Our 20 Favourite Irish Albums of 2024
Photo: Simon Wheatley
Words: Rachel Mae Hannon
You never really know how many music stand outs there are in a year until you look back on it. At the start of 2024, who could’ve guessed the sheer volume of bangers we’d be blessed with? From iconic hip-hop duos spitting fire, to post-punk heartbreakers and sad girl anthems that hit you right in the gut, Irish albums brought the heat this year. These records prove that Irish music is a force, flexing creativity, innovation, and unstoppable energy. So, here’s our roundup of the 20 Irish albums that made 2024 an unforgettable year for music.
Comma, Fullstop.
This album is a humorous yet soulful introspective exploration of themes like love and identity. The mixtape shows versatility in it’s genres. The track ‘GeorgianFlip.’ features elements of experimental beats, where as chill jazz and soul-rap can be found on other tracks like ‘World’Cup!’ and ‘help wanted’. ‘Até Logo…’ even explores Portuguese folk showcasing Ahmed’s emotive delivery and lyrical depth and making this album an absolute standout from 2024.
MO LÉAN
Fermanagh’s RÓIS combines traditional Irish music with modern production, creating a hauntingly beautiful album that pays hommage to Ireland’s rich cultural heritage. Self released, written and produced by RÓIS with some additional production from John Spud Murphy (OXN/Lankum), ‘MO LÉAN’ is a concept album exploring ancient themes and showcases a captivating new talent on the rise.
Youngfella
Fynch’s album is gritty and heartfelt. This rap work captures the struggles and aspirations of Dublin life. Based in Drimnagh, Fynch discusses these places he grew up around that influenced his life and music style. His clever wordplay and storytelling sets this work apart.
the defiance of a sadgirl
shiv’s debut album fuses R&B with experimental sounds, exploring themes of self-empowerment, identity, family, and so much more. This album was curated during a two-month stint in Uganda, and finished with a Bricknasty collaboration. Her buttery-smooth vocals and rich production (co-produced by Adam Shanahan) make her record ‘defiance of a sad girl’ a highlight record from 2024.
Catch the Dusk
This is where lo-fi hip-hop meets ambient soundscapes, jazz, and electronic. The contemplative ‘Catch The Dusk’ from Cork producer and rapper Rob O’Halloran is an introspective work, perfect for late night listening.
Carlos Danger Presents: Irish Hash Mafia
Renowned producer Rory Sweeney gives us a taste of his talent in his hip-hop mixtape. The album is presented as a celebration of Irish rap from Belfast, to Mullingar, to Tallaght and beyond. Featuring Emby, Curtisy, Ahmed, With Loce., E The Artist, yeire13, Lonely Chap, Keanu The Pilot and Smokey, this classic rap album also features grime, electronic, game samples, and more. It gives us a peak into a hub of creativity that is happening in Irish hip-hop over the last year.
Name Your Sorrow
With their emotionally charged lyrics and anthemic melodies, Pillow Queens’ album ‘Name Your Sorrow’ continues the band’s exploration of identity, resilience, relationships and more. With fluid guitar riffs, melodic vocal earworms, the album strikes the perfect balance between being intimate and expressive.
Come And See
Post-punk energy drives this electrifying debut from Gurriers. It’s gritty, visceral, and politically charged. The album perfectly captures the zeitgeist of Ireland’s youth in bold strokes.
NPC
Blending dub, garage, trap, club, rap, bass, and experimental sounds, SLOUCHO’s debut album ‘NPC’ weaves a gripping narrative that’s as enigmatic as the artist himself. Named after the gaming term ‘Non-Player Character’, ‘NPC’ dives into duality of this main character – an exploration of his home world, ‘Athrú’, and the afterlife of his neolithic ancestors. While his true identity remains a mystery too listeners, the collaborators who featured on the album are in on the secret. Masked in anonymity, SLOUCHO lets his bold, futuristic sound take centre stage. This album has cemented SLOUCHO’s reputation as one of Ireland’s most innovative boundary-pushing producers.
Wide Open, Horses
If lush, cinematic soundscapes mixed with poignant songwriting is your thing, this album is for you. This is the artist’s seventh studio album that explores ‘flaws’ and ‘special moments’ of the recording process. Tracks like ‘Wide Open’ reveal his mastery of emotional storytelling and innovative arrangements. We also see him question his place in the world in lyrics like, “What the f**k are any of us really doing here/ Do we really exist at all?”. The album is punchy, unexpected in places, and an extremely easy listen.
