Eleanor McEvoy will perform at Monroe’s Live this Friday, November 7, as part of her 2025 Irish tour.
The evening will offer a rare opportunity to experience the singer-songwriter, famed for her 1992 release ‘Only A Woman’s Heart’ with Mary Black. This will be an intimate performance, with a mix of songs from her extensive catalogue alongside new material from a forthcoming release.
Known for her skill as both a songwriter and performer, McEvoy creates a distinctive stage presence with a combination of electric and acoustic guitars, violin, piano, and a small amp.
Her lyrics draw on her personal experience, presented with a quiet authority, which has defined her career.
Raised in Cabra on Dublin’s northside, McEvoy began her musical journey on the violin, later joining the National Symphony Orchestra before embarking on a solo career. After college, she moved to New York, carrying her violin and a subway token, and began busking on the streets of Manhattan.
It was a challenging period, marked by long nights alone in a city that could be unforgiving.
One night at The Baggot Inn led to a turning point when she was noticed by a record label executive, securing an international contract that would launch her career.
McEvoy first came to national attention in 1992 with her song ‘Only a Woman’s Heart’, featured on the blockbuster compilation album A Woman’s Heart. The album, which also included Mary Black, Dolores Keane, Sharon Shannon, Frances Black, and Maura O’Connell, became one of the best-selling Irish records of all time.
The project highlighted female voices in Irish music when the perspective of women songwriters was largely absent, a gap McEvoy has sought to address throughout her career.
Her songs continue to reflect this focus, drawing from her own life, and the experiences of those close to her.
Tracks such as ‘Sophie’, which addresses the struggles of anorexia, and ‘South Anne Street’, highlight her ability to convey deeply personal material, and yet she has an irreverent humour throughout her performances.
This Monroe’s Live show at the Backstage venue will be a seated event, allowing the audience to engage fully with her music and storytelling.
With a career spanning more than three decades, McEvoy remains one of Ireland’s most enduring and respected songwriters.
Tickets €25 from www.monroes.ie
