Music with meaning straight from the heart of Eddi Reader

Eddi Reader’s grandmother was packed off from Tralee to Glasgow after suffering sexual abuse by the Black and Tans. Such strong links to Ireland are woven into her musical thinking, writes Ellie O’Byrne.

“THEY may take my taxes, but they’ll never take my independence, as Mel Gibson should have said,” chuckles Scottish folk singer Eddi Reader.