Hot Press and 'To Be Irish' Launch Video Performances By Wallis Bird, Aimée, Fia Moon & Lea Heart

Hot Press has announced a series of special seasonal video performances, under the title Have A Good One – featuring four intimate performances that aim to capture the spirit of what it means To Be Irish at Christmas.

The performances will feature four of Ireland's finest female artists – Wallis Bird, Leah Heart, Fia Moon and Aimee.

Last year's debut edition of To Be Irish, curated by the Department of Foreign Affairs, was an instant success, bringing families together virtually with loved ones – and offering cherished cultural reminders when those who were abroad needed it most. 2021's version is now up and running, with an exhilarating line-up of hybrid and in-person events being planned.

Launched last week by the Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora, Colm Brophy TD, ToBeIrish.ie is built around a dedicated online platform and celebrates the special connections between the Irish at home and abroad in the run-up to Christmas – which remain as strong and as meaningful as ever, despite the impact of the Covid pandemic.

Here at Hot Press, we have curated our own series of videos for the 70 million Irish diaspora who are missing home this Christmas – and, of course, for everyone on the island of Ireland.

First up, the brilliant Wexford singer and songwriter, Wallis Bird, who will perform her own original song ‘I Don’t Mind Christmas Time’. With six albums under her belt – and another one on the way in Spring 2022 – Wallis is one of Ireland's most dynamic and powerful performers: a commanding musician who brings a special quality to her work, whether live or on video. Here she is in gentle, contemplative form, as she sings her own seasonal song, dressed in her pyjamas.

Wallis' beautifully intimate opener will be followed over the coming days by superb breakthrough artist Lea Heart, who delivers a thoroughly lovely version of ‘You Make It Feel Like Christmas’; rising pop star Fia Moon, who will give her brand new take on the old Christmas favourite 'Silent Night'; and finally, Aimée – one of the hottest Irish talents signed to Universal Music – who will round out the series with ‘What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?' (a song made famous by Ella Fitzgerald, among others).

Have A Good One aims to evoke the spirit of the season for listeners – whether you’re at home thinking of Ireland or away and dreaming of it. These four unique videos were specially recorded for To Be Irish, in Dublin, London, Kildare and Berlin.

The uniquely Irish sense of song as a form of togetherness is precisely what we want to celebrate in Have A Good One. So make sure to join Hot Press and these four brilliant Irish women over the coming week, as they convey the feelings of love and solidarity that we all hope for at this time of year.

• First up in the Have A Good One series is Berlin-based Wallis Bird, who released her highly acclaimed sixth studio album Woman in September 2019.

Check out her performance of ‘I Don’t Mind Christmas Time' below: