Growing up in the seaside town of Portaferry, Co. Down – “where everybody knows your name”, he says wryly – the young Ryan abandoned his youthful passion for hurling in favour of music. These days, he’s one of the most exciting young singer-songwriters around, but was a self- confessed ‘late bloomer’ when it came to his musical career. Now 32, McMullan may have spent his first few years playing catch-up, but admits that “music was always going to be a part of my life.” Having toured worldwide with some of the most well known artists such as Ed Sheeran, Snow Patrol, Kodaline and Foy Vance.