Ciarán MacGillivray hails from Mira, Cape Breton, and is an accomplished pianist, guitarist and bouzouki player. He is also a lead singer with the band, as well as supplying tin whistle, Irish flute, and bodhràn. In addition, he step-dances in the Cape Breton style, speaks fluent French, and is presently studying Scots Gaelic.

Along with his sister and fellow bandmate Fiona MacGillivray, Ciarán has blazed an amazing trail, having travelled the globe for over six years with The Cottars. A career highlight was playing keyboards with Ireland's The Chieftains during a 25-city Cottars-Chieftains tour of the USA in 2006.

The son of songwriter Allister MacGillivray ("Song For The Mira"), Ciarán's very first composition, "Planxty Mira" was recorded in a rousing arrangement with the band and a Toronto string-section on The Cottars second CD, "On Fire".