ROSTREVOR musician Ava Turnbull is following in the footsteps of her famous grandmother Anne Sands this week, heading off at the age of just 15 to bring Irish folk music to the international stage.
Ava is the newest member of the renowned folk group Na Leanaí, who are touring Denmark this week.
Founded by Anne’s daughters Sorcha and Eimear and their cousins Fra, Rye and Moya Sands, Na Leanaí have enthralled audiences at home and abroad with their musicianship and haunting harmonies.
Now the third generation of the world-famous Sands family is to play her part in the musical dynasty’s legend.
Ava, who sings and plays fiddle and guitar, is the same age as Anne Sands when she and her brothers Ben, Colum, Dino and Tom, burst upon the world stage in 1970, with an appearance at Carnegie Hall in New York at a St Patrick’s Night gala concert.
A pupil in Fourth Year at Our Lady’s Grammar School, Ava also studies music at Flynn Performing Arts, where her teacher Fiona Flynn has been helping her to find her own voice and develop the confidence to stand alongside seasoned professional musicians on the international stage.
“It’s definitely a bit surreal,” says Ava.
“Knowing my grannie was this age when she started out at Carnegie Hall makes this first tour for me even more special.
“I’ve grown up with these songs and I’m excited to be here on stage sharing them in Denmark.”
Na Leanaí, which is Irish for The Children, have been touring Europe for over a decade.
The addition of Ava on fiddle, guitar and vocals brings a fresh energy to their trademark four-part harmonies, with her mum Sorcha on flute, whistles, bodhran and vocals, Fra Sands, guitars and vocals, and Annie Hassan (from NYC) fiddle and vocals.
