Sisters Maighread and Tríona were born in Dublin to  Aodh Ó Domhnaill  (Hiúdaí Mhicí Hiúdaí) and his wife Bríd (née Comber).  The family grew up in Kells, County Meath, where they retained their close connection with their father’s home in Rann na Feirste in Donegal.  Hiúdaí and Bríd were noted musicians and this and the music of their aunt Neilí Ní Dhomhnaill had a strong influence on the next generation. Maighread, Tríona and late brother Micheál along with Dáithí Sproule from Derry joined forces in Rann na Feirste, where they formed the group Skara Brae which was awarded TG4 Gradam Grúpa Ceoil/Music Group in 2022. Their pioneering album was released by Gael Linn in 1971. The album offered new arrangements for some of the Rann na Feirste songs. Maighread chose a career in nursing while continuing with her music (solo and in groups) and Gael Linn released two solo albums. In addition to unaccompanied singing, she sings with accompaniment and in harmony, together with Tríona. Irish music has brought Maighread around the globe during the last forty years. Her songs can be heard on recordings by Coolfin, The West Ocean String Quartet, John Renbourn,  Tea with the Maggies and others.  Maighread has a house in  Carraig an Choill, Rann na Feirste, which looks across the estuary to Síle Mhicí’s home place, Machaire Loiscthe.

Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill plays digital piano to accompany her sister Maighread for two songs – ‘Coinleach Glas an Fhómhair’ and ‘An Mhaighdean Mhara’. In addition to her talent and skills on several musical instruments, Tríona is also a singer and composer. As well as being in the group Skara Brae, she was later a member of other music groups. These include The Bothy Band, Relativity and Nightnoise. She has been writing songs and tunes since her early teens and, like her sister Maighread, draws on the singing tradition of Donegal. Tríona and her late brother Mícheál, were central to the establishment of The Bothy Band whose five albums are considered classics in their field.  She has collaborated with countless artists and performers and has released two solo albums ‘Tríona’ (1975) and ‘The Keys Within’ (2010). In 2019, she was awarded TG4 Gradam Cumadóir agus Comharcheoil /Musical Collaboration-Composition Award.