In the West of Ireland at the foot of the Ox Mountains, a unique female voice is turning heads and getting extensive airplay on radio stations throughout Ireland. Bernadette Ruddy is the girl with the golden voice. Her voice is a treasure with its rich vocal tones and touching delivery. It was these attributes that caught the attention of the prolific songwriter Pete St John. On hearing Bernadette sing at one of her concerts Pete St John recognised immediately that this was the artist he had patiently waited for to beautifully deliver a very special song.
Bernadette is steeped in the arts and is very much in the creative field. She is a qualified secondary school teacher of art and design, has received awards for her song writing and is an accomplished artist. Her paintings depict scenes of Mayo and the west of Ireland. She has a deep love for her homeland and this comes through in her artwork with rich earthy tones and warm hues capturing the heart and soul of the viewer. Her work can be seen on her website www.bernadetteruddy.com
Bernadette has this to say about her passion for the west of Ireland and her connection with ' A Song for Mayo' "I am very proud of where I come from in the west of Ireland. The natural beauty which surrounds me really inspires and motivates all that I do. When people visit my website they get to see the west of Ireland through my eyes. I like to get across the beauty and magic of Mayo to the viewer. When I sing a song I paint pictures in minds and when I paint I put songs into hearts. To create something makes us aware of ourselves, our gifts and abilities. Embracing the fact that we all are unique and loving the difference of each other’s talents is the key to appreciation of the arts. When I first heard the words of the song that Pete wrote, tears flowed down my face. The song 'A Song for Mayo' is close to my heart and I deliver it with the passion that I have for my home county.”
