There's no end to her talents...
Fans of Outlander will know her as Aunt Jocasta from the hit US TV show, but Maria Doyle Kennedy is firmly focussed at the moment on her music career that has always run in tandem alongside her acting.
The stunning short film that accompanies her brand new song Colour Code can now be watched exclusively below on JOE for the next 24 hours.
The song was written in honour and memory of Sandra Bland, who was found hanged in a Texas jail cell in July, 2015, three days after being arrested during a routine traffic stop.
Her death was ruled a suicide and it sparked a huge outcry in the USA, opening up conversations about the ways black women were subjected to police violence.
Bland's untimely death had a big impact on Doyle Kennedy who told JOE, "Hearing about Sandra Bland’s arrest and subsequent death, and her family’s campaign to find out what happened (#sayhername) was heartbreaking to me.
"Her mother later came to a $1.9 million settlement for wrongful death with the County Jail and police, what comfort would it bring you to equal the loss of your child? You would think as a parent, that at 28, your child was through the danger zone and safely launched into the world.
"Further reading brought me to a long list of unarmed men and women of colour who had been killed by police."
Watch the video for Colour Code below:
Maria Doyle Kennedy has established herself as one of Ireland's most prolific artists and entertainers.
As a musician, she is well known for her worldwide hit folk albums Mutter and Sing and she recently collaborated with Feist & Jarvis Cocker on a video for the song Century.
She has enjoyed several iconic TV appearances in her career including turns in Orphan Black, Downton Abbey, The Tudors and Father Ted.
Maria writes and performs with husband Kieran Kennedy and along with the new album they have also completed their first short film, A Different Kind Of Day.
Maria's Cork gig in Coughlan's on 24 January is sold-out but there are some tickets remaining when she plays De Barra's, Clonakilty the following night, 25 January.
Keep an eye out for Maria's upcoming interview on
Ireland Unfiltered with Dion Fanning.
