Rising Star Niamh Noade Releases Acclaimed Single 'Halcyon'

Lislea girl Niamh Noade has just released her latest single Halcyon to much acclaim from the music media with coverage as far away as Australia.

She  may be only 17 but in those short years the speed of her musical journey has been incredible. Singing since childhood Niamh started playing the harp in 2020. She has taken part in massive TV shows including Teen Star in 2020, Junior Eurovision for Ireland in 2022, and The Voice Kids UK in 2023. There's also been a performance to an audience of over 10,000 at the Nordic Business Forum in Oslo and Helsinki "one of the best experiences in my life" she adds.

Niamh went to St Malachy's PS, Camlough and currently finely balances her music with her studies at St Paul's High School, Bessbrook.  Attaining nine A and three A* in her GCSE's she is now studying Music, Maths and Sociology for A Level.

Referring to her hectic schedule Niamh said "I've good time management, I try to juggle and balance everything". Thanks to study periods in school she can get all her school work done giving her the chance to focus on music when she gets home.

Ultimately she would love to be a full time professional musician but realistically knows that the industry can be unreliable as a career so she will also continue with her studies.

"I've been singing since I was a little kid, but I started playing the harp in 2020 and that's when I started taking music seriously. I've competed in competitions like Teen star in 2020 where I met my vocal coach, Julie Miles, and she's been working with me ever since. Then I went on Junior Eurovision for Ireland and I got to the final in it, and it was amazing. I also got to the final of The Voice Kids UK in 2023, which was one of the best experiences. It was just amazing. I got to meet Ronan Keaton - he was my mentor. 

Niamh believes she has dad Malachy to thank for her musical talent. "He's very musical, and he plays the guitar and the bagpipes and uillean pipes, and he sings as well."

Sister Molly also sings and plays the tin whistle while brother Malachy plays the banjo, uillean pipes and tin whistle and has even started the drums.  

They have been trying to play a lot more as a family. "We went on a show called Réalta Agus Gaolta, and we were all playing together, which was great."

Asked if there are any non musical members of the family her mum Deirdre adds "Me and the dogs! - Actually the dogs are more musical than me"

Niamh has already released Abba's The Winner Takes it All and John Lennon's Imagine as well as a song called Scale of One to You by songwriter Paul McDonnell.

Halcyon

Her latest song Halcyon from American singer songwriter BLÜ EYES was released on Friday last, 21 November. "I wanted to release my own version of it because I thought it was a really lovely song.

"It's a song about childhood, I related to it so much with my cousins, and going to the beach and everything. I thought this is literally what my childhood was like, it was just so fun all the time with my cousins or with family." Niamh said.

 Niamh's granny passed away earlier this year and the special bond she had with her made her connect to the song even more. The track was produced by Dave Molloy in his Cellar Club Music studio in Forkhill with instrumentals from John Bird and the music video from Matt Duke.

Inspiration

Philadelphia singer songwriter Lizzie McAlpine is the artist she looks up to. "I love her style of music and her performances on stage. They're really low key, and they're chillin and  she's connecting with the crowd. I aspire to be something like her."

Writing her own songs and music is the aim. It's all about finding her own style, developing as an artist and getting her songs heard by more people. To that aim she's going to be working on songwriting with Gerard from Belfast band Dark Tropics.

She loves performing and recording music and has competed for many years at Scor's and Fleadh's throughout Ireland. In 2024 she won the All Ireland Scor Championship for Solo Singing. The entire family are part of Dunreavy Comhaltas and the Traditional Arts Partnership. And just to show the confidence people have in her, just a few weeks ago a supporter gifted her with an amazing electric harp for which she is extremely grateful.

Gigs

Niamh has a gig next Thursday 4 December in Hectic Records in Rosemary St, Belfast to launch the new song. She's also going to be a support act for the duo Dark Tropics in the Oh Yeah Music Centre, Belfast "They're an amazing duo, and I'm really excited to be their support act."

In January 2026 Niamh will be singing in the Waterfront Hall as part of Your Roots are Showing, Ireland's folk industry conference. 

You can find Halcyon from Niamh Noade on all streaming platforms including Spotify and Apple music.

Check out all her music videos on www.youtube.com/@NiamhNoadeMusic and you can also find her on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok.