Donegal alt-folk artist Declan McClafferty setting out on national tour
Known as Ramper, McClafferty is touring to support his critically acclaimed debut album, Loner
Donegal alt-folk artist Declan McClafferty, known as Ramper, is touring across Ireland this month to support his critically acclaimed debut album.
Loner, which was released in March, was selected as the RTÉ Radio 1 Album of the Week and was lauded on RTÉ’s Arena programme as being worthy of an RTÉ Choice Prize nomination.
The album has invited comparisons to Bon Iver, Andy Shauf, Sigur Ros, Elliott Smith and Smashing Pumpkins.
Ramper’s headline tour across Ireland will come to Black Box, Belfast on Sunday, May 25; the Róisín Dubh, Galway on Wednesday, May 28; the Workman’s Cellar, Dublin on Thursday, May 29; and Kinnegar Brewery, Letterkenny on Saturday, May 31. Tickets are available at rampersongs.com.
McClafferty previously played in the award-winning Donegal band In Their Thousands and is a celebrated session musician, but decided to embark on his own journey as Ramper to explore a sound at once expansive yet intimate.
In 2024, Ramper showcased at Ireland Music Week and opened for Lisa Hannigan. He was named One to Watch in 2025 by the Irish Independent and featured in the Irish Post’s Soundtrack of 2025 and has toured as a part of Ryan McMullan’s band, opening for acts such as Dermot Kennedy and Tom Jones and playing festivals including Glastonbury, Latitude and Electric Picnic.
McClafferty has recorded with the likes of Paul Brady and Tony Tyrell as a session musician and played South by Southwest in Rosie Carney’s band.