“We are proud to present Poxtail Soup – the culmination of a four-year musical journey through the wilds of Ireland, the UK, and the USA, and back again. On big stages, small stages, bar stools, backrooms, festivals, and long van rides, we grew, changed, came full circle, and tried our best to create an album worthy of that journey.
The songs on this record aim to capture the essence of our live performances while using the sugar and spice of the studio to push further – creating moments in time that, above all, make you feel something…whatever that may be.
Poxtail Soup: the rancid, boiling pot of acid eating away at our social contract, our collective values, and the very planet itself, all stoked by the fire of rampant individualism. In the times we live in, this theme felt like a necessary cry of frustration and anger.
War: the endless cycle of cause and effect that has led to so much suffering. The wars on the battlefield in Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye, and the wars of the mind in Johnny Jump Up, feel as relevant now as ever.
Exploitation: the unnatural state of using and abusing each other while turning our backs on community – the spark behind On Down the Bar and our take on Mo Shéamuisín.
But, as in life, it’s not all doom and gloom. The tunes we’ve chosen – Drimroe Cross, Rakish Paddy, Kings of Kerry, Eileen Ní Rua, and (of course) The Silver Spear – are meant to uplift, energize, and remind us of our collective power. They may be simple jigs and reels, but when we come together with our friends to make music, the sound is anything but simple: it’s compelling, powerful, and greater than the sum of its parts.
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This record would not exist without the calibre of collaborators we’ve had the pleasure of working with in recent years. Ross Chaney’s drumming blows us away every time. Declan Gillen’s bodhrán adds a tribal pulse to the heart, a moving call of emotional depth.
And what can we possibly say about the honour of having Sharon Shannon play The Kings of Kerry with us? Sharon is a name in Irish music that needs no introduction. An icon who has lifted Irish tradition to new heights, she still met us with warmth and excitement. We’ll be forever grateful for her time, company, and kindness.
Inspiration is easy to come by when working with Doireann Ní Ghlacáin. The world is only beginning to witness the blossoming of The Kincora Rose.
Kilian & Rats – thank you for your work, contributions, and guidance in recording, engineering, and producing.
And finally, a massive thank you to Ryan Quinn for enthusiastically stepping in to save the day.
Ispíní na hÉireann Bio”:
Ispíní na hÉireann are an alternative-traditional band from Dublin, formed in 2018 by Tomás Mulligan (lead vocals, guitar) and featuring Paahto Cummins (vocals, banjo), Pádraig Óg Mac Aodhagáin (saxophone, uilleann pipes, flute), Aongus MacAmhlaigh (vocals, cello, fiddle) and Declan Gillen (drums, bodhrán, pad).
Rooted in Irish traditional music yet fearlessly inventive, the band brings together some of Ireland’s most exciting contemporary musicians, with backgrounds spanning classical, jazz, opera and bluegrass.
Blending original compositions with unabashed reimaginings of staple traditional repertoire, Ispíní na hÉireann craft a sound that is raw, raucous, and unmistakably Irish. Their music fuses technical mastery with sharp wit, storytelling, and social commentary — performances that are as thought-provoking as they are electrifying; equal parts musicianship, mayhem, and meaning.
Following the success of their debut album Hard Working Men, the band are gearing up to release their much-anticipated second record Poxtail Soup, showcasing their trademark mix of chaos, humour, and heart. With a reputation for exhilarating live shows and a bold approach to genre, Ispíní na hÉireann continue to redefine what contemporary Irish music can be.
