Reddy for her close-up

Terenure singer/songwriter Ailbhe Reddy has come a long way in a short time, but she’s adamant that her career won’t be rushed along

Ailbhe Reddy: ‘I’m an optimist about almost everything except human relationships’ PIc: Fergal Phillips

In the summer of 2015, singer-songwriter Ailbhe Reddy did some door-to-door canvassing for a Yes vote in Ireland’s same-sex marriage referendum. Her experience was a mixed one. Many people seemed mystified that anyone could even consider voting No, while a few minutes later one of their neighbours would call the young woman disgusting or even worse.

“It was an interesting reminder that lots of us live in an echo chamber,” she recalls, “where ...