Double Heather

BACK TO TY ELLIE McNAMARA:DURING THE summer, after the Leaving Certificate, twin sisters Ellie and Louise McNamara (20) toured around the US. For the girls, who together make up the acoustic music band Heathers, it was to be the first of many musical voyages through America.

Ellie and Louise started writing music at the age of 17. Both girls had attended Rockford School in Blackrock, Co Dublin and had always been involved in the school choir. They also played the piano since the age of seven. In Transition Year, however, Louise left to go to nearby Newpark School, and the inseparable twins were separated for the first time. Louise took up guitar, while Ellie further developed her musical abilities.

“I think Transition Year played a major part in the formation of Heathers,” says Ellie. “It gave Louise and me time to experiment with music. We went on a lot of school trips, Louise did a school musical, and we developed a lot more independence. The different TY modules were great, and the whole atmosphere of the year helped us grow in confidence. Before TY, I’m not sure either us would have been so comfortable singing alone in front of people, but that all changed. We formed Heathers in fifth year.”

Now aged 20, Louise is studying Music Technology and Geography at NUI Maynooth, while Ellie is studying Primary School Teaching at Froebel College. Heathers’ song Remember When is the featured song on Fáilte Ireland’s current advertising campaign. “We both love writing and performing our music, and we get such huge enjoyment out of it,” says Ellie. myspace.com/heatherswhatsyourdamage