Regarded as Ireland’s Billie Holiday, Coughlan sings from her soul and musicians follow.

In a short conversation with one of the world’s most famous jazz singers, you learn Coughlan is warm, honest, genuine and as the Irish say, good craic. 

She is looking forward to organising a special event with a good friend at the folk festival. 

“Sharon Shannon, a friend of mine, is playing down here as well and we might all be hooking up for a ceili,” she said.

Coughlan has enjoyed amazing success since the release of her debut album Tired and Emotional in 1985, but her journey has not been without adversity. 

It’s a life which has involved alcohol abuse – three litres of vodka a day at one point – drug abuse, heartbreaks and a heart attack.

Much was revealed in her book Bloody Mary and Coughlan will be sharing some stories in Port Fairy when she meets Paul Petran for a conversation at Blarney Books and Art on Saturday from 3-4pm. 

It's been 15 years since Coughlan played her first and only Folkie. 

“I remember that it was very hot and I was in the tent and there were some wonderful fans there,” she said. 

“I was in the middle of menopause and I was getting hot flushes. 

“One woman called up to me, she said ‘they’re power surges Mary’ and the whole place burst into applause.” 

Coughlan’s other memory is of being stunned by another performer. 

“I was walking through one of the marquees and I was stopped dead in my tracks by a performer who was on stage,” she said. 

“It was the first time I had ever seen her, I just said ‘oh my god, who is that woman’.” 

That performer was Kristina Olsen, an American folk singer-songwriter. 

“The following year I got a great tour of New Zealand and Australia and I asked her along and she opened for me every night and also played the guitar on my gigs," Coughlan said.

This year Coughlan is ready to make more memories at the folk festival. 

Fans can expect to hear songs from her latest album Live and Kicking, which was recorded in Dublin at Vicar Street. 

Coughlan will also perform in Women Out Loud on Sunday, a tradition of the festival which celebrates women in music. 

She wouldn’t give away any of the songs the group will be singing but did drop a clue. 

“One hint is that it is International Women’s Day weekend so there will be some songs about that sort of stuff,” she said.

Coughlan will play from 11.30am to 12.30pm on Saturday on Stage 3 and will be at Blarney Books and Art from 3pm to 4pm on Saturday.

The Women Out Loud performance is on Sunday at Stage 3 from 10am to 12pm.

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