In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, we’re looking at all the best Irish punk bands.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Whether you’re Irish or not, it’s the day to celebrate all the wonderful cultural contributions coming the ‘Emerald Isle’ – including its punk rock music! Take a look at some of the best bands from Ireland in our gallery below (and in some cases, like with Flogging Molly, some of the best Irish groups in America.)
1 of 18
The Pogues
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The Pogues – Terry Woods, Phil Chevron, James Fearnley and Shane MacGowan
Greenwich Summer Sessions 2011, The Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London, Britain – 30 Jul 2011
March 15, 2019, 4:34PM 2 of 18
Sun Room
Paul A Hebert/LiveMusicToday/Shu
Sun Room – Ashton Minnich, Luke Asgian, Wyatt Flom, Indy Minnich
Inhaler in Concert, Nashville, TN, The High Watt, Nashville, Tennessee, USA – 24 Nov 2021
March 16, 2022, 10:22AM 3 of 18
U2
DANIEL DAL ZENNARO/EPA-EFE/Shutt
The Edge (L), Bono (C) and Adam Clayton of the Irish band U2 perform during the first of their four concerts at the Assago Forum in Milan, Italy, 11 October 2018.
U2 in concert in Milan, Italy – 11 Oct 2018
March 16, 2022, 10:22AM 4 of 18
Flogging Molly
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Bridget Regan of Flogging Molly performs for a sold-out crowd at The Tabernacle in Atlanta, Georgia. The Irish-American band was formed when Dave King, former lead singer for ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke’s heavy metal band Fastaway, met Bridget, Ted Hutt, Jeff Peters and Paul Crowder in 1993. The band released ‘Life Is Good’ in 2017.
March 16, 2018, 3:52PM 5 of 18
Flogging Molly
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Flogging Molly’s name is reportedly related to Molly Malone’s, a venerable Irish pub on Fairfax in Los Angeles. ‘We used to play there every Monday night and we felt like we were flogging it to death, so we called the band Flogging Molly,’ Dave reportedly told ‘Kerrang!’ magazine. Here are members Matt Hensley and Dennis Casey performing at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas in March 2013.
March 16, 2018, 3:54PM
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6 of 18
The Strypes
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The Strypes were formed in 2010 in Cavan, Ireland. The group – featuring Ross Farrley, Josh McClorey, Peter O’Hanlon and Evan Walsh – developed a huge following immediately, as they toured with the Artic Monkeys early on in the careers. Alice Cooper, Elton John and Dave Grohl are just a handful of big names who are devoted fans of their music.
The Strypes, Dublin, Eire – 31 Jul 2013
March 16, 2018, 3:50PM 7 of 18
The Strypes
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‘We’ve known each other since we were seven, and went from playing gigs at school to more festivals, and it’s just spiraled since then. There’s been no unique journey as such,’ guitarist Josh McClorey told The Independent in 2017. Here is the group rocking the Electric Ballroom in London in 2013.
Ross Farrelly, Josh McClorey, The Strypes in concert at Electric Ballroom in London, Britain – 12 Sep 2013
March 16, 2018, 3:45PM 8 of 18
Stiff Little Fingers
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More than 40 years since they formed in Belfast, Stiff Little Fingers continue to perform across the world. The celebrated punk band – known for their punk classics ‘Suspect Device’, ‘Gotta Get Away’, and ‘Wasted Life – was formed in 1977 by Jake Burns, Henry Cluney, Brian Faloon, and Gordon Blair. Here is Jake at a 2017 concert at the O2 Academy in Newcastle.
March 16, 2018, 3:57PM 9 of 18
Stiff Little Fingers
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Though they’ve gone through a few lineup changes (and a four year hiatus, from 1983-1987) the band continues to perform, with Ian McCallum, Ali McMordie and Steve Grantley part of the current lineup. Here’s a flashback to the band, featuring Jim Reilly, Henry, Jake, and Ali. Spot the classic Motorhead pin on the leather there.
Stiff Little Fingers – Jim Reilly, Henry Cluney, Jake Burns and Ali McMordie
March 16, 2018, 3:56PM 10 of 18
The Undertones
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A true Derry original, The Undertones formed in 1974 and are considered one of the most successful bands to emerge from Northern Ireland. The band – who incorporated punk, new wave, rock, glam, and post-punk into their sound over their 45+ year career – continue to perform.
