Great Irish debut albums to (re)discover

With the release of debut albums from Chalk and Molly Vulpyne Band, 2fm’s Dan Hegarty looks at other Irish debuts from recent and not‑so‑recent times.

The Japanese Popstars – We Just Are (2008)

Already established as a live act that really had to be seen, The Japanese Popstars unleashed their debut album We Just Are in September 2008. If you want an example of what someone might describe as “big beats”, this album is a great place to start.

Revisiting the track B.C.T.T. conjures memories of acts like Orbital at their euphoric best, while Rise of Ulysses is the kind of uneasy listening that’s still a pleasure to experience. They would continue this sonic journey in 2011 with the excellent Controlling Your Allegiance.

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MayKay – MayKay (2025)

MayKay first came to prominence as vocalist with Fight Like Apes. After their split, she joined Le Galaxie for their best and, sadly, final studio album Pleasure.

Late last year she brought us her debut solo album. She could have tried to replicate previous formulas, but instead opted for a new sound. My Top 5 is a smart pop ballad, while Dating S**t ranks alongside the best tracks that artists like St. Vincent and Fiona Apple have delivered.

Otherkin – OK (2017)

There’s no denying that Fontaines D.C. kicked open the door for Irish guitar acts, and bands like Sprints, The Murder Capital, and Gurriers have kept it open. A few years before this, Otherkin had that metaphorical door creaking.

OK is an album full of guitar‑pop tunes that are hard to forget. Feel It, I Was Born, and Ay Ay are three of the best. This should have been the launching point for a major career, but the band broke up before a follow‑up arrived.

Sister Ghost – Beyond the Water (2024)

To borrow an old expression, Beyond the Water rocks! Sister Ghost had been releasing impressive music for many years prior to this, so it came as no surprise that the debut offering is so strong.

The songs on Beyond the Water have that big guitar sound, but there’s a clear pop essence in their DNA. Backwards and I Bite Back are two of the finest, while Puzzle takes the form of a ballad you’ll want to revisit many times.

Hothouse Flowers – People (1988)

There was an obsession within the Irish media throughout the mid and late 1980s with finding “the next big thing”. The alt text often read “the next U2”. There wasn’t another U2, but there were the Hothouse Flowers, who found huge success and critical acclaim with their debut album People.

The entire album became an extended anthem for many during the latter 1980s. The soulfulness of Lonely Lane and Love Don’t Work This Way really connected with people. As for Don’t Go – it’s a song woven into the fabric of Irish culture.

Candice Gordon – Garden of Beasts (2017)

Here’s an album that flew under many people’s radars at the time of its release. Berlin‑based Candice Gordon’s debut album Garden of Beasts is an astonishing piece of artistic expression.

Comparisons could be drawn between her and Anna Calvi or Nadine Shah, but in truth that’s more from a vocal or tonal standpoint than a stylistic one. Smoke in the Air grows with every listen, while I Belong to the Night, In Golden Dreams, and Nobody are exceptional tracks that deserve a much larger stage.

Garden of Beasts by Candice Gordon

Horslips – Happy to Meet – Sorry to Part (1972)

There has been a great deal of Horslips‑related activity of late, thanks to their 1973 album The Táin being awarded the Classic Irish Album prize at this year’s RTÉ Choice Music Prize. Rewind a year to 1972: the band released their debut Happy to Meet – Sorry to Part.

Recorded in the Rolling Stones’ mobile studio, the album seamlessly fuses traditional Irish sounds with progressive rock and is often referred to as the first Celtic Rock album. The eight‑sided sleeve is as striking as the songs within. To say it was a success is an understatement: Happy to Meet – Sorry to Part shifted 35,000 units on its first run, equating to quadruple platinum in 1972.

Fighting With Wire – Man Vs Monster (2008)

Any album that opens with a song like Cut the Transmission is worthy of your attention. It’s followed by Everybody Needs a Nemesis, which may be the album’s standout track.

Comparisons at the time referenced early Biffy Clyro and Foo Fighters. While accurate in some ways, Fighting With Wire were far more than a pastiche of other great bands. Many hope they’ll reform at some stage, and they remain an important part of Derry’s rich musical history.

Bren Berry – In Hope Our Stars Align (2025)

There are albums we feverishly await, and then there are surprise arrivals. In the years since the split of his band Revelino, Bren Berry kept himself busy with other aspects of music. If he had been working on songs, he certainly wasn’t broadcasting it.

Looking back at In Hope Our Stars Align a year on from its release, it’s likely Bren still has to pinch himself to check that it all actually happened. From glorious pop tunes like Turn On Your Radio to the balladry of Winter Song, this album may have been a long time coming – but the fact that it arrived and is so impressive is a win whichever way you look at it.

New Pagans – The Seed, The Vessel, The Roots and All (2021)

2021 was a strong year for debut albums. Drug Store Romeos released The World Within Our Bedrooms, Dry Cleaning brought us New Long Leg, and New Pagans arrived with the brilliant The Seed, The Vessel, The Roots and All.

Admire and Ode to None are the kind of songs that could impress anyone—from casual listeners to more sophisticated enthusiasts. Fans didn’t have to wait long for a follow‑up, as the Belfast band released Making Circles of Our Own less than two years later.

The Minutes – Marcata (2011)

It’s hard to believe that Marcata will celebrate its 15th anniversary in 2026. For a time, it seemed like The Minutes were everyone’s favourite band—and why wouldn’t they be?

Their gigs were as memorable for their hilarious audience banter as for the songs themselves. Few acts had better tracks at the time than Black Keys, Guilt Quilt, and Fleetwood.

2FM Alternative with Dan Hegarty, RTÉ 2FM, Mon – Thurs @ 23:00 – listen back here

Great Irish debut albums to (re)discover

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