Maretta O’Hehir from Ballycorick registered at Lack School in 1942. She was the daughter of Mrs Eileen O’Hehir, the highly respected school’s assistant teacher at the time. She earns her place in the school history as one of Ireland’s most celebrated sopranos.

Maretta was educated at Lack School and the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Roscrea. She received her musical training at the Royal Irish Academy and at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.

Maretta O’Hehir, Ballycorick

Through her musical career she has played the lead role, with the highest distinction, in popular shows such as A Night in Venice, Brigadoon, Carmen, Die Fliedermaus, Desert Song, Gypsy Barron, Rosemarie and The Merry Widow. She has performed in towns throughout Ireland, such as Carrick-on-Suir, Dublin, Limerick, Roscrea and Warrenpoint, where she co-starred with Austin Gaffney, one of Ireland’s leading baritones. She has performed with the Rathmines and Rathgar Musical Society and entertained the then President of Ireland Dr Eamonn DeValera, at the Mansion House. In the USA, she sang with the Boston Opera Company.

Maretta has also performed as chief soloist with the Bunratty Castle Singers and travelled with them in most European countries, including Iceland, and as far afield as Canada, the USA and the Bahamas.

She has won many awards at the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera, including Best Voice, Best Female Voice, etc. She declined invitations to tour with both the Boston and Santa Fe Opera companies and turned down an operatic career due to family commitments.

She has released her own CD of Irish songs and presented her own radio show of music from the world of light opera on Clare FM. Today, she continues to perform at probably the highest standard of her long career in music. She also provides tuition, passing on a lifetime of achievement and experience to the performers of the future.