DAMIEN DEMPSEY ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM HOLYWELL AND RELEASES LEAD SINGLE “THE MICKEY DAMM”

Before Kneecap, Fontaines DC, Lankum, Maverick Sabre, The Mary Wallopers et al there was Damien Dempsey, the Godfather of modern Irish music. Rooted in Celtic musical tradition while drawing on modern influences, over his 25-year career ‘Damo’ has held a mirror up to Irish society, highlighting social and historical injustices, while singing in his native Dublin accent, and in doing so he has influenced a whole new generation of Irish artists.

The follow-up to 2024’s acclaimed Hold Your Joy, which featured guest vocals from Brian Eno and John Grant, Holywell is a deeply personal collection of songs rooted in Ireland’s rich oral tradition. Dempsey explains: “These are songs I heard as a child, sung by my elders in houses and pubs at singsongs. Some are centuries old, and many people don’t know them. For me, they’re like a holy well – when I sing them, they bring healing to my soul.”

Holywell continues Dempsey’s lifelong mission to preserve and pass on traditional Irish music to new generations: “I have lots of young fans and I know they’ll be learning and singing these songs now.. and so this gold travels on into the future, carried in people’s hearts, minds and souls. Gifted to others along the way. Happy days.”

Speaking about The Mickey Damm, Dempsey says: “I got this song from the singing of Frank Harte. It gives a humorous snapshot of the harsh life of Irish navvies who had to leave the oul sod and do back breaking, incredibly dangerous work in strange lands to put food in theirs and their families’ bellies.”

Recorded in Wicklow’s Big Tree Studio with long-time collaborator John Reynolds (U2, Sinead O’Connor), the track came alive in the studio in an electric, spontaneous moment: “I was jamming the song out for John Reynolds… and he stopped me and said, ‘Start it again, Damo.’ “He jumped on the drums and the song took off like a freight train, it felt brilliant.”

Featuring Marty Barry, Éamonn DeBarra, Seán McKeon and Cathal Ó Curráin on banjo, flute, pipes and fiddle lashing out the ‘Castle Kelly Reel’: “Sean McKeon’s pipes draw you into the journey like a Carnyx… when John’s beat kicks in, the dead themselves would get up and dance.”

In March, Dempsey toured the UK performing songs from Holywell in traditional, smaller venues – including 3 sold-out nights at London’s Dublin Castle – and will return to the UK for the Moseley Folk Festival on September 4th and a headline show at Koko London on November 11th. In Ireland, Damo will be headlining at Dublin’s Iveagh Gardens on July 17th and performing All Together Now festival on August 2nd.

Damien Dempsey Holywell

01 The Coolin
02 Go Move Shift
03 The Mickey Damm
04 Smile In Your Sleep
05 A Pair Of Brown Eyes
06 The Rising Of The Moon
07 Ireland’s Hour Of Need
08 The Pharoah’s Daughter
09 Luke’s Song
10 Michael Dwyer
11 Michael Connolly
12 Seoithín Seothó

Pre-order here.

“At times anthemic, ever passionate, Dempey’s storytelling reveals a world of the dissolute and disillusioned to heartbreaking effect.”
Evening Standard

“He is the voice of the Irish people.”
Irish Independent