County: Antrim

Decades Active: 2010s, 2020s

About Ciaran Lavery

Ciaran Lavery is a singer-songwriter from the village of Aghagallon, County Antrim. He uses his husky, emotional vocal style and heartfelt lyricism to explore themes of love, loss, mental health, and self-discovery. Lavery’s music blends acoustic-folk foundations with ambient and experimental textures. His songwriting often draws from personal experience (including his Northern Irish roots) and has the introspective, confessional feel of artists like Ryan Adams or Damien Rice.

Lavery released his debut solo album, Not Nearly Dark, in 2013. His second full album, Let Bad In (2016), won the Northern Ireland Music Prize for Album of the Year. Following the success of Let Bad In his next album, Sweet Decay, was recorded in Dublin at Camden Studios and features contributions from musicians associated with acts such as Hozier and James Vincent McMorrow. His album Light Entertainment was short-listed for the Northern Ireland Music Prize (Album of the Year) in 2025.

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Ciaran Lavery - Shame