[2025] The Wonderful Irish: Popular Bands from Ireland

Blue Collar JaneThe Strypes

The Strypes – Blue Collar Jane

In the rock scene since the 2010s, The Strypes are often cited as the leading Irish rock band that drew the most attention.

Still unmistakably youthful boys in their mid-teens astonished the world by playing music rooted in classic blues rock, garage, and rhythm and blues—sounds that belied their age.

They quickly became popular in Japan as well, achieving feats such as appearing on Music Station shortly after their debut.

Following the success of their 2013 debut album, Snapshot, they released albums every two years and regularly toured Japan, steadily building momentum.

Unfortunately, they announced their breakup in 2018.

You can relive the arc of their whirlwind youth any time by listening to the three albums they left behind.

Boys In The Better LandFontaines D.C.

Fontaines D.C. – Boys In The Better Land (Darklands Version)

Formed in County Dublin in 2017, Fontaines D.

C.

are arguably the most talked-about young Irish rock band to have debuted in recent years.

The anecdote that they started out centered around members who were poetry enthusiasts hints at the intellectual bent typical of the post-punk genre, but their sound is by no means straightforward, pop-friendly rock.

Their songs—featuring a brash, uncharming vocal delivery, solid guitar riffs, and a rhythm section that marries stark austerity with rock’s primal impulse—embody post-punk at its coolest.

Their 2019 debut album, Dogrel, received high acclaim at home and abroad, and their sophomore release, A Hero’s Death, which arrived as early as 2020, shows further evolution.

While suggesting a more deliberate approach to melody, their uniquely compelling rock sound—where danger meets intelligence, and impulse intersects with cold precision—remains absolutely electrifying.

I will followU2

U2 – I will follow

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call them the most famous rock band to come out of Ireland.

Since their full-fledged debut in 1980, U2—an unshakeable quartet—have not only achieved global success but have also actively engaged with social issues, keeping their every move in the spotlight.

Early on, they drew attention within the post-punk and new wave movements, but their third album, War, which presented a clear thematic stance and a more evolved sound, became a commercial success and expanded their popularity in the United States and Japan.

From there, they faced the times head-on, flexibly adapting their musical style as they grew into a colossal stadium band.

Although their release pace slowed in the 2000s and beyond, they have continued to put out quintessentially U2 albums and remain one of the greatest active rock bands.

Countless bands have fallen under their influence, and many rock guitarists—here in Japan as well—openly cite guitarist The Edge’s playing style as an inspiration.

Why not start with a best-of collection and dive into U2’s music?

SuperheroesThe Script

The Script – Superheroes (Official Video)

Starting with their self-titled debut album in 2008, The Script is a popular band whose every album release has reached No.

1 in their home country of Ireland.

Most of their albums have also hit No.

1 in the UK, and they enjoy strong popularity in the United States and many other countries—truly a national band that Ireland can proudly present to the world.

Since their debut, The Script has continued as an unshakable trio.

Their sound centers on lead vocalist Daniel O’Donoghue’s expansive voice and beautiful melodies, blending traditional Irish musicality with modern rock, pop, hip-hop, and R&B into a hybrid style.

Their songs, born from outstanding songwriting sensibilities, are timeless classics of enduring quality.

While their music spans a wide range of styles, it has a universal appeal that doesn’t exclude any listener—making them a band we can recommend even to those who don’t usually listen to Western music.

You Made Me RealiseMy Bloody Valentine

my bloody valentine – you made me realise (official video)

Even if you mainly listen to Japanese rock, there’s a good chance you’ve come across interviews where your favorite artists mention the word “shoegaze,” right? Pioneered by bands associated with the sound dubbed “neo-psychedelia” that emerged in the UK from the mid- to late 1980s, the most famous and important band in the shoegaze genre that took shape in the early 1990s is My Bloody Valentine.

They’re adored—one could say obsessively—by many Japanese artists, and among fans they’re affectionately known as “Mybra.” As for what defines their musicality, it’s the utterly original sonic world represented by their 1991 masterpiece Loveless, produced under an uncompromising perfectionism so intense it nearly bankrupted their then-label, Creation Records: multiple layers of noisy guitars fused with dreamlike melodies.

After releasing Loveless, the band remained silent for many years, but in 2008 they effectively reunited and even performed in Japan, and in 2013 they unexpectedly released a new album, m b v.

On March 31, 2021, their catalog returned to streaming services, and they also announced plans to release two new albums!

DreamsThe Cranberries

The Cranberries – Dreams (Dir: Peter Scammell) (Official Music Video)

In 2018, news of the death of Dolores O’Riordan, the great singer born in Ireland, raced around the world and plunged many music fans into mourning.

Fronted by the charismatic Dolores, The Cranberries are a five-piece band whose members all hail from Limerick in the Republic of Ireland.

One of their early signature songs, “Dreams,” became a hit in Japan as well through a cover by Hong Kong–born Faye Wong titled “Dream Person” (Yumechūjin).

The Cranberries made their album debut in 1993 with Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?, steadily building success through relentless touring.

Their second album, No Need to Argue (1994), which features the anti-war song “Zombie” incorporating the dark, heavy sound typical of ’90s alternative rock, became a massive hit, selling over 17 million copies worldwide and elevating them to global stardom.

A best-of collection is a fine way to approach their music, but start with these two albums first!

Whiskey In The JarTHIN LIZZY

Thin Lizzy – Whiskey In The Jar (official music video)

Thin Lizzy, the great legendary rock band born in Ireland.

Formed in 1969 around Phil Lynott—who handled bass, vocals, and most of the songwriting—they remain a nationally beloved presence in the 2020s as “heroes of Ireland.” In their early days they blended Irish music with rock, but they shifted toward a harder, more melodic style and, from 1974, established their own unique rock as a four-piece featuring their hallmark twin-lead Les Paul guitars.

Phil’s vocal delivery brimming with songful expression, melodies that showcase his sure talent as a composer, bass with exemplary rhythmic feel, solid drums capable of dynamic contrast, and the lustrous beauty of the twin leads… It’s only natural that their sound was reappraised during the so-called NWOBHM boom that swept the UK from the 1980s onward.

If you’re new to Thin Lizzy, start with the masterpieces from Jailbreak (1976) through Black Rose (1979)!