Live in Dublin
Capturing the raw power and emotional depth of their live performances, this album is a masterclass in atmosphere and artistry. Recorded during a series of intimate yet electrifying shows, this album reimagines their signature sound of blending Irish folk with drone, experimental textures, and dark cinematic sounds, transforming familiar songs into something other wordly. With ‘Live in Dublin’, Lankum proves why they are amongst the most important forces in modern folk music.
Trusting Theta
Or:la’s latest project marries intricate electronic production with ethereal melodies. ‘Trusting Theta’ enlists an impressive round up of collaborations, featuring Eliza Rose, SOAK, and Mary Lake. The album is a sonic journey through ambient soundscapes, hypnotic rhythms, perfect for introspective moments and proving Or:la as a visionary in the electronic music world.
Everybody Needs A Hero
Orla Gartland’s indie-pop gem ‘Everybody Needs A Hero’ is brimming with sharp lyricism and infectious melodies. Tracks like ‘Hero’s Glow’ delve into vulnerability and self-reflection while maintaining and uplifting and empowering tone. This release has firmly established Or:la as a major artist in the alt-pop world, with anthems that feel both universal and intimate.
WHAT WAS THE QUESTION
Curtisy blends house beats, 80s synths, old-school hip-hop and more in ‘WHAT WAS THE QUESTION?‘, creating an emotionally rich yet danceable album. Inspired by some of the greatest rappers like Wiki and Earl Sweatshirt, this project feels both deeply personal and universally relatable. A standout in Irish hip-hop, this release proves Curtisy’s rise is only beginning.
XONGZ
Blending 2000s R&B, neo-soul, jazz, and experimental elements, Bricknasty delivers a bold and innovative record here. ‘XONGZ‘ challenges genre conventions while retaining a warm, human touch – making it one of the most exciting releases in modern Irish music.
Burn The Right Things Down
Known for his heartfelt soulful voice, Maverick Sabre returned this year with ‘Burn The Right Things Down’, an album exploring themes of resilience and personal-growth. The raw, emotional delivery on tracks like ‘Never Be Like Them’ and ‘Lay Down On Me’ resonate deeply, offering an authentic experience. Maverick’s ability to connect on a visceral level remains as powerful as ever.
PEACE 2 DA WORLD
Rejjie Snow’s latest record is an eclectic blend of hip-hop, jazz, and the experimental. This album is playful and introspective at its core. ‘PEACE 2 DA WORLD‘ highlights Rejjie’s ability to create fresh sounds while staying true to his Dublin roots. Tracks like ‘Rio De Janeiro’ and ‘Karen’ (which he just performed on Colors Show), demonstrate his lyrical finesse and fearless artistry. This record cements Rejjie’s place as another boundary pushing force in the global music scene.
MADRA
Galway’s NewDad have been making waves far beyond Ireland, with their dreamy indie rock collection ‘MADRA‘ resonating as far as Asia. This album is steeped in nostalgia, reflection, and storytelling. Tracks like ‘Tell Me That You’re Mine’ transport listeners into a cinematic realm of longing, yet the album leaves the listeners feeling energised and eager for more. NewDad’s rise feels unstoppable, and ‘MADRA’ proves their universal appeal.
DOGHOUSE
With this collaboration, Travy and Ezzz prove that Ireland’s hip-hop scene is thriving like never before. This project oozes with raw energy, exploring urban life, and Dublin complexities through their razor-sharp rhymes and beats. Their chemistry is unmatched, making ‘Doghouse‘ a definitive work for Irish rap enthusiasts.
Romance
With this album, Fontaines D.C. ascend to new artistic heights, evolving their sound into sprawling cinematic textures and haunting influences. Grian Chatten’s dynamic vocal performances shift between seduction, melancholy, urgency, and desire, all under the album’s central theme of romance. Standout tracks like ‘Starburster’, ‘Here’s The Thing’, ‘Favourite’ and ‘In The Modern World’ highlight the explosive energy of the band. The lush strings and introspective lyrics of ‘Horseness Is the Whatness’, inspired by James Joyce, along with the stunning music videos accompanying all single releases, showcase the band’s unmatched artistic ambition. Two grammy nominations later for this album, Fontaines D.C. have firmly solidified their place as modern rock visionaries.
