Virginia - the bronze branch, is a Winnipeg singer who pays homage to her history. As part of the Irish diaspora - her great grandmother came to Canada on the Rapahannock during the Irish famine, and her great great grandparents were Irish immigrants who settled in Hants County, Nova Scotia - she claims her authentic roots.

She settled on the prairies but maintains a home, with her husband, on the north shore of PEI. Salt air is part of her DNA. The theme of loss and homesickness which draws her, has its roots in this almost tidal pull.

She delivers Celtic traditional songs in Irish (as Gaeilge) and English. What sets her apart is her honesty in performance. Unaccompanied and raw, her strong and expressive voice connects with the heart. Add a red bodhran drum or sparse accompaniment and her passion is palpable. Her original, sometimes historically correct, sometime not, sometimes poignant, sometimes funny stories give the back story of the songs. She loves her audience, and it shows.

She has sung in places as diverse as the haunted Charleville Castle at Tullamore, Ireland, the pub at Cairde na Cruite, Termonfecken, Ireland, the Stanhope and Brackley Beach Celidhs on PEI, and at sessions on Cape Breton Island. At home in Winnipeg, she has performed at Prairie Ink Cafe, The Irish Association of Manitoba and Prairie Celtic Club, Gordie’s, Happy Mike’s, and Sam’s Place Coffeehouses, retirement residences and house concerts. She has been invited to sing at the Comhaltas IrishFest Kick-off Concerts in Winnipeg and is a member of the “Flatland Ceili Band” which supports Comhaltas Winnipeg.

Virginia learned sean nos, traditional singing in Irish, from two All Ireland champions - Maureen Taggart in Winnipeg, and Eilís Ní Shuilleabhean in Tullamore, Ireland. She was invited to sing on RTE radio Gaeltachta (Irish National Radio) in 2009. SBB aka Sean Ban Breathnach, the announcer, who listens to Irish music as his profession said, “You have the perfect voice for sean nos. You have done what most Irish cannot do.”