Come Into The Garden

Like the proverbial bridesmaid who is destined never to become a bride, Fionnuala Sherry looked set to live out her life as a bit part player in Eurovision always somewhere in the background, never in the spotlight. As a violinist with the RTE Concert Orchestra during Ireland's marathon Eurovision reign in the 90s, she played on more Eurosong entries than most sane people could be expected to suffer.

"It was always great fun," she says, recalling those heady days of non-stop parties and bad hairstyles. "It wasn't particularly hard work and we always had a laugh.
"OK, so there was a lot of bad music and bad artists involved, but it was interesting to have new people to work with. Besides, Eurovision is a charming show and a huge TV production which goes out to millions of people worldwide, so you can't dismiss it lightly."
As we now know, Naas born Sherry has good reason to be thankful to Eurovision. Following a chance meeting with Norwegian musician Rolf Lowland at Millstreet, where she backed Niamh Kavanagh, her fortunes were to change dramatically. They clicked straight away "on a musical level" as she is keen to stress formed the duo Secret Garden, represented Norway the following year and won with the soaring mainly instrumental piece, 'Nocturne'.
"It was a big move for me but it was time for a change," she says. "I had done ten years with the RTE Concert Orchestra. I'd also done a lot of studio work and played with almost everyone from Van Morisson to Siniad O'Connor and Clannad. I didn't want to be playing other people s music all my life. I needed to express myself more as an individual.
Three albums and several world tours later, Secret Garden are fast becoming one of the most popular acts of their kind in the world. And while their blend of lush, richly textured Celtic/Scandinavian world music would not be to everyone's taste there's no arguing with their current level of popularity, particularly among the new age set who have elevated the duo to superstar status.
Sales of their three albums to date have reached 3 million worldwide, their debut album Songs From A Secret Garden has been on the Billboard charts for over 2 years and they tour constantly in the US, The Far East and Australia. Their new album Dreamcatcher gathers songs from the previous three albums including that crucial Eurovision winner.
Amazingly, they've never performed in Ireland, something that will be put to rights when they play a June date at the Olympia in Dublin.
"It'll be a tough concert for me. I'm used to getting on stage and not knowing anyone in the audience. It'll be kinda different having family and friends around and the band are really looking forward to it."
Secret Garden play The Olympia on Thursday 1st June 2000 with special guests Anuna. The album Dreamcatcher is available on Philips UK.