Rathmullan indie folk artist McGrath is preparing for a special homecoming week after landing a support slot with chart-topping star Cian Ducrot in Letterkenny.
The fast-rising singer-songwriter, 24, whose real name is Mick Russell, will take to the Summer Sessions stage in Letterkenny on Friday 14th August 2026, just one day after releasing his most personal single to date.
Titled Home, the track is an ode to Rathmullan and the people who helped shape him into the man and musician he is today.
Next week’s Letterkenny performance is the latest milestone in a whirlwind year which has taken McGrath from Donegal pub gigs to opening for Mika and performing at BST Hyde Park, headlined by Garth Brooks.
It also comes ahead of an appearance at Ireland Music Week in October, his first headline tour in November and December and the release of his debut EP, SÁSTA, in January 2027.
McGrath wrote Home in a London studio with Italian-American songwriter Stef Marziano after the pair began discussing the deep connections Irish and Italian people share with family and place.
The conversation immediately brought his thoughts back to Rathmullan.
One of the song’s most personal lyrics refers to “the Swilly wind that nips my neck”, inspired by winter walks on the beach with his family.
“It doesn’t matter where I am or what I’m doing, I’m just thinking about Rathmullan and Donegal,” he said.
“I’m thinking of my folks, my friends back here, family members and the people in the town, how they have given me countless opportunities to play music in the past and have been constantly supportive of it.”
McGrath, aka Rathmullan musician Mick Russell, back home in the village that inspired his new single, Home. Photo: Rachel McLaughlin
McGrath grew up just outside Rathmullan village with his parents, Oonagh and Teddy Russell, and his younger sister Anna, who is now a schoolteacher.
His mother Oonagh is originally from Belfast, while Teddy is from Dublin.
Both his parents had longstanding connections to Rathmullan, holidaying in the village with their families and eventually meeting around the same age their son is now.
The stage name McGrath comes from his mother’s maiden name.
Oonagh is a Grade 8 cellist who also plays piano, while Teddy busked and played the mandolin, guitar and bodhrán.
Music was a constant presence in the Russell household.
The family’s record collection ranged from Depeche Mode, The Smiths and Pearl Jam to the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Creedence Clearwater Revival.
One of McGrath’s earliest musical memories is hearing Teddy play The Lakes of Pontchartrain, which opened his eyes to the power of storytelling through song.
“I am fascinated by pairing music with words and how emotionally evocative both of those things can be,” he said.
McGrath attended Mulroy College in Milford, where music teachers Chloe Borland and Trudy O’Donnell provided constant encouragement.
“I’m sure they would have been happier if I was more engaged with the written aspects of the subject, but they cultivated a safe space where I was always excited to get the guitar out and start playing,” he said.
Mick began playing guitar at 16 and took lessons from Downings musician Declan McClafferty, formerly of In Their Thousands and now performing as Ramper.
Those lessons introduced the teenager to artists including Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Beck and Jeff Buckley.
His first job was at Rathmullan House, where after one busy summer, he used all his earnings to purchase a Fender Stratocaster.
“The feeling of having that guitar on my lap and knowing that I earned it was a very special thing,” he recalled.
McGrath later moved to Belfast to study Music and Audio Production at Queen’s University, graduating in 2024.
He fell in love with the city and has built a strong network of friends and musicians there. His four-piece live band includes Leo Waterfield, Omar Hussein and fellow Rathmullan man Luc Kelly, whom he has known all his life.
The encounter that changed his career took place back in Donegal on an otherwise ordinary October evening.
McGrath was performing in the Tramore Inn in Downings when a group of English golfers came in after leaving the course.
Among them was Philip McCaughan, a director at PJPM and artist manager.
McGrath remembers seeing McCaughan move away from the group and listening intently before asking him whether he had any original material.
The pair exchanged contact details. Two weeks later, McCaughan called and invited him to London to work with acclaimed producer and songwriter Steve Robson.
