An unlikely pairing though it was — he an acclaimed guitar whiz, ex long-time member of The Cinematic Orchestra and soft-spoken Manchester urbanite, she a folk singer from Armagh with a larger-than-life personality and a powerful voice to match — their connection was immediate, and they formed The Breath in 2016, a singer-songwriter duo with a contemporary take on alt-folk.

For them, it’s all about the song. Their exquisitely crafted, honest, personal, heartfelt songs are as likely to touch on childhood summers and first love as post-colonial injustice and grief. But it’s Ríoghnach’s impassioned delivery and extraordinary stop-you-in-your-tracks voice, coupled with Stuart’s understated brilliance, that is so engaging.

Their 2023 album, Land Of My Other, featured ten original tracks of raw, gorgeous, acoustic-minded music — songs that tell stories in ways that soothe, stir, exalt, and touch emotional chords.