Adam Heffernan
OisÃn McCaffrey (left), Robbie Cunningham and Ross McNerney formed Amble in 2022
When Amble’s Robbie Cunningham told his father he was leaving a steady teaching career to chase a life in music, the reply came back in a single line: “Throw out the trout to catch the salmon.”
It was a gamble, but one that seems to have paid off.
From trading songs for pints in quiet Irish pubs to eclipsing album streams of the likes of Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift, 2025 has carried the Irish folk trio on a meteoric rise.
“Taylor who?” laughs Robbie. “That’s the ‘pinch-me’ moments, seeing something like that and looking at these two men and being proud of where we started and where we are now.”
All shoulders to the wheel
Formed in 2022, the band brought together County Leitrim’s Cunningham, Longford native Ross McNerney and Sligo man OisÃn McCaffrey.
“I was just mad to get into the music scene in some way, I thought the best way was to just get into a pub and play in the corner, but I wasn’t ever going to do it on my own,” Robbie told BBC News NI ahead of their show at Belfast’s SSE Arena.
Following a move to Dublin, Robbie started playing alongside OisÃn and then Ross joined them for a gig that November.
“The first time we met, we were singing the same songs we’ll be singing tonight, so it’s been a quick journey,” OisÃn added.
With a steady stream of gigs under their belts, the two teachers and data scientist had a decision to make.
“We were doing a tour, we actually played the Limelight (in Belfast), and that was a huge moment, and then we were going back working, it just felt like we weren’t giving it the effort, or all shoulders to the wheel,” Ross said.
“Obviously, the passion is music. And we just said, if we’re going for one of them, we’ll go for the band,” Robbie added.
Having signed to Warner Records last year, the musicians set about making their debut album, Reverie – recording nine songs in just one day.
“We had so many songs already written between the three of us… that once the three of us stepped into a studio, we kind of just banged them out,” OisÃn explained.
The band said they also intentionally recorded most of the album in just one take, so it would sound similar to their live gigs.
‘So many people are relating to it’
Adam Heffernan
The group released their chart-topping debut album in May
Grounded in Irish folk tradition, the album weaves together themes of love, loss and nostalgia, resonating deeply with the group’s growing fanbase.
It debuted at number one on the Irish album chart and has gone on to be Ireland’s most streamed record this year, according to Spotify.
One track in particular, Lonely Island, proved to be a breakout hit on social media, amassing more than 25 million streams.
“I always say we make music for the three of us, and the beauty of it is that so many people are relating to it… and if people love it, great,” Ross explained.
“You’ve got to just make it and love it yourself, and then be confident enough to put it out,” Robbie added.
In a year that has seen artists like CMAT, Kneecap, Fontaines DC and Kingfishr achieve remarkable, international success, Amble said they are proud to be part of Ireland’s thriving musical renaissance.
“I think there’s so much talent in the country,” Robbie said.
“It’s no wonder that so many Irish artists now are having a moment.
“Everyone’s just feeding off each other and bouncing off each other and getting inspired by our own talent.”
Getty Images
The band performed at Austin City Limits Music Festival in October
So what’s next for Amble?
After more than 130 gigs this year, the musicians are on a high, having just wrapped up a US tour with Hozier.
“That’s again a ‘pinch-me’ moment,” OisÃn said.
“He’s probably bigger in the US than he is here, nearly. I don’t think he’d mind me saying that… He plays in a stadium in every state. We opened about 10 or 15 of them, that was a privilege.”
The new year will see the group travel to South Korea and Australia before joining Ed Sheeran and Dermot Kennedy on their European and North American tours.
“We’re rolling with it, and we’re just enjoying it as it comes,” Ross said.
“I don’t think we’re really taking in how good a year [it’s been], we’re enjoying the moment obviously but I think at Christmas I’ll sit down and go, ‘Yeah, Jeez, that was class’.”