Gerry Casey Interviews The Ciaran Hodgins Band

July 19, 2026

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Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with Ciarán Hodgins

Ciarán Hodgins is an emerging Irish blues and rock artist from the northwest of Ireland, fronting The Ciarán Hodgins Band, a high-energy rock and blues power trio based in Ballyshannon, County Donegal. Rooted in the electric tradition of blues-rock, the band brings together raw guitar fire, driving rhythm, and a deep respect for the music that shaped generations of Irish and international rock players.

Ballyshannon is a fitting home base for Hodgins and his band. Known worldwide as the birthplace of Rory Gallagher, the town carries a powerful blues-rock legacy, and The Ciarán Hodgins Band channels that spirit with youthful energy and conviction. Their music draws from the grit of classic blues, the attack of rock and roll, and the improvisational spark of live performance, creating a sound that feels both grounded in tradition and alive in the moment.

As a performer, Hodgins brings the focus and intensity of a player who understands that blues-based music is not simply about technique. It is about feel, timing, tone, and emotional connection. Whether delivering original material or putting his own stamp on blues and rock standards, he approaches the music with respect for its roots while still pushing toward his own identity as an artist.

The Ciarán Hodgins Band has earned attention on the Irish live circuit, including performances connected to Ballyshannon’s celebrated Rory Gallagher music culture. For a young band coming out of a town so closely associated with one of Ireland’s greatest guitar heroes, that connection carries both history and responsibility. Hodgins and his band meet it by playing with urgency, confidence, and an obvious love for the music.

Built as a power trio, The Ciarán Hodgins Band keeps the sound direct and muscular. Guitar, bass, and drums work together with the kind of stripped-down force that leaves no room to hide. The result is music that thrives on live energy: loud when it needs to be, soulful when the song calls for it, and always driven by the chemistry between the players.

With new live material on the horizon and a growing presence among blues and rock audiences, Ciarán Hodgins is carving out his place as one of the next voices in Ireland’s blues-rock story. The Ciarán Hodgins Band stands as a young group with old-soul instincts: plugged in, road-ready, and carrying the flame of electric blues into a new generation.