International Women's Day: Longford soprano Emer Barry believes staying true to yourself is just as important as talent

To celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, we’re putting the spotlight on influential and inspiring women in Longford. 

Internationally renowned Longford classical crossover soprano Emer Barry has performed all over the world and she reveals how she believes 'singing chose her' and how her mum Imelda is her inspiration.

Talented Longford soprano Emer Barry has advised budding young singers to be themselves and to be authentic while they develop their careers and insists music is about connecting with people.

She has warned against trying to change or 'fit into a box' to achieve success and she believes staying true to yourself is just as important as talent.

"(My advice is) be yourself. Don’t try to fit into a box because you think it’s what people want," she says. "The most valuable thing you have is who you are so don’t be afraid to be as real and authentic as possible. The voice is only part of it, but what you do with it and who you are is where the real value is."

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Emer is the daughter of Imelda Barry and the late John Barry. She grew up on Tennis Court Lane, Battery Road.

She began singing as an infant and as a teenager she came to prominence singing ‘O Holy Night’ in St. Mel’s Cathedral every Christmas.

"I’ve been told many times that I was singing before I was talking so I feel singing chose me, not the other way around," Emer says, "I’d have loved to have been able to sing pop music but no matter what song I sang, I always sounded a bit classical so I that path felt very natural and I kept following it."

Asked about a woman who has inspired her, Emer says her mother Imelda is very inspiring.

"No matter what’s happening, she remains positive and grateful and she’s constantly finding new hobbies that keep her interested and busy. I love that," she adds.

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Emer explains she is driven by the positive connections that can be developed through music.

"I love that music can reach people in very meaningful ways. I met a man after one of the shows in the USA this year who said his wife had passed away a few years ago and he found a video on YouTube of me singing Voice of an Angel and he said he listens to it every night to help him sleep," she says. "That meant the absolute world to me and reminded me what music is all about. It’s not about fame and fortune, it’s really about connecting with people. And we have so many different styles of music out there, everyone can feel connected no matter what their taste is."

Emer says she has been lucky to do lots of different things in her career so the highlights are quite diverse but she absolutely loves going to the USA every year with her group ‘Everdream’.

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"We had a chance meeting with Bing Crosby's nephew Howard about 10 years ago and he has become a really good friend and patron, helping us with our USA tour every Christmas so that’s a huge highlight," she adds.

Emer says she also loves recording and she was asked to sing on the video game Warhammer 3 a few years ago which she really enjoyed.

"Most recently I was asked to headline a show on a cruise ship which is something I’d never done before and it was incredible. So that’s a highlight too, bringing my show to the middle of the ocean and visiting really cool places! I feel very lucky," she adds.

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