The Henry Girls with Denise Boyle

‘These sisters have a sensational talent. The quality of their harmony singing goes beyond mere technique. They possess an unerring ability to blend tone and resonance in a seamless fashion’                                 (The Evening Herald)                                                              

The Henry Girls are sisters Karen, Lorna and Joleen McLaughlin from the most Northerly part of  Co. Donegal. The trio formed as a professional music group in 2001 after Lorna and Karen returned from living in Australia where they started to perform and write songs. Joleen the youngest of the three was finishing her leaving certificate and was becoming a very promising harp and piano player so it was a natural progression to join together. They wrote and recorded their first album later that year, produced by Maire Breathnach. They have since gone on to record 5 more original studio albums, a couple of Eps and a live album of music by The Boswell Sisters of New Orleans (released February 2020) 

Infused with the rich cultural heritage of their native Donegal but with a

transatlantic flavour their music has been described as ʻfull bodied and powerfully dynamicʼ by Froots magazine. They have successfully learned to interweave their traditional roots with contemporary elements, earning them both commercial success and spectacular critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic. 

As well as writing and recording albums The Henry Girls have written and performed music for Theatre productions, Dance pieces, Childrens shows and film and television , including the Canadian/Irish co-production “A shine of Rainbows (2008) for which they received an IFTA nomination for their contribution to the musical score.

         As well as performing and creating they have all done academic degrees in Music and have done lots of teaching and facilitation of music for all kinds of groups. Singing, traditional music, songwriting, composition, music for children, special needs, festival workshops. For the last number of years they have been involved in the Earagail Arts festival in Donegal. The Festival has commissioned them to write and perform music for theatre productions, collaborate with international visiting musicians and for the last 3 years they have had their own special residency as part of the festival called “Home with the Henry Girls”. Hosted by all 3 it features daily workshops in music making and singing and tours of the area and music sessions and concerts every night. It has been very popular with visitors coming from various places such as Germany, Holland, Belgium, The USA, and more. 

 Since 2011 The Henry Girls have done regular tours of Germany, Holland, Austria, UK, Ireland and USA. Some of their previous performances include:

Glastonbury Festival

Electric Picnic

Milwaukee Irish Music Festival

St Patricks Sojourn with Brian O’Donovan

Old Town School of Folk Chicago

Mountain Stage Radio

Live on the Levee, Charlestown

Galway Arts Festival

Celtic Connections

Temple Bar Tradfest

And many more…..

“The confidence and control of musicianship comes at you straight away, through a blending of instrumentation, harmonies, striking lyrics and wonderful vocals”

IRISH MUSIC MAGAZINE

“The Henry Girls are one of those musical acts that you just want to tell people about-as many as you can. The writing is first rate, as is the instrumentation, and those harmonies! I can’t say or write enough. Go seek them out yourself. You will be glad you did.”

MUSIC NEWS NASHVILLE

Henry Girls are a force in Folk and Americana music'

The Henry Girls are a force in Folk and Americana music

THE ALTERNATE ROOT-USA

Ireland might have to finally share it’s pride and joy with the rest of us, It’s time for America to discover The Henry Girls

THE HUFFINGTON POST- USA