THE BREATH

Event information

Ríoghnach Connolly and Stuart McCallum are the creative heart of The Breath. And for them, it’s all about the song.

Ríoghnach writes the only way she knows how; a stream of poetic consciousness giving rise to honest, personal, heartfelt songs as likely to touch on childhood summers and first love as cultural dislocation, post-colonial injustices and grief. But it’s her deeply soulful, utterly engaging, stop-you-in-your-tracks voice – whether delicate and hushed or powerful and gutsy – coupled with Stuart’s understated brilliance and their exquisitely crafted songs, that give The Breath such emotional depth.

On the live stage, Rioghnach is a powerful, emotional singer and an impressive flautist, her between-songs banter is legendary and she has one of the most infectious and wicked laughs you will hear. Stuart`s impressive musical skills and his sophisticated, elegant guitar work gives light and shade to the songs shared. Their songs are deep, intensely personal, songs that tell stories in ways that soothe, stir, exalt, and touch emotional chords that will bring tears of lamenting joy to your eyes, They are sometimes very sad, dealing with very emotive issues but, whilst there is sadness around every turn, there’s also love, hope and remembrance. They let the light shine in with their unique brand of timeless folk in a way that deserves our full appreciation. The Breath are indeed a dream team worth inhaling.