Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh: What scares me most in life is not being understood

'The greatest advice I have ever been given is not to be too eager to please others. You have to start with yourself to love another person properly'

Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh joins other leading Irish women fiddlers from Sí Fiddlers performing on the rooftop of Central Bank Plaza to mark the launch of TradFest Temple Bar 2023, which will run from 25-29 January. Picture: Mark Stedman

I was born in Gaoth Dobhair in northwest Co Donegal. My parents were Francie Mooney and Kitty Rua; we call her that because she has red hair. I had a very happy childhood playing music and my father wrote plays . Music and the arts were a big part of growing up. I thought every house was reared like that but I realised later on that I was very privileged.

My earliest memory is standing in my cot, my mother and father cajoling me to sing. It’s such a vivid memory. I would sing away at that age, I’m told.