Órla's 2010 Birthday project: Thank you!

The following is a message from Órla:

Hello there,

I'm so sorry it's taken me such a long time to respond to your incredible birthday cards and wishes. I want to extend a huge thank-you to Kelli and Zee for putting together this amazing project and to all of you for working so hard and for going to such trouble on my birthday.It's hard stepping away from a hugely successful group and setting out on a solo career and I feel truly blessed by you all and your constant support and innovation in helping me pursue my dream of being a successful solo artist.Thank-you all so much for the lovely cards and beautiful messages.Thank-you also for passing on my Music to others. It really means so much to feel you all behind me headed by those two amazing ladies Kelli and Zee.I'm telling you ,Cagney and Lacey had nothing on these girls.They are just the best !!

I have been working hard since my birthday and have just completed 2 new TV specials for PBS,the first of which will air around Thanksgiving week-end.I think they are going to be very nice shows and it was wonderful and very special that so many of you made it to Nashville for the Christmas Show.I hope you will get a chance to see the shows.

Thank-you so much for everything and for your huge generosity to me over the past few years.Without the support of all of you none of this is possible or worthwhile.As Kasey says,you rock !!!

Lots of love,

O xxx

Órla's 2010 Birthday project: "Distant Shore-lines"

Last year Órla made me promise no big birthday gifts. Reluctantly, I agreed...and I didn't even cross my fingers! However, I put my thinking cap on, because we just have to celebrate Órla's birthday in some fashion. Then it came to me... there is one gift that Órla always needs: more fans! So, I have a challenge for you all:

• Purchase any one of Órla's CDs or download a song (all CDs are available on the Discography page)
• Gift that CD or song to someone who has not heard it before
• Write down the person's reaction (or ask the person to write it down themselves)
• Place this reaction in a birthday card for Órla

The hope is that Órla will gain new fans, and she will get all sorts of warm-fuzzies reading "lines" describing how her music touches others. New fans get to experience the wonder of Órla's talent. It's a win-win!

Of course, this is by no means mandatory. We encourage anyone and everyone to send in a birthday card, irregardless of your participation in the Distant Shore-lines Project.

Please have your cards to us by 1st August 2010. Mail them to:

Please email Kelli if you have any questions. Last year we collected over 40 cards...can we top that this year??

Irish Music Awards Presentation

*Top Solo Performer in Concert

*Best Female Vocalist

*Tommy Makem Award

*Top Harpist

Those of us at Órla's Garden wish to congratulate Órla on this unprecedented number of awards!

To view the presentation click here.

Irish Music Awards Update

The voting is complete! Órla was nominated in four categories. The award winners will be announced on January 27, 2010. The ceremony will take place at O'Malley's Pub in Weston, Missouri beginning at 7:00 pm CST. Those interested in watching the ceremony streaming live on the internet should click here: Irish Music Awards. Follow the instructions on that link on the day of the award ceremony to watch it live. Good luck, Órla!!

Holiday Project 2009-Wrap Up

The gifts have arrived! The members of the Órla's Garden mailing list gave Órla and her husband a few gifts for Christmas. The gifts were:

an engraved wooden pen set for her husband

a natural Fairy Stone, or staurolite, necklace

and a real rose, preserved in lacquer and tipped in 24-karat gold.

We also collected 42 cards for her

During our trip to hear Órla perform on December 14, 2009, Zee and I presented Órla with two of the gifts.

Here she is receiving John's gift. I was explaining to her that we knew that no fan could ever approach the support she receives from her husband. We appreciate him too!

She is receiving the Fairy Stone necklace here. The white paper she is holding is an explanation of the legend that goes with the necklace.

To say Órla appreciated all of these gifts is putting it mildly! She has asked me to pass the following message on to you:

Hello Dearest Friends,

It's a very snowy and wintry Ireland as I write at the moment.We're experiencing the coldest weather here for 50 years. It really looks like a scene from a Christmas card outside.

Thank-you all so much for your wonderful cards,greetings and gifts for Christmas. You have no idea just how much your good wishes meant to me.I was totally blown away by the great trouble that people went to in choosing cards with such beautiful verses and also in taking the time to write me such lovely notes.John and I sat down and read each and every card and each one touched our hearts in a very special way. The beautiful rose is here in the kitchen and I love my necklace. John adores his pen.It had it's first outing at the races in Leopardstown,Dublin over the holidays.He was very chuffed with it !!

Thanks also to everyone who went to such trouble to come to my shows over the past two months.It was truly a joy to meet you all !The story of my chocolate addiction is out as I was thrilled by all the chocolate that people brought along ! It's not good for the old waist -line though and for the New Year I'm trying to kick the habit (without much success as yet, I hasten to add !!!)

Your support and good wishes have really buoyed me along over the past few months and I feel truly blessed by you all. Thank-you .

I wish you all a wonderful New Year ,filled with happiness and blessings in abundance.

Grá agus sonas,

Orlagh xxx

Irish Music Awards

Órla has been nominated under four categories for an Irish Music Award from the US-based Irish Music Association! Voting will be open to IMA members when announced (likely between December 2nd and December 7th). Voting will be opened to the general public on December 7, 2009. Members of our mailing list are gearing up now to vote! Voting will take place on the IMA Forum.

Holiday Project 2009

The holiday season is fast approaching, and it is time to begin our 2009 Holiday Project!

We are collecting Holiday Greetings for Órla. We'd like to send Órla actual holiday cards, as many as we can get...a great big box of them would be fantastic!

*Feel free to send as many as you wish, each appropriate card we receive will be forwarded to her.

*Keep the cards reasonably sized...no poster sized cards, please.

*Please time things so your cards are in our hands by December 1, 2009.

*If you live outside of the United States and wish to participate, email Kelli and we can work something out.

Mail your holiday cards to:

Another Option!

Members of the Órla's Garden mailing list will receive special mailings regarding a surprise holiday project for Órla. If you would like to be included, please sign up for our mailing list here!