Irish musicians you should be listening to ahead of St Patrick’s Day

St Patrick’s Day is around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than listening to stellar Irish musicians? With these artists, there is truly something for everyone. From The Cranberries to U2, in the veins of these brilliant musicians is a responsibility to bring difficult issues to the fore through their superb musicianship and lyricism. These Irish musicians’ cutting deliveries of hope in the backdrop of adversity give the listeners something to think about, which is definitely why you should be listening to them ahead of St Patrick’s Day. 

The Undertones 

This Northern Irish punk band formed in Derry in 1974 and consisted of the band members Feargal Sharkey, Michael Bradley, Billy Doherty, and brothers John O’Neill and Damian O’Neill. Despite their hard-edged melodies, The Undertones’ lyrics are surprisingly the opposite with sweet calls for hope during the turbulent Troubles in Derry. Their song ‘Teenage Kicks’, arguably their most famous, received a critical reception when it was released in 1977, especially after BBC Radio 1’s DJ John Peel listened to it and stated it to be his all-time favourite song. In fact, the lyrics were specifically requested to be engraved upon his tombstone.  

‘Teenage Kicks’ is one of The Undertones’ most memorable songs as it is a jubilant celebration of youth with the lyrics ‘teenage dreams are so hard to beat’. Punk music at its core is anti-establishment, so this cry to celebrate teenage dreams in conflict-torn Derry expresses the humanity of youth that can be found in the simplest things: love and hope. There was so much more to these young people’s lives than politics and violence.  

Sinéad O’Connor 

 The legendary Sinéad O’Connor from Dublin was a singer and activist. She passionately advocated for women’s rights, anti-racism, and famously ripped a photograph of Pope John Paul II to make a statement against the abuse behind closed doors in the Catholic Church. This was on live TV and resulted in countless complaints from viewers and Catholic institutions, as well as being permanently banned by the broadcaster NBC. Despite this, O’Connor reflected in 2021 that she did not regret her protest at all and stated that being recognised as a protest singer was far more important than being a pop star. 

My favourite song, and also O’Connor’s most famous, is ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’, which was written by Prince in 1985. It is a powerful and moving track about loss and a timeless classic that everyone can relate to at some point. O’Connor’s vocals are beautiful, melancholic, and so raw in expressing the pain of unrequited love. The music video has striking close-ups of O’Connor’s face whilst she pours her heart out singing, with tears falling at the end of the video which was unintended, but dramatises the performance even more. O’Connor is one of the greatest Irish musicians, and definitely an artist you should be listening to before St Patrick’s Day. 

U2 

U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin, consisting of lead singer Bono, the Edge on lead guitar, Adam Clayton on bass, and Larry Mullen Jr on drums. Their music first began as a response to the Troubles in Northern Ireland, as well as wider global politics, which they have been consistent in incorporating in each album. From ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ to ‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’, U2 can succinctly criticise politics in Ireland, but also have their lyrics relatable on a universal level. Their music truly holds a familiar piece of nostalgia with every listen. 

Beyond their music, U2 are philanthropists and activists addressing poverty and social injustice. They performed in multiple aid concerts addressing and raising money for issues such as the 1983-85 famine in Ethiopia, to the Salvadoran Civil War, as well as performing in Belfast to promote the referendum over the Good Friday Agreement. This is only to list a few examples, as U2 have campaigned and donated for countless global socio-political issues. Their activism and passion for addressing these issues bleeds into their music, notably the brilliant The Joshua Tree album. 

The Cranberries 

The Cranberries were an alternative rock band from Limerick in 1989, composed of Dolores O’Riordan, Noel Hogan, Mike Hogan, and Fergal Lawler. O’Riodan’s haunting vocal range from the aching yearning in ‘Linger’ to the anguished and hard-edged ‘Zombie’, which was written with an anti-war sentiment towards an IRA bombing in England in 1993. In fact, ‘Zombie’ received so much critical reception that The Cranberries were invited to perform the song at the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. 

‘Dreams’ is a gorgeous twist of indie-rock and traditional Celtic sounds that was The Cranberries’ debut track. It is the perfect song to listen to when your life feels uprooted by so much change and you need a moment to be grounded. Dolores’ vocals express how ‘everything is changing, in every possible way’, which we’ve all felt before, making it a truly timeless melody.  

Inhaler 

Still relatively new on the music scene, Dublin rock band, Inhaler, formed in 2018, consists of Elijah Hewson, Robert Keating, Josh Jenkinson, and Ryan McMahon. Their music is reminiscent of The Strokes and The Stone Roses but with a contemporary twist that makes it refreshing to listen to. A personal favourite would be their album, Cuts and Bruises, which has a track for every mood: have an adrenaline rush? ‘These Are The Days’ is perfect with climactic guitar riffs that give a jubilant rush with every listen. In the mood for something more classic rock? You’ll love ‘Dublin in Ecstasy.’ Inhaler are a band with pumped-up indie-rock tunes that you should be listening to ahead of St Patrick’s Day.