Released in May, the debut album from composer, multimedia artist and producer Mac Giolla Ghunna (Paul Gilgunn) is a serotin-bursting collection of liminal otherworldly electronic music.
Drawing on ambient sounds, viscerally startling samples, no wave discordance, IDM percussive breaks, avant composition and voices from traditional Irish folk, MAC GIOLLA GHUNNA is an album that has a genuine experimental edge in its unconventional sonic moments.
It was made over a few years between Dublin and the Ox Mountains in the West of Ireland.
On no track is this teeming-of-life energy more apparent than ‘Gwan’ the third song from the album, which today gets a video first-watch on Nialler9.
The video is a collaboration with dancer Corey Scott-Gilbert (Modeselektor, Jlin) and the cinematographer Nestor Romero-Clemente that “explores the Other/World in all its wonder, strangeness, and terror. “
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The artist MAC GIOLLA GHUNNA says:
GWAN is a radical beat-driven opus that foregrounds black and Irish working-class voices in electronic rí-rá agus ruaile buaile. This otherworldly video piece features original work from outstanding fashion designers Sadak and Karen Hegarty as well.
All sales from digital downloads of the song on Bandcamp go to Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP).
Video Credits:
Choreography and Performance: COREY SCOTT-GILBERT /// @coreygilbertscott
Music: MAC GIOLLA GHUNNA /// @mac_giolla_ghunna
Cinematography & Editing: NÉSTOR ROMERO CLEMENTE /// @nestor.tillas
Costume: SADAK /// @_sadak_
Mantle: SPERRIN DESIGN /// @sperrindesign
Production Assistance: ROISÍN GERAGHTY /// @littlerosefilms.ie
Post: LIGHTJAR /// @lightjar.ie
Filmed on location in Maigh Eo in July 2026
All proceeds from sales of digital downloads go to Medical Aid for Palestinians ///@medicalaidpal
An tAon Fhuil Dhearg /// (((One Red Blood)))
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
