The Derry Aires

The Derry Aires formed in 1994 as part of a Saint Patrick's Day show.  Amidst all the serious traditional Irish musicians, there were few singers and none that wanted to perform the songs most requested by the audiences of the time.  The true Irish schmaltzy songs like Danny Boy and Galway Bay.  Following their initial performances, they found themselves in high demand for, not only their Irish repertoire, but their tight harmonies and irreverent humor.  Over nearly 25 years and several personnel changes, they have retained their original charm and added a myriad of styles to their show, ranging from Contemporary to Celtic, Blues to Jazz.  But all of it with a dash of humor.

Originally a trio, this cult phenomenon has become an amorphous performance ensemble of solo artists that likes to expand to quintet status whenever enough of them are in town. The core trio is comprised of Terri Mayeur, Erin Alexander Ingle and Peggy Monaghan.  They are sometimes joined by Robin Basset and/or Nancy Steely. They bring a huge diversity of styles to their recordings and shows.

Though essentially an a Capella ensemble, you just never know what these women will do on stage. Their shows feature a mix of instruments from kazoos and penny whistle to guitar and piano. Their fine musicianship, humor and gracious classiness have made The Derry Aire a much anticipated highlight of many Anchorage productions. Fellow musician Robin Hopper calls them "Stellar." Their 2000 release, Cheek to Cheek met with rave reviews as has their 2006 release, Built for Comfort.  Their 2011 release, Frozen Assets, is a not to be missed collection of gorgeous holiday tunes.

Their latest release Bottoms Up! is a celebration of their wry and benevolent take on the human condition.  Available on Amazon.com and CD Baby or through contacting Arctic Siren directly.

Arctic Siren Productions is proud to announce the latest CD release of

Bottoms Up! from The Derry Aires.

Once in awhile, a group comes along that is so diverse as to defy traditional labels.  The Derry Aires is just such a group. Influences ranging from Irish Traditional to Contemporary Folk to Classical to Broadway infuse their live shows and recorded releases with a skill and  intensity that wins devoted fans worldwide.  Bottoms Up! is the latest celebration of their wry and benevolent take on the human condition.

By far their most diverse collection of material, Bottoms Up! features songs that are favorites of their fans and audiences, and covers songs by a diverse set of writers including Kristin Andreassen, Laurie Lewis, Lou Nathanson, Dougie McLean, Jay Unger and John Mayer among others. 

CD’s are available to purchase by calling 245-7311 or on CD Baby and Amazon.

For more information, contact Peggy Monaghan at 245-7311 or artcsirn@acsalaska.net.

The founding member of The Derry Aires, Peggy's experience and knowledge of performance and production have made her a much sought after participant in shows from San Francisco to Anchorage. Raised in Alaska, she spent a few decades in the Bay Area, but has returned to her native soil and currently teaches voice in Anchorage. She was coordinator and producer of the Alaska Song of the Year Contest, and a founding member of the Irish Music Festival and Turnagain Community Arts Alliance, Her 1990 release Lullaby on Pacific Artists Records was re-released in 2008 on the Arctic Siren label and her 1994 release Seasons of the Witch on the Arctic Siren Records label is in it’s third edition.  Her most recent CD Elements and Elementals was released in 2016  All have met with local and national acclaim.