Morgana: 'What draws me to making art is that sense of just making something fun'

She began making music with Gemma Doherty as part of Saint Sister, but Morgan McIntyre is forging her solo career as Morgana. Her time is now, writes Ciara Byrne

Morgana: Morgan McIntyre has spent the last number of years developing her solo project.  Pictures: Meghan Law

Straight off the bat, an hour to be exact after the announcement of Morgana’s Lovely Days gig in the Guinness Storehouse with CMAT and BIIRD, I sit upstairs in Kaph on Drury Street with Morgan McIntyre, better known these days as Morgana. Our oat flat whites cost close to a fiver each, and McIntyre breaks the news that she’s moving back to her native Belfast, where her mortgage will be cheaper than Dublin rent.

The reality of living as an artist in Ireland — a land known for its rich music and culture — is that musicians and 9-5 workers alike are being pushed out due to rising rents (and coffee prices). Many take up full-time jobs to financially sustain themselves, which eliminates the flexibility needed to write, record, and tour.