Born and raised in Farran, Co. Cork, Máire Ní Chéileachair inherited her love of traditional songs and music from her family roots in Kilnamartyra in the Muskerry Gaeltacht of Co. Cork. She has been teaching sean-nós singing to young people in that Gaeltacht since the "Aisling Gheal" scheme started in 2000. A winner of many prizes at Fleadh Cheoil and Oireachtas na Gaeilge singing competitions she won the premier sean-nós singing competition Corn Uí Riada in 2018. She was also awarded Gradam Ceoil TG4 Amhránaí na Bliana / Singer of the Year in 2018. She is a member of Cork Singers' Club and a regular visitor and guest at singing festivals around Ireland, Europe and North America. She has issued two CD's, one in 1999 called "Guth ar Fán", and in November 2018 a new double CD of her songs, in Irish and English, called “Ceantar Glas Mhúscraí”.