Seán Feeny has released his new single “Western Roads”, out now, continuing his rise as a folk-pop songwriter rooted in personal history. Inspired by the journey of his great-grandfather John McGrath to Butte, Montana, the song was produced by Donegal musician Orri McBrearty and follows Feeny’s debut single “1969”, which earned support from Hot Press, RTÉ Entertainment, Irish News, Belfast Telegraph, and RTÉ Radio 1. The track reflects Feeny’s ongoing focus on family stories shaped by emigration and return.
“I was always fascinated that my great-grandfather went to Butte, Montana,” Feeny says, adding, “But what I appreciate even more is that he came back.” He notes that the song honors both his family and the wider Irish diaspora who emigrated while keeping ties to home. The accompanying video, directed by Donegal filmmaker Charlie Joe Doherty, was filmed on the Fintown Railway and evokes an earlier era of travel and departure. Feeny says the setting “really paints the picture and helps tell the story.”