RTE Radio1 folk award nominee Ciara O’Neill has been on quite the musical journey over the last
eight years. Originally from Co Armagh and now based in Belfast her debut album ‘The Ebony
Trail,’ (2016) set the foundations of a career notching up praise from BBC 6 Music’s Tom Robinson, Hot Press magazine and more along the way.

But it wasn’t just the press that sat up and took notice of her haunting folk songs; music lovers
and industry folk from across the Atlantic saw something special in both Ciara’s songwriting and
her ability to silence a room with her voice. Receiving publishing interest after a chance meeting at
the Belfast Nashville Songwriting Festival she found herself flying back and forth to the USA
working with some of the finest songwriters Music City had to offer. It was there she sowed the seeds of what was to become her second album ‘Arrow’ (2018).

Just as Ciara was starting to think about her third album, the world locked down due to the
pandemic and finding comfort once again in her guitar she began creating an EP ‘La Lune’ (2022).
Supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Ciara’s most recent single ‘La Lune’ topped the airplay charts of BBC Radio Ulster and RTE Radio1, it was also this song which led to
Ciara being nominated for best emerging artist at the 2022 RTE Radio1 Folk awards.

In addition to writing solo, Ciara is also a keen collaborator and has worked with many world class
songwriters and artists over the years including Grammy winner Don Henry, Grammy
nominated Drew Ramsey and Gary Burr as well as Northern Irelands finest Ryan McMullan, Gareth Dunlop and Ciaran Lavery.

On the live front Ciara has lots of highlights too, most notably playing in front of a US TV audience
of 60 million for Music City Roots, showcasing at Folk Alliance in Kansas City, representing
Northern Ireland in Brussels for culture night and representing Belfast as a UNESCO city of music
in London, Ontario in July 2023 where she played the main stage at Home County Music and Arts
Festival. Her numerous performances at the iconic Nashville venue the Bluebird Cafe and her
recent sold out headline shows for the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival and Sound of Belfast also rank high among her ever growing list of achievements.

With a focus on her beautiful vocals and raw, poetic songwriting Ciara’s music is sure to appeal to
music lovers across the board including fans of other Irish artists Saint Sister and Lisa Hannigan.
Her new EP ‘Woman’ will be out in 2024.

‘Mesmerising, it takes you away like all good music should’

Ralph McLean BBC Radio Ulster

‘Ciara and her songs carry everything with such conviction, it makes her almost transparent.’

Folk Radio UK

‘Your new favourite, beautiful album.. 9/10’

Americana UK

‘A must listen for folk fans’

Hotpress Magazine