Ireland’s deep-rooted and complicated relationship with the United Kingdom has given Irish-born citizens a richly deserved incentive to represent themselves and their culture as an individual entity. Irish artists, such as The Cranberries and Sinead O’Connor, have historically used their music to express the horror and violence enacted during The Troubles, as well as the trauma that lingers among Ireland’s history. Almost twenty-seven years later, Irish musicians have succeeded in forming their own international audience and sense of identity—but the question remains, how can Irish artists unlock their full potential when England’s capital city harbours the world’s most influential music scene?
Since 1992, London has hosted their annual Mercury Prize, a renowned music award that recognises artists from the UK and Ireland. Each year, twelve albums from twelve different artists are shortlisted for the prize based on popularity and musicality. The 2024 prize winner was revealed in early September and the competition, once again, failed to break the streak of exclusively awarding British musicians. With only one Irish artist (CMAT) shortlisted, the odds of Ireland receiving any recognition within the competition were unavoidably slim. Released in October of 2023, CMAT’s second studio album, Crazymad, For Me, received overwhelming acclaim in both the UK and Ireland, giving the artist a great chance to represent Ireland’s presumed role in the competition. Even with the album’s universal success, CMAT’s music was ultimately left uncelebrated and unrecognised by the prize. The previous year, beloved Irish folk band Lankum also failed to make it past the shortlist despite their unique, ground-breaking sound. It’s been made clear through the Mercury Prize’s partiality towards British contestants that the inclusion of Irish artists is solely preached, not practised.
It’s only natural to wonder why so many Irish artists have chosen to pursue their music careers in England, a country that has historically failed to recognize their talents. In recent years, Dublin-based band Fontaines DC followed the popular career transition and signed their act under two British record labels. For those who follow the modern-rock group (most young Dubliners with good music taste), it’s clear the connection the band feels towards their home country bleeds through their music. In an interview with Fred Perry, Fontaines DC commented on the influence historical Irish figures have on their art, suggesting that “Yeats’s, Kavanagh’s and MacGowan’s poetry even inspired us to make a couple of small publications of [their] own…”. To work in the British music industry which has, time and again, overlooked Irish musicians must be nothing short of complicated for these artists. In a 2019 interview with Tristan Gatward, Fontaines DC’s bass player Conor Deegan reflected on this familiar struggle, stating “To be seen as successful in the Irish music industry you have to be successful somewhere else.” Deeply aware of this unfortunate reality, Fontaines DC is just one of many Irish bands who have had to pursue their career in a city that overlooks their Irish identity. Working in London, Fontaines DC will likely never receive the same opportunities as a band with British roots—neither will any Irish artist, for that matter, if this plain dismissal of talent persists.
This isn’t to say Ireland doesn’t have their own success in the music industry. Though not as internationally recognised as the UK’s Mercury Prize, Ireland’s RTÉ Choice Music Prize is devoted to spotlighting Irish artists and the music that is so often overlooked. Lankum’s remarkable studio album False Lankum, a project unrecognised by the Mercury Prize, was awarded this year’s Irish Album of the Year. Despite their global success, musicians from Ireland are often only highlighted in events where other countries, such as the UK, are not involved.
It’s impossible to say if or when the UK will begin offering Irish musicians, especially those under British labels, the same opportunities given to British musicians. What can be determined is the everlasting impression Irish artists have made and continue to make on the music world, regardless of who or where they are signed.
