Mary Courtney was born and raised in Castlegregory Co. Kerry, Ireland into a large musical family. Her life in New York has been one of playing traditional Irish music with her band Morning Star, having recorded five band albums and two solo albums. She sang a duet with Larry Kirwin and his band Black 47 with their hit song “Livin’ in America.” She and her band were part of the play, “Grandchild of Kings,” produced by the Irish Rep and directed by the late Hal Prince. She recently composed two pieces of music and performed in the play Boann and the Well of Wisdom by John Kearns, which won for Best Play in the Origin First Irish Theater Festival.