Elaine is from Celbridge, Co. Kildare, and grew up in a musical family. Alongside her brother Phil, a talented fiddle player, she was introduced to a wide variety of musical genres from an early age by their parents, Andrew and Bernie. Two of her uncles—Eddie Clarke, a harmonica player and singer, and Fergus Clarke, a classical pianist—were among her earliest musical influences.
Elaine began her musical journey at the age of seven, starting with the tin whistle before progressing to the flute at ten. Interestingly, she first learned the classical flute before transitioning to the traditional flute. Her uncle Eddie, eager for her to embrace traditional music, gifted her a wooden flute one Easter instead of an Easter egg. She was fortunate to attend lessons with Catherine McEvoy, one of the greatest flute players in any genre and a significant musical influence on Elaine. In addition, she studied classical piano in her early years, which deepened her understanding of music theory.
Music was always at the heart of family gatherings, with car journeys filled with sing songs in harmony and family parties featuring songs from her aunt Anne Walsh, whose signature piece was Do You Love an Apple? It was in this environment that Elaine's love for singing was firmly established. Over the years, she has been a member of numerous choirs and musical groups. These days, she finds the greatest joy in singing with her friends and fellow band members, Róisín and Úna.
Elaine has toured extensively, performing at festivals across Ireland, Europe, and Australia. She also spent several years in Sydney, Australia, teaching music. She has been a member of the Beartla Ó Flatharta Céilí Band since it's formation in 2008.
Now based in Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Elaine lives with her young family and works as a secondary school teacher. She has a BA in Music and a PGDE in Music Education.