'Homebird': Shauna Scanlon to release first single this week

Home is where the heart is – and Shauna Scanlon's first single will put the message out that that's just fine.

'Homebird' has featured fleetingly on some airwaves in recent weeks and will be officially released on Friday.

It is the first release by the Ballybofey singer-songwriter and the first real dip of her quill into the ink of songwriting.

“It's always something I've wanted to do,” she told Donegal Live. “It has been really exciting so far and I can't wait to get it out now. The most daunting part of all of this was when I performed it in front of the people in the house here – I knew they'd give me an honest critique.

“They loved it so that really gave me the confidence.”

'Homebird' is the first release of what is hoped will culminate in a five-track EP this year that she says could cover a wide variety of genres.

The English teacher is currently on a career-break from her job as an English teacher at Deele College and knows all about being a homebird.

Shauna Scanlon's new single, Homebird, will be released this week.

She spent 2016-2018 in Australia having lived in Scotland for three years previously.

She looks now at brother Pauric whose contentment in Ballybofey was a draw for some of the song's inspiration.

“So many people are just packing up and leaving, sometimes it's like it's because they feel it's something that they have to do,” Shauna said. “But I look at Pauric, who has his business, his girlfriend, his life, in Ballybofey and is happy.

“People will say 'there's nothing here' as a reason for going, but it doesn't have to be like that and it's okay to want to be at home; I guess that's the meaning behind the song.”

For a couple of years, she played in the New Romantics alongside PJ Deery, mainly on the stage of pubs, but music has always been a love.

As a toddler, Shauna was babysat by Pat Floyd at Knock in Ballybofey and she distinctly remembers Sinead Floyd making the journey to Trusk Road for piano lessons. Like many others, she learned under the guidance of Mai Mulrine. It wasn't long before Shauna, after some persuasive powers on her behalf, went too.

Her talents went to sporting stage, too. In 2009, she created a neat piece of history as a boxer. Then representing the Finn Valley Amateur Boxing Club – a club that also produced the likes of Jason Quigley, Michael Gallagher and Austeja Auciute – she won the Irish U21 title at 46kgs.

Shauna, the pin-weight champion, became the first female boxer in Ireland to receive a belt for winning a national title.

Future Olympic gold medallist Kelly Harrington was among the other champions crowned on that night 15 years ago.

She loved the dedication and discipline of it all, something now she transfers to her musical career that will really take off on Friday.

Homebird was produced with the assistance of Tommy Conway at Full Tilt Studios and will be available on all popular platforms from Friday.