By Sadie York
In honor of the great Irish holiday, it’s time to recognize some popular bands whom you may not know call Ireland their home!
U2
Formed in 1976 in Dublin, Ireland, U2 began as a group of band members who met as teenagers in school. The original lineup comprised of Bono (vocals), The Edge (guitar), Adam Clayton (bass), and Larry Mullen Jr. (drums). U2 is known for utilizing its music to address many political and societal issues, especially within the Irish climate. Most famously known, “Sunday Bloody Sunday” references the 1972 Bloody Sunday tragedy in Northern Ireland. Despite their global fame and status as one of the most successful rock bands in the world, U2 consistently represents their home country with pride, never straying from their Irish roots.
The Cranberries
Consisting of four members, Dolores O’Riordan (lead vocals), Noel Hogan (guitar), Mike Hogan (bass), and Fergal Lawler (drums), The Cranberries formed in Limerick, Ireland, in 1989. While it’s common for most Irish singers to tone down their accent when recording internationally, O’Riordan set herself apart by choosing to keep her distinct Irish accent in song. Similar to U2, The Cranberries reference the same Northern Ireland conflict in their song “Zombie”, which criticizes the violent bombings carried out by the IRA. While growing into huge global fame, The Cranberries remained primarily located in Ireland, often recording all their albums within the comfort of their hometown.
Fontaines D.C.
While a bit of a younger band (compared to the previous two), Fontaines D.C. represents a newer wave of Irish punk-pop music, gaining more widespread recognition in the 2020s. While formed in 2014 in Dublin, Ireland, lead singer Grian Chatten was actually born in England. However, he identifies very heavily with Irish culture, as he was raised and has lived there for most of his life. The title “Fontaines D.C.” is actually a reference to Johnny Fontane of The Godfather, with “D.C.” standing for Dublin City. The band very proudly resonates with Irish culture, often nodding to various societal norms of the country through their Irish-revolved lyrics. Furthermore, of all the bands I’ve listed so far, the members of Fontaines D.C. have Irish accents that are certainly the most notable when listening to their tracks. Fontaines D.C. is certainly a landmark Irish band of modern times, continuing to work their way up in the charts.