Mairin Ui Cheide was born in Galway, Ireland and grew up in Ceantar na nOilean in the Conamara Gaeltacht. She is a native Irish speaker and has continued to do so in Boston where she has lived since 1986 with her husband Paraic and five children. She has immersed herself in the cultural and language movement since her arrival to the United States, traveling around the country teaching and performing the art of Sean-nos singing. She has recorded many of her songs and has a collection in the Burns Library of Boston College. She has many awards from Oireachtas na Gaeilge including the coveted Corn Ui Riada. Mairin was inducted into the North American Comhaltas Ceolteoiri Eireann Hall of Fame in recognition of her ardent championing of Irish cultural traditions. She has also taught Irish language and singing for many years to students from across the globe, maintaining the oral nature of the transmission of the culture as much as possible. She has presented successful Irish language radio programs in the US and Ireland for many years.