A former all-Ireland fiddle champion and past member of the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, Máiréad completed her studies at CIT, Cork School of Music, under Cornelia Zanidache and at the London Royal Academy, with post-graduate studies under Emanuel Hurwitz on violin and piano. As musical influences, Máiréad cites her family, along with a wide range of musicians that includes classical violinist Itzhak Perlman, jazz great Stephane Grappelli, bluegrass icon Alison Krauss, Irish fiddlers Liz Carroll, Michael Coleman, and Andy McGann, and rock performers like David Bowie, Sting, and Bjork. 

Hailed as “A demon of a fiddle player” by the NY Times, Máiréad has emerged as one of Ireland's most in-demand musicians. Her multitude of awards include Irish Music Magazine’s Best Traditional and Multi-Instrumentalist Artist awards.