Christy Martin and Aodh Og O'Tuama have spent much of their marriage without a permanent home.
Instead, the husband-and-wife musicians have traveled across the United States, staying with friends and supporters while performing at festivals, libraries, theaters and community venues. Now, after three decades of touring together, the duo known as Four Shillings Short is preparing to settle down.
Their farewell tour will bring them to Silver City in November and Las Cruces in December, part of a final journey across the country before their planned move to Ireland.
For Martin, 68, and O'Tuama, 71, the decision comes after years of demanding travel schedules and performances that require hours of preparation. Although they intend to retire from extensive touring, neither plans to stop making music.
The couple travels roughly 20,000 to 25,000 miles annually, often driving several hours between performances. Setting up equipment, tuning instruments and preparing for concerts can take nearly as much time as the performances themselves.
Martin said she tunes more than 300 strings before each concert, while O'Tuama handles the sound system. What once included five or more shows a week has gradually become a schedule of two or three.
"We both realize after 30 years of touring that physically, it's taking its toll," Martin said.
Their partnership began with an unexpected meeting in Palo Alto, California, where O'Tuama had already established Four Shillings Short as a folk ensemble.
Originally from Cork, Ireland, O'Tuama arrived in California in 1983 after receiving a Stanford University fellowship to study medieval and Renaissance music. He formed the group in 1985, performing with various musicians before meeting Martin a decade later.
Martin, who had been performing with her own folk trio, attended a Four Shillings Short concert at St. Michael's Alley in July 1995. Impressed by the group's performance, she introduced herself to musicians she recognized from an earlier jam session. O'Tuama encouraged her to leave her contact information, suggesting they might play music together. A phone call followed, then a date at a theater production where he was working.
By their second date, they were already collaborating musically.
They married in 1996 and began touring together. Their first major U.S. tour the following year included 60 concerts across 30 states in 90 days, covering approximately 30,000 miles. By 1999, they had made performing their full-time occupation.
The years that followed took them repeatedly across the country, building relationships with audiences who welcomed them into their homes and communities.
"We have such a community, a network of communities around the country," O'Tuama said.
Those relationships have become one of the most meaningful parts of their careers. Martin recalled audience members sharing how particular songs helped them through difficult moments, including the loss of loved ones.
For a couple accustomed to constant travel, those connections provided a sense of belonging beyond any physical address.
"To be honest, being a full-time on-the-road musician without a home, many homes to go to, but still without your own place, it's a big sacrifice," Martin said. "It's worth it. It's totally worth it."
Their performances draw from Celtic traditions, Indian ragas, medieval and Renaissance music, American folk influences and original compositions.
Together, they perform on more than 30 instruments, including hammered dulcimer, mandolin, sitar, whistles and various percussion instruments.
Rather than relying on fixed arrangements, the musicians experiment with different combinations of instruments and vocal harmonies, sometimes spending days developing a single piece.
Martin said the farewell tour has also given them an opportunity to revisit songs they have not performed in 15 or 20 years. Set lists change between venues, allowing the couple to draw from their extensive repertoire.
"We're breathing new life into them because we love these songs and they're like our children," Martin said.
For southern New Mexico audiences, the concerts will feature traditional music, original compositions, storytelling and opportunities to sing along. Their upcoming appearances also continue a longstanding commitment to making live performances accessible.
Four Shillings Short will perform a free family concert at the Silver City Public Library on Nov. 13, followed by a social justice benefit concert at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Silver City on Nov. 15. Their Las Cruces appearance is scheduled for Dec. 4 at the Branigan Cultural Center as part of First Friday at the Museums.
Martin said the couple values opportunities to perform without financial barriers, particularly at libraries and community-sponsored events.
As their final U.S. tour continues through 2029, the musicians are also preparing for a different kind of future.
O'Tuama said leaving behind familiar places and longtime friends has made the experience bittersweet. Some supporters have attended their performances for decades, and the couple has watched families grow while returning to the same communities.
"It's bittersweet because we're saying goodbye to places, mountains, landscapes, and people that are dear people who we know we won't see again," he said.
Their next chapter is expected to begin in County Clare, Ireland, where they plan to rent near Ennis before eventually purchasing property.
Martin envisions a small home, space for visiting friends, and a gathering place for concerts and traditional music sessions. They also hope to continue educational programs introducing students and library audiences to instruments from around the world.
After years of relying on other people's homes and gardens, the couple looks forward to growing vegetables of their own.
"We've really missed having a garden all these years," Martin said.
For O'Tuama, the change will mean trading frequent departures for the familiarity of staying in one place. For Martin, it represents an opportunity to establish roots without leaving behind the work that has defined their lives together.
Even as they prepare to say goodbye to familiar stages and audiences, both remain committed to the storytelling traditions that have shaped their performances.
"Every single note counts. Every single word counts," Martin said.
Their touring days may be drawing to a close, but the couple hopes the music and relationships they have cultivated will continue long after their final journey across the country.
