Originally from the Wester Ross village of Achiltibuie, Mairearad is now based as a professional musician in the happening city of Glasgow. She is equally talented on the accordion, the pipes and the piano. At just 16, Mairearad was in the finals of BBC Young Scottish Traditional Musician of the Year 2001. She then went on to attend the Plockton Music School of Excellence for her final year at school, where she received tuition from PM Ian MacFadyen and former Runrig accordionist, Blair Douglas. She has recently attained a BA in French and Marketing from the University of Strathclyde.
A keen composer, Mairearad's tunes are rapidly becoming popular session tunes and have been recorded by other bands, such as Canadian band Clan Terra and fellow accordionist Gary Innes. Among the best-known are "Maggie West's Waltz," "Dad's Landrover" and "Dram Behind the Curtain."
Mairearad can be seen regularly performing with Anna and Jenn, and is also a member of the all female pipe group "Tachem" as well as the new accordion extravaganza known as "Box Club". She has also recently toured with the fantastic Karine Polwart Band.
