Margaret Burke Sheridan was an opera singer who was a native of Co Mayo, Ireland. Known as Maggie from Mayo, she became famous for her performances in the great opera houses of Europe during the early part of the 20th century. She is commemorated with a bronze bust at La Scala opera house in Milan.
Margaret Burke Sheridan was born in Castlebar, Co Mayo in 1889. Following the death of her parents she moved to Dublin where she was educated at the Dominican Convent, Eccles Street. A music teacher at the convent, Mother Clement gave Sheridan her first singing lessons. Sheridan won a Gold medal at the Feis Ceol in 1908.
A concert was held to raise funds so that Sheridan could study at the Royal Academy of Music in London. She began her studies there in 1909. In 1916 she met the Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi who was impressed by her singing. He arranged for her to study in Rome.
In 1918 Sheridan made her operatic debut in Rome. The following year she made her debut in Covent Garden, London, performing in the title role of Madame Butterfly. During the following years she performed in opera houses such as La Scala, Milan, the Teatro Reale, Rome and the San Carlo, Naples.
Sheridan became ill in 1934. Following a throat operation she retired from singing in 1935. She returned to Dublin where she lived for the remainder of her life. She died on April 16th 1958 and is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.
Margaret Burke Sheridan was born in the year 1889 On This Day.
La Scala by chris_freiburg on 2011-06-24 19:52:15
Main Street, Castlebar, Co. Mayo by National Library of Ireland on The Commons on 1880-01-01 00:00:00