Cian Kissane comes from a very musical family and was encouraged to take up the banjo by his father Dominic who played accordion. He grew up near Ballybunion, Co. Kerry and was influenced by the unique North Kerry style of the region. He learned tunes from Anne and Nicky Mcauliffe, John Larkin and Brian Friel and at an early age performed at at Siamsa Tíre, The National Folk Theatre of Ireland, Tralee. Cian was a member of Ballydonohue/Lisselton CCE and received numerous awards as a young player in both group and solo competitions at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann. While still in his early teens, Cian was part of the group Claisín who for many years performed around County Kerry. They did record an album and is available by request but only on cassette tape!
In 2014, in his new home of Perth, Australia, and after a long break from performing, Cian met fiddler Rob Zielinski (aka Stafford). Together with Phil Waldron and Jackie Lynch O Dwyer they formed the group Siar – which is Irish for westerly. In April, Siar are guests at Fairbridge Folk Festival where they are described as producing “Lively and haunting Irish Trad. at it’s very best.”