Picture of Beach Boys carrying a surf board
Songwriters

The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys became such a significant part of my life from such an early age. They were the band that grabbed me through the radio and make me really pay attention to pop music. […]

Picture of David Mackin on The Quiet Man Bridge in Connemara
David Mackin Music

2026 Here We Come

Happy New Year to you. 2026 can be a glorious year on a personal and artistic level. Not so sure on the global level; I think the Doomsday Clock just hit 2.15 am, but that […]

Sketch of David Mackin looking thoughtful at Cromwell's Barracks on Inishbofin
David Mackin Music

Emotionally Free Video

Back in the hottest summer of my childhood, 1976, my parents, along with my Aunty and Uncle, took us to our favourite ever holiday place; a little cottage called ‘Tholah’ (The House of Love and […]

Songwriter armed with a guitar trumpet and piano
David Mackin Music

The Noble Art Of Songwriting

Songwriting is my absolute passion. In just a few minutes, a songwriter can pack a punch with emotions and information that a whole movie or play might miss. The clever use of words and melody […]

Sketch of The Chirping Crickets Album Cover
Essays

Albums That Have Changed My Life

A few years ago, on Facebook, my friend Andy Power gave me a challenge: to choose 10 albums that greatly influenced my taste in music. One album per day for ten consecutive days. This little […]

Essays

Leaving On A Jet Plane

Over the lockdown period, unable to perform with my band, I started recording a series of videos to keep my creative spark alive. I covered songs I’ve always loved by artists I’ve always admired, showcasing […]

Sketch of Albert McGuiness lying in a gutter in the rain
Production

Murder In The Rain Video

As a slight intermission to my Hermitage Suite releases, I couldn’t let the 22nd December 2023 go unmarked. The date just happens to be a hundred years since my fictional character of Albert McGuinness was […]

Essays

A Haunting Glimpse into Nature’s Reclamation

Imagine, if you can, that humans no longer occupied Planet Earth. What would happen to the remaining infrastructure? In a hauntingly beautiful visit to Inishark, situated off the rugged West Irish Coast, my family and […]