DÚLRA was founded in 1998 in New York City by singer Caitríona O’Leary. Dúlra is the Irish word for “elements” and the name expresses the band’s mission of returning to the roots and performance practices of early Irish song, and innovating within this tradition in order to bring contemporary audiences a new musical experience.
Dúlra has recorded several internationally critically acclaimed albums; Sleepsongs, a recording of Irish lullabies and songs of sleep (Heresy Records), Ecstasy, an album of Irish music on the theme of joy and rapture (Heresy Records), I am Stretched on your Grave a recording of rare laments (Deutsche Harmonia Mundi) and Dúil, Songs of Love and Nature (Virgin Classics).
In 2014 Caitríona O’Leary and Dúlra were joined by legendary guest artists Tom Jones, Rosanne Cash and Rhiannon Giddens for The Wexford Carols, an album of old Irish traditional Christmas music that reached number 1 on the Billboard and Amazon world music charts in 2015.
Dúlra has performed at concerts and festivals throughout Europe including SRO programmes at The Handel Festival – Halle, Tage Alter Musik in Herne, Beethovenfest Bonn, St John’s Smith Square (London), Zagreb Summer Evenings, Split Summer Festival, Tage Alter Musik Regensburg, Musical Evenings in St. Donat’s (Zadar) and numerous tours throughout Ireland.
