Kara Shea O’Brien is a Colorado native, living and working in Ireland. She is a traditional singer, a scholar of song and history, and a writer who strives to make sense of the world and her place in it.
Singer.
I am a traditional singer with roots in Irish and American traditions. I co-host the Limerick Singing Session, and sing regularly in sessions around Ireland and elsewhere. In addition, I have a background in the music industry, and have a passion for helping musicians succeed in building sustainable careers.
Scholar.
I recently completed my doctoral dissertation exploring history and meaning in traditional Irish hunting songs, and I have published and presented on singing and health and various aspects of traditional song and culture. See the ‘Publications’ page for a complete list. In addition, I am a life-song learner with broad interests in folklore, history, literature, economics, politics, literature, and whatever else I happen to get caught up in.
Writer.
At heart, I am a thinker and a doer. I strive to understand the world better every day, and make meaningful choices that impact myself, my community, and my world in positive and thoughtful ways.
~ Inspirations and Resources~
Perhaps the greatest gift that humans possess is our ability to communicate and pass on ideas and thoughts—across space and time and even greater gulfs.
All work is built on the thoughts and efforts of others, often in ways that we will never fully understand. To that end, here is a bibliography of books that have influenced me in one way or another, and people whose work in other formats has done the same:
Personal Bibliography
Influences, Educators, and Inspirations
Kara Shea O'Brien 