Brianna McGeehan returns with her new single Cliffs of Donegal, releasing September 26th. Known for her heartfelt writing and Irish heritage-rooted sound, McGeehan delivers one of her best works to date.
The song is a tribute to her late aunt, an artist and poet, and responds directly to her poem Pictured Rocks. “Inspired by the passing of someone dear to me. Cliffs of Donegal is my send off to my Aunt. She was an artist and poet and Cliffs of Donegal is a comment to her poem Pictured Rocks. A celebration of life. A celebration of death. It’s a time capsule of grief.”
Cliffs of Donegal follows McGeehan’s recent singles Mother Maiden and Home, both of which drew praise for their striking honesty and emotional resonance. Mystic Sons called her work “a writer of rare emotional clarity” while Music Crowns described it as “haunting yet healing, a sound that speaks directly to the soul”.
Born in Portland, Oregon into a family with deep Irish-American roots, McGeehan grew up surrounded by music and storytelling. From piano lessons at age five, to studies in Tanzania, India, and Boulder, to years in Brooklyn’s indie scene, she has built a career shaped by both heritage and exploration. Her projects have included Dreaming in Colors and Pretend Sweethearts (with husband Drew De Man), before turning to her solo path.
With Cliffs of Donegal, McGeehan continues to weave the threads of personal history and collective memory into her work. The instrumentation throughout is consistent with the message being delivered, ending with the beautiful sound of a fiddle, played as it would in a pub sheltered along the west coast of Ireland. It is a song of loss and reverence, written as much for those left behind as for the one who has passed on.
Cliffs of Donegal will be available on all streaming platforms from September 26th.