O'Hara, Mary (1935– )

Irish singer and harpist who perhaps best represents the female-dominated drawing-room harp and song tradition established in the 19th century. Her vocal style was classical while her repertoire was largely drawn from traditional or popular 19th-century sources such as Thomas Moore's Irish Melodies (1807–08). She was spectacularly successful on an international stage in the 1950s, touring throughout the world and recording extensively.

In 1962 she entered an English Benedictine monastery, the reason for which is generally ascribed to the premature death of her husband some years previously. After 12 years she resurrected her performance career, again with a huge degree of success, but she has since returned to a life of relative anonymity.