Graham Sweeney

Graham Sweeney is a singer-songwriter hailing from Achill Island, Co. Mayo. Known for his eclectic style, Graham masterfully blends traditional guitar playing with rhythmic vocal melodies and experimental sounds. The dramatic landscape and rich history of Achill Island serve as a constant source of inspiration, deeply influencing his poetic and musical artistry.

Graham is an artist who thrives on pushing the boundaries of musical genres. In 2023, he collaborated with Japanese producer Hiroaki Yokoyama on an unique electronic fusion project. This ambitious undertaking merged field sounds captured on the island with contemporary electronic music, resulting in a sold-out screening and another collaborative project in the pipeline for 2025, in Tokyo.

In recent years, Graham has been heavily involved in The Achill Sound, a collaborative project with producer John Michael Berry. This music and history project features a collection of musicians and storytellers from Achill Island, bringing to life the island’s rich cultural tapestry through traditional music and narrative. Their debut album, Isle of the Eagle, released in August 2023, is a tribute to the island's history and features contributions from celebrated local storytellers John Twin McNamara and the late Francie McNamara, along with a host of native and resident musicians.

The Achill Sound's latest project, "Achill Island, Basking Shark Fishermen", is a musical homage to the island’s historic basking shark fishing industry. Supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, this immersive audio/visual show combines interviews recorded by Graham, original visuals, and traditional Irish music to preserve this unique facet of Achill’s heritage for future generations. The live presentations feature audio-visual elements by John Michael Berry and music performed by Graham (guitar and vocals), Lisa Fukuda (fiddle), and John Butler (uilleann pipes).

“A very talented, original young songwriter with all the trademarks of a great career ahead”.
Declan O' Rourke

"Best new guitar player I've heard for years."
Luka Bloom