McGrath had only five or six original songs at the time. Eighteen months later, he now estimates that he has written between 50 and 60.
His recording career launched in April with Rotha, followed by Burn Daylight in June. Produced by Rob Kirwan, whose credits include Hozier, U2 and PJ Harvey, his tracks have already earned support from RTÉ 2FM and BBC Radio 6 Music.
McGrath. Photo: @ryanwithfilm
Another major moment arrived when McGrath learned that George Ezra wanted him to perform at a Donegal-themed music night.
McGrath did not realise Ezra would be present until he arrived and found the ‘Budapest’ hitmaker helping to set up the stage.
At the time, Ezra hailed McGrath as a young artist on the cusp of “what I imagine will be a long and exciting journey in music”.
Ezra has continued to send messages of support and advice to McGrath.
“He told me to recognise when you’re pushing yourself too hard and listen to your body,” McGrath reveals.
You may also be interested in
It is advice he carries with him as the stages and crowds have grown.
Before a gig, McGrath prefers space and silence. He warms up by singing Irish trad and folk songs and sipping tea.
Above all, he tries to remain present.
“I’ve learned that the most important thing is to enjoy it,” he said. “I’m constantly reminding myself to stop and smell the roses.”
That calm approach proved vital this summer as even bigger opportunities came his way.
McGrath opened for Mika to around 3,000 people at On the Mount at Wasing on Friday 26th June. He performed at BST Hyde Park the following day before completing the weekend at State Fayre Festival on the Sunday.
At Hyde Park, he began his set with around 50 people in front of the stage. When he looked up again, the crowd had grown to approximately 1,000.
Among them were relatives and people who had travelled from Rathmullan.
McGrath was performing Home when he spotted the familiar faces.
“I’m looking out at all these music fans, and I’m thinking about how long I’ve known some of the people in the audience,” he said.
“There are people there that I’ve never met and probably won’t ever meet, and they’re enjoying it. It was an emotional one.”
The deeply personal new track carries memories of loved ones who are no longer with him.
His cousin Mike, a much-loved pillar of the family who had Down syndrome, was the life of every gathering.
His close friend Liam, who passed away at the age of 19, had played a major role in shaping McGrath’s musical tastes and had a refreshing ‘it’ll be grand’ outlook on life.
McGrath said both remain present through the stories, memories and music they left behind.
“Music is to be cathartic. It’s to help people, and it helps me,” he said.
“If people listen to Home and it helps them as well, then, as far as I’m concerned, I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”
McGrath will perform at Ireland Music Week on 1st and 2nd October before embarking on his first headline tour in late November.
The intimate run of dates will take him across Ireland before travelling to Manchester, Glasgow and London.
“My hope for the tour is that I feel more connected to all things McGrath,” he said.
“They’re small venues, so there’ll be the opportunity to have conversations with people and maybe have a beer with them.
“I just hope people come and listen to the music and that it resonates with them.”
His debut EP, SÁSTA, is scheduled to arrive in January.
While the coming months will take him to stages across Ireland and Britain, McGrath says the village that raised him will remain at the centre of everything he creates.
“Rathmullan is always with me,” he said.
“It is one of the largest parts of what I think the sound is and how I want McGrath to be recognised.”
Click here to stream McGrath’s music, find ticket links and join the mailing list: https://linktr.ee/mcgrathmcgrathmcgrath
HEADLINE TOUR
November 24th – Ruby Sessions, Dublin
November 25th – Upstairs at Whelan’s, Dublin
November 26th – Róisín Dubh, Galway
November 27th – DeBarra’s, Clonakilty
November 28th – Steamboat Music (instore), Limerick
November 29th – Cleere’s, Kilkenny
December 1st – Castle Hotel, Manchester
December 2nd – SWG3 Poetry Club, Glasgow
December 3rd – Northern Guitars, Leeds
December 4th – Upstairs at The Lower Third, London