Groove Tube with Cian O’Connell

The notoriety that has grown around Niall McCabe in recent years is, in the singer/songwriter’s opinion, a result of his decision to write about what he knows. In this case, that has meant flying the flag for McCabe’s native Clare Island, which was the centrepiece of his 2023 debut album Rituals.

Alongside populating his songs, the island was the catalyst for McCabe to open a container café and bakery, and launch a folk festival for the community he grew up in.

His follow-up record, Stranger, arrives early next month and is accompanied by a string of shows around Ireland and the UK. On May 18, McCabe plays Monroe’s in Galway, a city he feels a strong connection with, coming from the coast of Mayo.

“My very first memory of any sort is my granny teaching me to sing a song,” he says.

“It all starts there. It’s all black and then I come around and I’m singing a song to my granny, so music has been there from the very start. We had some great musicians here on the island and we had a priest, Peter Gannon, who came in and was an all-Ireland winning concertina player and accordion player.

“He taught us a bit of Irish music. We were always just fascinated by music. Probably because of the pub as well. I would’ve been working there since I was very young, and the sessions would always intrigue me. I guess I was always drawn to that.

“When I got a bit older, I started listening to a bit of rock and roll. Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Van Morrison – everything.”

Country and Americana flavours are undeniable in McCabe’s sound, and it is no surprise that his music has appealed to listeners in the US.

Last month, he ticked off a bucket list moment by performing in Nashville at the world-renowned Grand Ole Opry, a landmark that was of particular significance to his family.

“My father and my uncles were big country music fans,” McCabe says. “We listened to a lot of Willie Nelson, Marty Robbins and all that kind of stuff. I loved Kris Kristofferson growing up. So, all that was there too. It’s quite a wide spectrum of musical influences to be honest.

Pictured: Niall McCabe…new album and Galway gig in Monroe’s.