Brianna McGeehan’s latest single, Cliffs of Donegal, is a work of both memory and melody—a tribute that feels timeless. Written in honor of her late aunt, an artist and poet, the song responds to the poem Pictured Rocks with tenderness and reverence. From its opening lines, McGeehan transports listeners into a soundscape shaped by heritage, loss, and the enduring power of family.
The track begins with quiet intimacy, her voice carrying the kind of sincerity that has always defined her work. Yet here, there is an added weight: a sense that she is not only singing for herself but for generations past. The arrangement builds gently, weaving acoustic textures with the grounding warmth of her Irish-American roots.
What stands out most is the song’s emotional clarity. McGeehan does not cloak grief in metaphor but lets it flow with honesty. Her delivery is both vulnerable and strong, a balance that makes Cliffs of Donegal resonate deeply. The song acknowledges pain while offering it as a gift, transforming loss into something listeners can carry with them.
The choice to close with a fiddle, played in the style of a pub session along Ireland’s western coast, is nothing short of inspired. It grounds the song in tradition while offering a sense of continuity—the idea that even in absence, music connects us. The fiddle doesn’t just ornament the song; it completes it, like the final brushstroke on a painting.
“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 on her poem Pictured Rocks. A celebration of life. A celebration of death. It’s a time capsule of grief,” McGeehan shares.
With Cliffs of Donegal, McGeehan has created more than a single—she has crafted an heirloom. It’s a song of reverence, love, and legacy, as much for those left behind as for the one who has passed. In its quiet power, it may be her most moving work to date.
