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New Shoes and a New Album from Nuala Kennedy Robert McMillan, Irish News, Belfast, May 2007    

It's difficult to describe Nuala Kennedy in one word as she is active in many areas of music, as a teacher, composer, session musician, as a  singer and a flute player! 

Nuala grew up in Dundalk and was surrounded by traditional music from an early age. In 1995 she moved to Scotland, where she began the trio Fine Friday. There she was given a commission 'Astar:Journey' which she composed for the Celtic Connections International Festival in Glasgow, a piece which was described as 'breathtaking' by the Scottish National press. 

In August of this year she will be musician in residence at Omi, an  international arts centre in New York. When she is not on the road, she teaches, and has received various academic accolades. In 2005 she  was awarded a scholarship to study Scottish Gaelic, and she has a  strong link with Cape Breton. 

This Spring, she has a new album out on the Compass Records label, and she has put together a band of highly respected musicians under the name of the album 'The New Shoes'. 

They have put together a wonderful collection of traditional music, old pieces and new, and no wonder. Amongst the fine musicians on The  New Shoes are Marc Clement (guitar/vocals) Julian Sutton (melodeons) and Claire Mann on fiddle, flute and whistles. 

The New Shoes starts with a lively set of tunes in which the top class  musicianship of the band is immediately apparent. As well as being a  master of the flute, Nuala also has a lovely, sweet voice which is best heard in the song 'Cáit i nGarráin a Bhile'.