It’s not a song, it’s a movement.
Irish Women In Harmony return with their eagerly awaited festive season single, ‘Together At Christmas’.
The original song was written and produced by RuthAnne, with all parts recorded remotely by 30 of Ireland’s finest female musicians. ‘Together at Christmas’ features a clever use of familiar Christmas song lyrics and also includes a choir of young Irish girls after a call out was made to the next generation of aspiring female singers.
Earlier this year, Irish Women In Harmony made a nationwide call out in search of singers for a ‘Tween Choir’ that would feature the voices of Irish girls under the age of 12, as part of the Christmas single.
Over 1,500 entries were received from across the country, which was narrowed down to 50 semi-finalists and lastly, the lucky 18 were chosen. Like all other members of #IWIH, the children recorded their parts for the song remotely and sent them to RuthAnne, who put it all together like only she can. This choir of next generation voices was an integral part of magic around creating the single. Through lending their voices to the track, these young Irish women have had both the opportunity to be a part of Irish Women In Harmony, and the opportunity to support their fellow children through Childline.
The members of the Tween Choir are:
ALISHA WEIR
AOIFE SWEENEY
AOIFE DELANEY
AURORA MCINTOSH
DOIREANN MCNALLY
ENYA COX
JOYA & PRIYA HOBSON
KEELYN CULLIGAN
MOLLY VERDIER
MOLLY MCCANN
NAOISE SCULLY
NIAMH SMITH
ROBYN STACK
SAOIRSE RUANE
SAVANNAH PHOENIX MUNROE
SKY DEMPSEY
SOPHIE BAO GARRAGHY
SUCCESS OMOCHERE
Irish Women In Harmony’s cover of Dreams by The Cranberries, released earlier this year, captured the hearts of the nation. A collective of Irish female artists came together while physically apart to create something powerful, in an effort to raise awareness and support for women in need. All of this, during one of the most challenging periods of our generation. The track lifted spirits across the country, with many echoing the words, ‘it’s not a song, it’s a movement’.
In its first week, the single hit number 1 in the official homegrown chart, making the group the first female act ever to do so. It was also the highest new entry in the official charts at number 15, making Irish Women In Harmony the first female Irish act to break the Top 20 in over 10 years.
‘Dreams’ was also number 2 in the Irish airplay chart and number 1 in the Breaking Tunes chart. The track has just passed 3 million streams on Spotify and the group have almost 300,000 Spotify monthly listeners.
Watch the music video for Dreams by Irish Women In Harmony below:
You can also watch their performance, from September, on the Late Late Show here:
Money raised throughout the Dreams single campaign went to Safe Ireland, the national agency working to end domestic violence and coercive control in Ireland. With over a quarter of a million euro raised for this incredibly important cause, Irish Women In Harmony are now raising support for Childline. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a detrimental effect on their fundraising, notably this year now being the first in many without the RTE 2FM Christmas Ball.
Caroline Downey, President of ISPCC Childline said,
“Childline is indebted to the amazing musicians involved in Irish Women In Harmony for releasing this Christmas single in support of Childline. We are truly privileged to have their support in this very difficult time.
All fundraising as we know it has ceased and it is only through the support of initiatives like this, that we will be able to keep Childline open 24 hours a day. We will continue to help children all over Ireland who use the services of Childline – never before has a service like this been so valuable to children. We will never give up on a child, EVER. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
RuthAnne, songwriter, producer and founder of Irish Women In Harmony said,
“It’s been such a joy to write and produce our original Christmas song ‘Together At Christmas’. Hearing all the amazing Irish female talent come together again has been the best Christmas gift!
We’re also thrilled to work in support of Childline, which is a charity very close to all of our hearts. Irish Women in Harmony is hoping ‘Together at Christmas’ will bring joy and festive spirit to the Christmas season, which we all need this year more than ever.”
‘Together At Christmas’, is out now via Rubyworks. You can stream and download it here.
If you are in the Republic of Ireland, please donate €4 to Childline by texting CHILDHOOD to 50300. You can also donate HERE from outside Ireland and within the country.
ISPCC will receive a minimum of €3.60 Visit their official website for further information.
Service Provider LikeCharity. Helpline 076 6805278
#NEVERGIVEUPONACHILDEVER
#IWIHXmas
Every child deserves to be a child – especially at Christmas.
Yet, the joy of the season does not reach every home. This year, children and young people have needed Childline like never before.
As soon as restrictions were first implemented, a surge was noted in children and young people reaching out to the service for support online. They may have been at home with their tormentor and not have felt comfortable having their conversation overheard.
Children and young people who have turned to Childline have spoken about experiencing issues including abuse and violence, neglect, mental health issues and other challenges. All of this has come at a time when the traditional fundraising activities on which Childline relies each year – including our Christmas Holly campaign, 2FM Christmas Ball, on-street collections and more – have not been possible.
Childline relies on the generosity of the public for 90% of its funding.
The service critically needs donations to ensure it is always here for children and young people – this Christmas Day and every day.
The Christmas period is always one of Childline’s busiest. This year will be like no other. Will you help make sure Childline is here to listen when a child reaches out for support?
The following female Irish artists have collaborated in the single:
AILBHE REDDY
AIMÉE
ÁINE CAHILL
EMMA LANGFORD
ERICA CODY
EVE BELLE
KEHLI
FAYE O’ROURKE
FIA MOON
LAOISE
LENII
LYRA
MELINA MALONE
MOYA BRENNAN
ROE
RUTHANNE
SIBÉAL
SIIGHTS
SOPHIE DOYLE RYDER
SOULÉ
STEPHANIE RAINEY
TOLU MAKAY
UNA HEALY
WYVERN LINGO
Musicians:
AOIFE DENNEDY
LOUIZE CARROLL
LUCIA MCPARTLIN
MARIA O’CONNOR
MARIA RYAN
THEODORA BYRNE
