Glengormley musician one of the stars of trad show Celtic Heart at Belfast Waterfront

Commissioned specially by the Waterfront, Celtic Heart celebrates Belfast’s unique cultural story through traditional music, song, Irish dancing and story-telling, performed by some of Northern Ireland’s top trad music talent.

One of those performers is Mary McGarrigle, who plays the banjo and fiddle.

Mary brings a strong grounding in traditional Irish music, having started her musical journey in primary school before continuing her development with the Glengormley School of Traditional Music. She is now a member of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann through the Glens branch, further embedding herself in the trad community.

While music isn’t widely rooted in her family, Mary notes that her great-grandfather once played the banjo, though she never had the chance to hear him play. Instead, she has carved out her own musical path, becoming the only active musician in her family today.

Her passion has grown into something much bigger than a hobby; she now gigs regularly every weekend with her band Half Cut, performing across a wide range of venues, while also teaching music.

Celtic Heart has been created by the award-winning team at The Music Yard, Larne and local scriptwriter, Colin Urwin.

Colin Urwin’s narrative, set in early 1900’s industrial working class Belfast, tells a story of forbidden love as two traditions collide, and a young woman struggles to follow her heart without defying family expectations. It combines history, Belfast humour and a sprinkling of local folklore.

The tale unfolds as a father reflects on his life from a quiet kitchen table, while his memories come alive through the music, and a breathtaking display of jigs and reels from champion Irish dancers.

Fiddles, pipes, guitar, banjo, harp and bodhran combine with hauntingly beautiful Irish ballads and well-known pub favourites for the full live trad music experience.

For Mary, the show represents a major breakthrough in her musical career. She said, “This is the first proper, professional thing I’ve ever done, so it’s a huge opportunity for me. I’m really hoping it opens doors going forward, maybe even the chance to travel, see places like America or Australia, or even perform on cruise ships someday.

"I’d love to take something like this on tour; that’s the dream.”

Running until September 29, tickets for the show are now on sale at https://www.waterfront.co.uk/celtic-heart, with performances scheduled throughout the spring and summer.

Speaking about the production, Thomas Hamilton from The Music Yard said: “Audiences will be captivated as they’re taken on an emotional and turbulent journey with passion and resilience at its heart.

"Underscoring it is the unique Belfast humour, which turns even troubled times into lighter moments. And every emotion is brought alive through the city’s love of music: from haunting ballads and live traditional musicians, evocative of both sides of local culture, to floorboard rattling jigs and reels in a dazzling whirl of Irish dancing.

"This is a Belfast story, told authentically, honestly, and from the heart, and one which will resonate with audiences long after the final note has faded.”