"I'm like most people when it comes to making music in that I try to reinvent myself every time and make it interesting for myself and follow my heart. Theirs is a fluid relationship that has produced some brilliant albums (especially 1999’s There was both eating and drinking in last year’s hugely engaging debut album from these Dublin freak-folk rockers. In the case of bands, half or more of the members had to have been born on the island of Ireland or to hold an Irish passport.

Following a stint as one of Cathy Davey’s backing musicians, O’Brien quickly regrouped his thoughts and created Villagers, a band that to date has officially released just one four-track EP, We probably all know by now that Co Meath’s Lisa Hannigan was at one time a strategic music assistant of/foil to Damien Rice (see separate entry), and that the partnership dissolved abruptly, leaving Hannigan to concentrate on her solo material.What we would not have been aware of prior to the release of Hannigan’s debut solo album - last year’s Sea Sew - was the breadth of her talent. Founded in 1982 by guitarist and vocalist Shane MacGowan, this band has been a heavy influence on other groups playing similar style of music. The alternating solemnity and ecstasy of her performances makes McCann a musical priestess of sorts. Hey Lisa - we loved you first. they’ve got it all. An obviously well-rehearsed group - this writer has never witnessed a sloppy performance by the Dubliners - their 2007 debut Wilfully provocative, perversely kicking against the pricks, spitting invective, pissing off dyed-in-the-wool Christy Moore fans - you have to hand it to Dundalk’s Jinx Lennon for telling it like it is in an accent that could cut strips off a shank of ham, and for fearlessly eyeballing a non-partisan audience. He is vocalist and guitarist for Irish group The Frames and one half of…Primordial is a folk metal / pagan black metal band founded in 1987 in Skerries, County Dublin, Ireland.



The lo-fi four-piece from Limerick (home of the Cranberries) is composed of Anna Marie Rooney, Andreea Mocanu, Laura Drennan and Leah O’Donnell. The band consists of Danny O'Donoghue (vocals), Mark Sheehan (guitar) and…Dolores Mary Eileen O'Riordan (born 6 September 1971, died 15 January 2018) was an Irish musician, singer and songwriter. . YesWar in the Age of Trump: Four years of fighting in Iraq and SyriaSummerwater: Natural world dominates in absorbing novel Perish that thought immediately: Hannigan is slowly becoming the darling of the US courtesy of support slots with the likes of Jason Mraz and soundtrack play on television über-hit Grey’s Anatomy. . An evolving line-up of musicians has given them the time and space to experiment with composition and tone, creating something both experimental and accessible. Fiddles, flutes and pipes be damned – this year, Irish music took on a much noisier new guise. The group achieved significant worldwide success in the 1990s and sold over 40 million albums worldwide. The Horslips can be said to be one of the oldest Irish-origin bands to exist in current times. Despite coming up through the London music scene, Powers and bandmates Niall Burns (guitar) and Andrew Flood (drums) all hail from Limerick, inviting plenty of well-deserved Cranberries comparisons. The art-soul singer released her debut EP, MELTS are ready to do just what their band name promises to your heart and brain.

There have been many critically lauded (and hyped) music acts over the years that have quickly turned from snow to slush overnight, but Hannigan’s songs have, virtually uniquely, managed to stay fresh - despite having received far more airplay than would be usual for a singer of her lowly stature. uDiscover Music raises a toast. The group consists of Bono (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), the Edge (lead…The Cranberries were an alternative rock band from Limerick, Ireland that formed in 1989 and rose to mainstream popularity in the early 1990's.