Mayo star Katie Cassidy building something special with ‘Sandcastles’

Raspy-voiced Ballina singer-songwriter Katie Cassidy with a litany of a lineage of musicians, chats candidly, to Gary Kevany about tomorrow’s release of her third single – Sandcastles – and the emotions evoked from summer memories along with birth, death and her plans for future releases.

Childhood summer memories are cherished by anyone who had a happy upbringing and following the loss of a loved one or family member then vacationed with those memories become all the more precious.

Ballina native, Katie Cassidy, may not have had the joys of summer holidays to sun-drenched beaches abroad but she had that and so much more with her family spending time in nearby Enniscrone beach in the family caravan.

“We didn’t get to go abroad; we would spend our Summers in Enniscrone in our caravan, my mum, dad, brother and I and would be playing in Tom’s Top Ten. I loved it!’ Katie began when discussing the third single she has released.

Katie releases ‘Sandcastles’ tomorrow (Friday) at noon on streaming platforms proceeding the initial release of Leech a number of years ago to critical acclaim and her collaboration with Austria synth-pop duo And_I whom Katie came across while living in Austria for a brief time.

Katie lost her mother three years ago and although deeply saddened by the loss; as is often said – ‘when one door closes another one opens’ and Katie recently became a parent herself along with her husband Stephen.

Katie’s album was in post-production when Katie suffered a drastic stroke of misfortune by being involved in a motor accident and that derailed her release and she has taken her time getting to where she is now and has received national publication and praise.

Katie has gone down the road less-travelled for the release of her solo original album by gradually releasing tracks and intends to release another in September followed by what Katie hopes will be a 2026 album launch.

“I had the album ready for a good while and had it almost prepared for release but then I hit a horse! I had nerve damage in my neck and fingers and shortly after that my mother passed away so I had to take my time with it.

"I released Leech a few years ago, then released my collaboration with Austrian electronic-pop duo And_I – ‘On The Phone’ - and I’ll be releasing Sandcastles tomorrow,” Katie informed this reporter.

Katie’s cut-throat vocals complemented by Alt-Grunge piano, guitar and a heart-stopping backing track and drumbeat is reminiscent of her brother Philip Jnr’s disbanded band 21 Outs.

Philip now performs as drummer for former X-Factor finalist Tabby O’Callaghan’s cover-band.

Much like her forebearers and fellow Ballina musicians, The White Gorillas – two of which perform an acoustic set in the beer garden of Bar Square tonight at 8:00, Noel Kenny Jnr and Paul Newell, also members of original band, Valerra and brother Philip’s previous outfit 21 Outs, Katie boasts a residency in a Sligo pub/venue – beings in Maeve’s. Katie tailors the set to what the crowd is responsive and reactive to, be it original music or covers.

“I’m playing there so long and know so many of the regulars I can pick and choose what to play or not to play depending on the crowd. Sometimes, I’ll stick to the covers and other times I’ll throw in the odd original.”

Katie also performs regularly in An Bolg Buí and performs occasionally in Hogan’s, O’Rahilly Street, where nationally recognised comedian-cum-singer Garron Noone began as part of a duo Garron and Grace and his cover of Pearl Jam with Blue Moose has been viewed over one million times on YouTube. Garron too, will be performing locally with a gig in the Traveller’s Friend Royal Theatre on July 12th of this year.

Sandcastles releases on all streaming platforms at midday tomorrow (Friday) and a toned-down YouTube video may accompany in the not-too-distant future.