Eimear Crehan - This is the name to watch in 2024!

Light up your musical heart with Eimear's music

I’m sitting in seat B13 in Cavan Town Hall and all around me, people are taking their seats, lots of chit chat and lots of faces I do not know. I am not in a place I know well. If anything I don’t know a soul here. I am ninety kilometres north of home and the decision that led me here was taken about two hours ago. Two sisters hailing from a parish down the road to my left and a couple travelling from Oldcastle to my right. I’ve chatted to both of them affirming that they have made the best decision of 2024 to come here tonight. Neither sets of people know Eimear and it’s all about to be revealed to them & I am extra excited as I get to witness their conversion.

(*Just to mention there is a recorded voiceover to match these words up above if you might like to bring me on a walk, a run, a stroll or you might like to lie on the ground and listen while looking up, just hit play and I will read for you x)

Just to give a bit of background to how I’ve landed in this seat in which I sit. I made a deal with myself about a year ago, that when I’m out in public, whether on transport or in any situation in which I find myself within range of people, I would stay off my phone for the majority of the time.

I would indeed do my social media check in’s with my fb family & urgent connections too but after that I would put my phone away. It’s kind of a test for me and a test for the public too haha :) Only they don’t know it…..

So in putting my phone away, I am making a real effort to do two things:

1. Sit in the silence and just be. It has trained me to be at peace in way I cannot explain….pure bliss.

And….

2. Engage with anyone that even gives me the tiniest glint of their eye. Actually I just engage even if they don’t look open. I can read people like a book from a million miles away (this skill has got even more refined in the last six months), so even if they aren’t open I’ve got really good at being able to open them up. People who think they don’t want to connect seem to feel the biggest reward. How do I know…They have asked for my number/my social media name/how can we keep in touch? Or simply leave me saying ‘god that was so nice chatting to you and I only just met you.’ And off they get at the next stop….We wave at each other through the window as I disappear and they disappear. It’s been so joyful I cannot even explain…

It’s old Lou in action really. I’ve never really not been me but I’m making more of an effort to lean back into who I’ve always been. Chatty, smiley and looking for the craic and the chat wherever I go…I am not someone that has alternative motives nor will I use you to fill up my own cup. Nope I want to know about you, I want to learn about you and I truly want to have you in my life, whether for ten minutes, or longer if I’m lucky enough to keep you… My aim in life is to spread chat and engagement wherever I go. I am determined to not let communication between strangers die out. I want to bring us back together whatever way we can. I truly believe the high rate of stress, anxiety, worry and mental health issue all lie in one area - a feeling of disconnection even though we are sold the idea that connection has never been stronger. Sadly we are feeling lonely within ourselves and also the effort to keep connected is falling down all over the place. In conclusion I am trying my absolutely best to keep the pathways open, the lights on and the reach out active. I will sit in silence while I wait for you to look my way. And when you look my way I won’t wait for you to speak, I will open that door for you and welcome you into my world of soft gentle company.

As I sit in this seat, I reflect on the quietness that is now very much in me. I’m at peace in a way that has taken forty years to reach. I can sit on my own without a word. I can sit as a single person in a crowd of hundreds and probably be the most excited and most grateful to be there. Pushing by boundaries set up by society and then self sabotaging mindsets, I have now carried myself above those limits. I am content as I am on my own or in a crowd. I do not feel uncomfortable. Instead I am curious to what everyone else is up to and what kind of relationships they are sitting within. The old me would have thought I was the odd one out, but now I know I am in possession of the gift of peace, harmony and contentment within me. I am proud of who I have become. I am leading the life I so often speak of and in that I know there is great integrity carried within that process and it marks clearly who I have become. Beyond the pain, I have become wise and for that, I shall remind myself that without rain we would never have a rainbow.

Tonight’s adventure was a determined act of love - I wanted Eimear to know that I was so proud of her & I wanted to physically support her and be present for her magical musical voice travel the audience.

It was a Sunday evening last minute decision to drive the hour and a half to the beautiful county of Cavan, with not a clue of knowing where I was going with no plan apart from a ticket booked. No anxiety but instead an attitude of going with the flow and seeing where it leads me. In the last twelve months, so many heavy things have fallen on my shoulders that anything outside heavy is easy. Things people might call stressful or frustrating I no longer worry about. Nope instead I just grab every bit of joy with both hands when I can & it is nothing short of pure bliss. I soak up the moment however long it last like a sponge in water and I truly believe the small things are indeed the big things. Joy is there if you open your eyes but you must look for it. Your attention flows where your energy goes.

Also this particularly event I’ve chosen to attend I am so happy to be here. Eimear is a long time pal - & it’s Eimear Crehan’s Irish tour…eekkkk - excited much?!?! Eimear named the tour after one of my favourite words - favourite types of communication - what I believe life is all about - She called her tour ‘GRÁ’ - which is the Irish term for ‘LOVE’.

For anyone who doesn't know Eimear yet, my God I am so excited for you. Your life is about to change ;) If you are thinking to yourself, Lou, I think I’ve heard this name from you before, well that is the case because I have spoken about Eimear a lot here on Substack and particularly on my FB lives. I LOVE EIMEAR AND I LOVE HER MUSICAL GIFT!

