Following the release of her debut single ‘Brushstrokes’ back in January, Irish-fusion artist Muirġen returns with her new track ‘Mo Bháidín’, both from her forthcoming EP Loinnir coming May 15th.
The EP offers a striking first glimpse into an artist fully stepping into her own voice, blending Irish traditional influences with contemporary electropop textures and bilingual storytelling.
‘Mo Bháidín’ was written by Muirġen (Muirgen O’Mahony), Cian Sweeney and Caoilian Sherlock, produced and mixed by Sweeney, and mastered by Philip Marsden. The song is a play on an old Irish tune like you wouldn’t expect – a reimagining of a traditional refrain that will have you scrunching your nose at its reverberating bass line. Wait for the drop and be transported from an old Ireland to the Big Top of your nearest festival.
Speaking on the track, Muirġen says: “‘Mo Bháidín’ was inspired by the old Irish song Óró Mo Bháidín and was ultimately born out of a conversation I had with my brother where we were discussing the benefits and the drawbacks of taking antidepressants – how they can be beneficial in helping you function but oftentimes you can start to feel like a muted version of yourself. I thought the image of the báidín (small boat) floating you away from your problems, along with the nursery rhyme-like melody of the Irish air, gave a sense of innocence as a contrast to the seriousness of the topic.”
Born and raised in Cork, Muirġen’s musical life has spanned multiple worlds. Classically trained, she later worked as an actor-singer in the UK before joining Grammy-nominated ensemble Celtic Woman, touring internationally for five years. Highlights include performances at the Royal Albert Hall, The Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra, and numerous appearances as a guest soloist with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. These experiences have shaped a vocal style defined by melismatic lines, textured harmonies and an inherently Irish sensibility.
After eight years living in the UK, Muirġen returned to Ireland at the end of 2024 – a move that marked the beginning of a challenging but transformative period. A chance coffee meeting in June 2025 led to producer Cian Sweeney coming on board to shape Loinnir. “What he created from fragmented demos and streams of consciousness completely changed the project,” Muirġen says. “His belief gave me the confidence to release this music.”
The EP title Loinnir translates as glimmer, radiance, or the natural light dancing on the sea. Water emerges as a subtle through-line across the EP. From Muirġen’s childhood pull toward the sea, to the mythological roots of her name, derived from Lí Ban, a figure in Irish folklore transformed into a mermaid, each track is, often unintentionally, tied to themes of immersion, movement, and return.
Collaboration and community sit at the heart of Loinnir. With close friends and family involved across production, artwork, photography, design and PR, the project reflects a renewed sense of belonging since returning home. “It gives me an incredible sense of belonging and makes me feel like I’m breathing new life with the people I love.”
Loinnir – coming May 15th – marks a new chapter, an unguarded introduction to who Muirġen is now, and where she’s headed.
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