Brona McVittie (Northern Ireland)
- Mar 1
- 1 min read
Bróna McVittie is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and biologist from County Down who blends traditional ballads with nature-inspired original songs, drawing on folklore, mythology, and a rich mix of acoustic and electronic instruments. Her debut album We Are the Wildlife (2018) earned numerous four-star reviews and her second album The Man in the Mountain (2020) was named The Guardian’s Folk Album of the Month. Her work has been broadcast on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3, BBC 6 Music, and RTÉ.
Featured Song:
“Star of the County Down” was written by Donegal-born entertainer Cathal McGarvey (1866-1927), first published in 1911, and has since been recorded by John McCormack, Van Morrison, and the Pogues among many others. McVittie’s arrangement slows the familiar melody down significantly over a sparse bassline adorned with harp and guitar. This remix by award-winning British electronic composer Thomas Gandey gives it yet another new life: “No maid I’ve seen like the brown colleen / That I met in the County Down / That’s young Rose McCann from the banks of the Bann / She’s the Star of the County Down.”
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