The Meath native's creative talent has been acknowledged and recognised by respected bodies as diverse as the New York International Film and Music Festival overseas, where she was awarded Best Celtic Sound, and by IMRO here at home when she was a finalist in the prestigious Glinsk- Songwriting competition in 2011. Maria launched her latest work ‘Hero’ produced by Bill Shanley who also produced her award winning album BLUE MANDOLIN. She was the driving force behind a hugely successful fundraising concert in Drogheda’s TLT for Ukraine which raised over €10,000.