Myself and Eimear go way back to the dark ages haha :) before there was electricity or running water….haha ;) Only messing but let's say we know each other for a decade or two which in music land is a very long time. We met when we both were in different places in our lives yet still in the arts. Eimear was the front woman of one of my favourite Irish bands ‘Fox E. And The Good Hands’ and I was running a PR/Management for Irish Musicians to support Irish acts in anyway I could. We used to cross paths a lot as I was working with a number of Irish bands and we would all be working the same scene - the same festival/gig scene - so carrying gears and setting up stages were very familiar and shared ground for all of us. The Irish scene back then was very tight and because Ireland is such a small country, together we were stronger so artists were always so supportive of each other. It was a great time of my life, looking back but it was tough. As anyone in here who has worked the arts sector in any capacity you will know it is not for the faint hearted…. if anything, it will break your heart about a million times but you will still go back for more. Nobody that creates in the arts is doing it for the money as we all know, but instead it is heart driven and that is why I’ve always being drawn so strongly to it. I guess in many ways, that is why I never veer too far away from it. My heart lies in creative people, the creative process and in creation. One cannot create without the hearts involvement and I love the heart as you all know well! x

Fast forward to tonight and I’m kind of back to where I started. The circle has turned once again and I’m back sitting in a beautifully located seat about to watch one of Ireland’s hardest working and best artists do her thing. I love men and women in equal measure but I am extra proud because Eimear is leading with her beautiful feminine magic. We need more women’s voices in every walk of life. And the arts are no different. We need to get behind women who are putting themselves forward and this is why I feel so strongly about the magic that is Eimear Crehan. She has worked the Irish music scene for a lifetime and she deserves all the spotlights on her now. She is talent. She is passion. She is love. She is one of the most talented songwriters I’ve ever know. She has the most amazing vocal range and her engagement on stage is so natural and so energising. She is magic in a human form. She is a woman with a voice that the world needs to hear. Her music will not only soothe your soul but it will help you heal and in this chaotic time, we need people like Eimear on so many levels.

As the house lights dim, I turn to my new friends both sides of me and say ‘enjoy’, knowing they are about to enter their first phase of being drawn into something mystical and magical in equal measure in the form of Eimear Crehan’s voice. Celtic soul healing is something that Ireland is rooted in from before me and you were even a thought in the stars night and that is what Eimear’s music feels like. If you are searching for hope, faith and something that will help you let go of the pain, this is the woman to bring into your life.

The show was spectular as I knew it would be. Half way through the evening, I look to check the faces of my new friends to see how they were progressing in their first time Eimear experience. I then whisper to my new friend to the left, “isn’t she magic?” And her response ‘Oh my god, she’s unreal. I’ve no words’ and to my left my other new friend says “yes you were right. This is brilliant." Yes Eimear Crehan you are magic and brilliant in equal measure and I am determined to continue to tell everybody about you. You are not only the hardest working musician on the scene but you are beyond words when it comes to talent. You don’t deserve a slot on Jools Holland, he would be the one to be lucky to have you on his show. And you will get that slot…watch this space…It’s coming…I just know it….. I can see you travelling the world healing hearts and lighting up faces and having us all singing together, then coming home to sing some more. I’m so excited for you. Your time has come girl! And nobody deserves it more.

So to finish off this little letter, I wish to encourage my Substack family to like, to love, to follow, to share and to listen to the music of Eimear Crehan.

With all my heart, I send you my GRÁ Substack family….

Scars, Pieces, Come As You Are, I Am Woman, To Be Loved, Choose to Dance, Breathe, Enough, Holy Island, Breakfast, Sleeping….Ok you can the drift here…I love all her music…

And to finish off this substack letter to you, here is a little interview me and Eimear did after her gig the other night in Cavan Town Hall. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did ;)

Love ya Eimear and I’m so so proud to call you a friend. Honoured even. Watch this bright shining light take to the nights sky like the shooting star that you are.

Thank you so much for reading all the way down here Substack Family - I am so grateful to you in a million ways…..The next letter will be all about my meeting with Elizabeth Gilbert. So many magic people in my world right now & I feel so so grateful.

Keep looking up and keep being you,

With so much GRÁ for you - I see you,

Lou x

PS. My next substack will be the continuation of the story of meeting Elizabeth Gilbert in real life….and how amazing humans are :) #letthegoodnewsroll #keeplookingup

Please feel free to leave a comment below so I know you’re here :) I’m so grateful to you and for you! #youarethebest

‘To Be Loved’ is Eimear’s newest release which went to number 2 here in Ireland. Enjoy her magic.

All the links to Eimear are here:

https://eimearcrehan.com

IG Home: https://www.instagram.com/eimear_music/

Fb Home: https://www.facebook.com/eimearcrehanvocalcoach

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6RHFel75tzNWKG9wwZ5AgO?si=AmWnYz4LRf23qOMyNeeMKg

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Two extra links:

For craic, fun and messing and all sorts of shenanigans join me daily having the chats on: www.facebook.com/livingandlaughingwithlou

And The story of Ireland’s Oldest Lady - Granny Nancy Who lived to 107 Years is available to buy from: www.livingandlaughingwithlou.com