“Safe Home sums up where we are, it tells the story of us.”
– Saundra O’Sullivan
The Galway Shawl
Safe Home
Song For a Winter’s Night
Do Carlow Boys Come Home
Our Story
Tommy and Saundra O’Sullivan’s paths crossed when she attended an annual traditional Irish music retreat in Midlothian, Texas, where Tommy was an Irish guest instructor on guitar and vocals. As they explored singing together, they discovered her alto harmonies to be a perfect match to his tenor vocals.
The two married in Houston, Texas, in March 2010 and now live in Dingle, Ireland. In 2011, they opened O’Sullivan’s Courthouse Pub in Dingle which has gained a reputation for world class traditional Irish music. In 2015, National Geographic cited O’Sullivan’s Courthouse Pub as the go-to pub for traditional Irish music on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.
Prior to opening O’Sullivan’s Courthouse Pub, Tommy was a full-time touring musician. As a member of Sliabh Notes he recorded 3 albums. He also toured for years with Irish piper Paddy Keenan with whom he recorded a duet album, The Long Grazing Acre. He has also recorded two solo albums, Song Ablaze and Legacy. In contrast, Saundra followed a career in the medical profession. As a flight nurse, she flew with Aer Evac and worked as an ER nurse at Hermann Memorial Hospital in Houston. She brings to the table a strong background in choir and folk singing. These skills are heard to great effect on their first duet album, Safe Home, which they released in early 2018 with album launches on both sides of the Atlantic.
In late 2019 Tommy & Saundra enjoyed a visit to Dingle from Casey Driessen & family. They recorded a session with Casey as part of Casey’s “Global Music Exploration Project.” A track from this session, along with many other collaborations from six countries is now available on the album Otherlands:One. Otherlands:One is presently being “considered” for a Grammy in 3 categories. Watch here>
During lockdown Tommy & Saundra remained musically active. While in quarantine they took part in Janis Ian’s “Better Times Project”. Their version of Janis Ian’s song, Better Times Will Come, along with many others on the Better Times Project can be found on Janis’ especially created site: bettertimeswillcome.com
They also did a recording for Southwest Roots Music, “Shelter in Place Sessions.” Watch here>
Perhaps their most enduring lockdown project was their Facebook Live Sessions. With very few exceptions this ran every Sunday for 18 months. This featured Tommy & Saundra and many musical guests when restrictions permitted. Presently over 75 hours of these presented sessions are being compiled.
Recently Tommy & Saundra were involved in two Traditional Irish Festivals in Ireland as well as playing and presenting music five nights a week at O’Sullivan’s Courthouse Pub. The O’Sullivan’s are getting itchy feet to get back on the tour trail. Currently they are planning their annual American winter tour.
For more information, contact Tommy and Saundra at [email protected] or visit tommyandsaundra.com.
BUY THE CD
The album shines with folk classics...
The husband and wife team from Dingle must surely be the best exponents of what Irish folk should be.
A tenor voice that has all the ring of Waterford crystal which has only ever served smokey whiskey
– Sean Laffey, Irish Music Magazine
