Irish fiddle star at Unity College Centre

UNITY (July 23): Niamh Ni Charra, the former lead violinist with "Riverdance," will perform 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 31, at Unity College Centre for the Performing Arts, 42 Depot St.

Tickets, $15, are available by calling 948-7469 or online at unityme.org.

Ni Charra hails from Killarney, where she started playing music at age 4. An All-Ireland Champion on both fiddle and concertina, Ni Charra had supported the Chieftains and Noel Hill, in addition to performing at festivals throughout France and England, before reaching her teens.

Niamh Ni Charra

She toured Europe, Asia and North America for eight years as a soloist with "Riverdance," performing more than 2500 shows, before returning to Ireland where she is now based. She released her debut album "On Da Thaobh/From Both Sides" in 2007 to much critical acclaim. Last year, she was named Best Trad Music Act 2008 by The Irish World, the largest newspaper for the Irish community in Britain. Along with performing regularly as a solo artist, Ni Charra also tours extensively as a member of the Carlos Nunez band.