by Alan Jacques
EIGHTEEN-year-old Limerick songbird Laura Duff performed for President Michael D Higgins at Dublin Castle last week to launch an album featuring her award-winning track.
The talented musician from the South Circular Road was at the Aviva Stadium for the launch of Youth Work Ireland’s Irish Youth Music Award (IYMA) album, which includes her self-penned song ‘In The Winter’.
Laura, who is a member of local band Little Tents, then made the short trip to Dublin Castle where she sang two songs for hundreds of guests and award winners who were at An Gaisce Awards (President’s Awards).
‘IYMAs Volume 8’ was recorded at Temple Lane Studios in Temple Bar and features tracks from some of Ireland’s most talented young musicians who were finalists at the Irish Youth Music Awards held earlier this year.
“It’s been an unbelievable few days and it feels like I’ve launched my first release,” said Laura, who won the Paul Clancy Award for songwriting.
“The IYMAs experience was excellent as it gave us (Little Tents) plenty of exposure as well as the experience of performing live and recording in a studio,” the former Salesians Secondary School, Pallaskenry, student explained.
Now studying music at University College Cork, Laura also revealed that she hopes to pursue a career in the music industry after her studies.
“Music is a big part of my life,” she enthused.
The Irish Youth Music Awards is Ireland’s largest youth led music programme and to date over 85,000 young people across Ireland have taken part and benefited from the programme, which is delivered in the city by Limerick Youth Service.
For more information on the Irish Youth Music Awards and music programmes at Limerick Youth Service contact John Real at [email protected].