The Undertones – John O’Neill,Michael Bradley, Billy Doherty, Damian O’Neill, Paul McLoone. Rewind Festival, Scone Palace, Perth, Scotland – 22 Jul 2017
March 14, 2018, 5:58PM 11 of 18
The Undertones
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The Undertones are best known for their song ‘Teenage Kicks’, even though it wasn’t their most successful song. ‘It only reached 31 in the charts, so technically “My Perfect Cousin” was more successful – which is funny, because so many people remember us for “Teenage Kicks,” ‘ bassist Michael bradlet told the Yorkshire Evening Post in 2017.
‘The Tube’ – The Undertones, 1987
March 14, 2018, 5:56PM 12 of 18
The Undertones
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Perhaps the enduring nature of ‘Teenage Kicks’ is because it’s been covered so many times. One Direction, Johnny Cash, and the Punkharmonic Orchestra have given a shot at the punk staple. Here is the band in 1983. Who would have thought that 35 years later, they would still be at it?
UNDERTONES – 1983
March 14, 2018, 6:00PM 13 of 18
Boomtown Rats
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Though Bob Geldof, KBE, would become better known for writing ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ and his work orchestrating the charity super-concert Live Aid (and the Live 8 concerts) he got his start first as lead singer of The Boomtown Rats. They topped the charts with ‘Rat Trap’ and ‘I Don’t Like Mondays.’ Here they are performing at the Heartlands Festival in Pool, Cornwall, Britain in Sep. 2014.
Boomtown Rats. Live at Heartlands Festival, Pool, Cornwall, Britain – 13 Sep 2014
March 14, 2018, 5:49PM 14 of 18
Boomtown Rats
Bob Geldof and the Boomtown Rats in 1986. The band would form in Ireland in 1975, and were closely associated with the first punk wave of the late 70s. The band split up after their performance at Self Aid in 1986, but reformed in 2013 with four of the original six members.
Bob Geldof & The Boomtown Rats, 1986
March 14, 2018, 5:39PM 15 of 18
Boomtown Rats
Photographer Ian Dickson/REX/Shutterstock
‘I Don’t Like Mondays,’ one of the songs most associated with The Boomtown Rats, was inspired by Brenda Ann Spencer, a 16-year-old girl who fired at children in a school playground at Grover Cleveland Elementary School in San Diego on Jan. 29, 1979. She was charged with two counts of murder. When asked why she did it, she said ‘I don’t like Mondays. This livens up the day.’ While it reached No. 1 in the UK, it only hit No. 73 in the US. As of Feb. 2019, 56-year-old Brenda Ann Spencer remains incarcerated at the California Institution for Women in Chino, California.
Boomtown Rats, 1977
March 14, 2018, 5:47PM 16 of 18
The Pogues
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Though formed in London, The Pogues is one of the most widely known and beloved British Celtic punk bands in history. The band — featuring Shane MacGowan, Peter ‘Spider’ Stacy, Jen Finer and James Fearnley – played their first gig together in Oct. 1982. Political in subject matter, due to the influence of Shane and Spider’s punk background, the band used traditional Irish instruments as the tin whistle, banjo, cittern, mandolin and accordion.
The Pogues, James Fearnley, Shane MacGowan in concert at The O2 Arena in London, Britain – 20 Dec 2012.
March 14, 2018, 5:31PM 17 of 18
The Pogues
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Perhaps best known for their 1987 singer ‘Fairtayle in new York,’ the band reached the peak of its commercial success right when Shane was on the brink. He left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems, with Spider and The Clash’s Joe Strummer taking over on vocal duties. The band would break up in 1996.
The Pogues at the O2 Birmingham
March 14, 2018, 5:34PM 18 of 18
The Pogues
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The Pogues reformed in 2001 and continued to play across the UK, Ireland and on the US East Coast until 2014. The likelihood of a second reunion seems low, as Shane has said that ‘we’re friends as long as don’t tour together,’ and that he’s ‘had enough’ of touring as a whole.
Shane Macgowan Lead Singer Of The Pop Group The Pogues
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