrics that speak of optimism in a challenging world, the single is gaining traction in the U.S. Once Mags is finished helping out on the family farm, Nashville is sure to be ready and waiting for this emerging Irish talent to return. 

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