Cathie Ryan’s performances are renowned for their intimacy and power as her signature blend of Irish traditional, original, and contemporary songs sets her and her band apart. The Boston Globe says her singing is “simply sublime,” and The Wall Street Journal says her concerts feature ‘mature, masterful, magnificent singing.”

For over three decades, singer-songwriter Cathie Ryan has been at the vanguard of Irish music. Her career is hallmarked by award-winning recordings and concerts featuring beautiful vocals, first-class songs with superb arrangements played by outstanding musicians, and the captivating stage presence of a singer who loves performing. Cathie’s shows are renowned for their intimacy and power, which she credits to searching for and singing great songs and performing them with musicians who were born to play them. It is all about the songs for Cathie, and her signature blend of Irish traditional, original, and contemporary songs sets her and her band apart.

Cathie and her band have built a loyal following by touring internationally and singing “songs of the heart” at performing arts centers, festivals, folk clubs, and with symphony orchestras. The Boston Globe says her singing is “simply sublime,” and the Wall Street Journal says her concerts feature “mature, masterful, at times magnificent singing.” She has been featured on national and public television throughout the world, including PBS and APT in the USA, RTÉ and TG4 in Ireland, and BBC Alba in Scotland. Her radio highlights include repeat visits to NPR’s Mountain Stage and Thistle and Shamrock, PRI’s The World, BBC in the UK, Radio Scotland, and RTÉ and RnaG in Ireland. Irish America Magazine has twice named her one of the Top 100 Irish Americans, and LiveIreland.com has twice honored her as Irish Female Vocalist of the Decade.

Cathie is also in demand as a public speaker; she presents keynotes and educational programs at colleges and civic venues across the country, both independently of and in conjunction with her concert appearances. Her long history as an advocate for arts in education, along with a BA in secondary education and years of teaching at both the high school and college levels, has led Cathie to bring public attention to several current educational issues, including the importance of music, art, and dance to the developing child.

A self-taught scholar of Irish myth and folklore, Cathie enjoys presenting workshops on the ancient stories and rituals of Ireland and on Irish traditional singing. When not performing, she leads tours of Ireland for her tour company, Mythic Journeys, and for Rick Steves’ Europe.

In 2025, Cathie will release a career retrospective, “From the Well | The Definitive Cathie Ryan Song Collection,” featuring over 50 remastered songs from over 30 years of singing. She is also working on a public television show about Ireland and the Irish diaspora to be released in 2026.