BUNDORAN, CO. DONEGAL

1994 -

OVERVIEW I've known of the Screaming Orphans for a long time, however, I only got to really know them through putting this page together. I first became aware of them when I picked up the 'Bís' compilation in the mid-nineties. That collection featured the track 'Elizabeth' by the quartet. I also picked up a couple of the band's early singles - 'Little Affair' in 2000 and 'Thank You' in 2001. However, this is where I lost track of the band and what it was doing. So let's get back to basics. Screaming Orphans is the performance name for the Diver sisters from Bundoran, Co Donegal. The sisters, Joan [Drums, Bodhrán & Vocals], Angela [Fiddle, Bass Guitar & Vocals], Gráinne [Guitar, Mandolin, Piano & Vocals] and Marie Thérèse [Accordion, Keys, Piano & Vocals], have been performing their unique blend of music since about 1994. When I say unique, I mean unique. Screaming Orphans are in equal measure a trad/folk band and a pop band. Not many groups can claim to have released trad/folk albums and pop albums. The Diver sisters have released many of each - with diverse releases often coming within the same calendar year! The girls have been immersed in music from a very early age, firstly from performing with their mother, céilí singer, Kathleen Fitzgerald, and then forming Screaming Orphans as teenagers. They girls caught a break in 1997, when they were invited by Sinead O'Connor to support her on her Gospel Oak Tour. Other successes during this period saw the band contribue to Baaba Maal's 'Nomad Soul' album in 1998 and backing vocals on the Joni Mitchell track 'The Magdaline Laundries' which appeared on The Chieftains 'Tears Of Stone' album in 1999. They equally provided backing vocals to Peter Gabriel on the track 'When You're Falling' which appeared on 2004 album 'Pod' by the Afro Celt Sound System. Since then, then band has gone on to release 10 full length albums and a number of singles and EPs. As previously mention, the band straddles both trad/folk and pop genres with equal aplomb across these releases. The most recent album, 'Taproom' which was a trad/folk affair. The album reached No1. in the iTunes World Music Charts and Top 10 in the Bilboard World Albums charts. The album was, subsequently named Folk/Pop/Rock Album Of The Year by Folk 'N' Rock magazine. 1994 - Band formed / started performing 1996 - Screaming Orphans contribute the track 'Elizabeth' to the 'Bís' compilation 2000 - Release of 'Little Affair' single 2001 - Release of 'Thank You' single - Release of 'Listen And Learn' album 2003 - Release of 'Screaming Orphans' single 2004 - Release of 'Circles' album 2005 - Release of 'Back To Dublin' EP 2006 - Re-Release of 'Little Affair' single [12 June] 2009 - Release of 'Belle's Isle' album - Release of 'East 12th Street' album [November] 2011 - Release of 'Lonely Boy' album - Release of 'The Jacket's Green' album 2013 - Release of 'Sliabh Liag' album [16 February] - Release of 'Toy Theatre' album [15 June] 2015 - Release of 'Ballads Rule OK' album [02 Marc] - Release of 'Dance With Me' EP 2017 - Release of 'Taproom' album [04 August]