Ciarán Ó Maonaigh, the Gaoth Dobhair fiddle player, is releasing his second solo album this July, entitled ‘Caillte sa Cheol / Lost in the Music’.
This album showcases over 50 minutes of traditional Donegal tunes across 11 tracks, featuring Ciarán’s fiddle playing alongside the talents of musician and producer Seán Óg Graham.
Seán Óg Graham, known for his work with Beoga, The Bothy Band, Ed Sheeran and numerous other artists, lends his signature production, accompaniment, and engineering skills to the project.
Caillte sa Cheol will be officially launched at the Willie Clancy Summer School on Sunday, July 6th, by TG4 Musician of the Year 2025, Siobhán Peoples.
This album arrives two decades after Ciarán’s first solo release, The Music of the Glen in 2004. This 20-year anniversary prompted him to return to the studio with Seán Óg, a longtime musical friend and collaborator. In the intervening years, Ciarán has been prolific, recording four albums with Fidil, two with The High Seas, and one with his family group, Na Mooneys.
Beyond his musical achievements, Ciarán is also a director of music documentaries for both television and cinema. He has directed five series of the acclaimed TG4 documentary series ‘Sé Mo Laoch, as well as the recent Brendan Gleeson’s Farewell to Hughes’s.
The album was recorded throughout the past year in Seán Óg Graham’s studio. In addition to Seán Óg’s contributions, the album includes guest appearances from Caitlín Nic Gabhann and Jimmy Higgins.
The final track was recorded live at Stiúideo Cuan as part of the Cuan an Cheoil series. It features a moving collaboration with Liam Ó Maonlaí. At the piece’s conclusion, Liam remarks, “Táim caillte… caillte leis an gceol.” – “I am lost… lost in the music.” This heartfelt moment inspired the album’s title: Caillte sa Cheol | Lost in the Music.
Caillte sa Cheol | Lost in the Music will be available on CD and as a digital download from Bandcamp – https://caitlinciaran.bandcamp.com/ – as well as on streaming platforms and in select music stores.
Gaoth Dobhair’s Ciarán Ó Maonaigh invites listeners to get lost in the music was last modified: June 27th, 2025 by
