Craic agus Ceol: Madra Salach

Scríofa ag Isabel Duff . Comhfhreagraí Gaeilge . 24/12/25

Tá an t-alt seo scríofa i nGaeilge. A short English summary is included below.

Tá níos mó agus níos mó tóra ar an ngrúpa Madra Salach le deanaí. Is é Madra Salach grúpa ceol tíre chomh aimseartha as Baile Átha Cliath. Is iad Paul Banks (príomhamhránaí), Adam Cullen (giotár), Jack Martin (giotár agus an fheadóg mhór), Maxime Arnold (dos), Dara Duffy (drumaí) agus Jack Lawlor (dordghiotár) na baill cumasach. Ba léir go raibh 2025 blian an-mhór do na buachaillí. Scaoil siad amach dhá shingil, Blue and Gold agus I Was just a Boy agus is cinnte gur tharraing siad aird an-mheasctha ar an ngrúpa. Beidh a gcéad EP It's a Hell of an Age, a bhfuiltear ag súil go mór leis, curtha amach ar 23/01/26. Chomh maith le sin, beidh na buachaillí ag dul ar chamchuairt Éireann, Albain agus sasana an bhliain seo chugainn agus bhí éileamh an-ard ar na ticéid. Éileamh ar scála nach bhfacthas riamh cheana do ghrúpa gan EP curtha amach fós! Léiriú ar a bhfuinneamh agus a gcuid buanna ceoil is ea seo.

ENGLISH CONTEXT

Madra Salach are attracting more and more attention lately. They’re a contemporary Irish folk band from Dublin, made up of Paul Banks (lead singer), Adam Cullen (guitar), Jack Martin (guitar and flute), Maxime Arnold (fiddle), Dara Duffy (drums), and Jack Lawlor (bass).

2025 has been a huge year for the band. They released two singles, Blue and Gold and I Was Just a Boy, which really helped bring widespread attention to them. Their debut EP, It’s a Hell of an Age, is highly anticipated and set for release on 23 January 2026.

On top of that, the band will be touring Ireland, Scotland, and England next year, and ticket demand has been incredibly high, on a scale rarely seen for a band that hasn’t even released an EP yet. This level of demand is a clear reflection of their energy and musical ability.

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Bhí an t-ádh orm i rith an tsamhraidh chun seit Madra Salach a fheiceáil ag Electric Picnic sa Salty Dog (how fitting!) i mí Lúnasa. Fuinneamh agus cumha, sin iad na príomh focail atá agam chun é a chur in iúil dóibh. Bhí atmaisféar saghas draíochtúil ann agus níorbh í ach na iliomad piontaí stúit a d’óladh. Tá an-teacht i láthair iontú ar an stáitse. Is léir go bhfuil na ceoltóirí sároilte go leor agus tá mealladh na ndaoine iontú ag an am céanna. Oibríonn siad le chéile agus feictear go bhfuil sé nádúrtha agus spraíúil. Léiriú tarraingteach ab ea.Níl aon rud níos fearr ná ceol beo taobh amuigh agus an lucht féachanna ag céilíuradh Éireannachas. 

Credim go bhfuil Madra Salach an freagra do mo chumha i ndiaidh an bhaile. Ó a bhog mé go dtí an Fhrainc, táim beagnach go heisiach ag éisteacht le sean-cheol na hÉireann. Thugadh The Pogues, Sinead O Connor, The Cranberries, The Waterboys agus fiú The Saw Doctors uaireanta (ní féidir a shéanadh gur banger é N17 yuppp!), sólás dom. Ceapaim go bhfuil lorg The Pogues ar an gceol Madra Salach. Ní féidir a chur in iúl i gceart cé chomh cumhachtach agus a bhí guth Paul Banks. Is féidir linn paisean agus pian a mhothú, ach tá smacht iomlán aige. Is léir an mothúchán ina ghuth i gcuimhne ar na guthanna Éireannaigh is torthúila ar nós Sinead O Connor agus Shane MacGowan. É féin, lena aicsean Éireannach dochloíte agus a ghuth láidir i measc na ceoltóirí traidisiúnta sciliúla, cuireann sé i gcuimhne dom na Pogues gan amhras. Tá an athbheochan Cheilteach ar siúl agus tá bród an domhain orm. 

ENGLISH CONTEXT

I was lucky enough over the summer to see Madra Salach play a set at Electric Picnic in the Salty Dog (how fitting!) in August. They have a powerful stage presence. It’s clear that the musicians are highly skilled and that they draw people in at the same time. There’s nothing better than live music outdoors, with the crowd celebrating Irishness together.

I believe Madra Salach are the answer to my homesickness. Since I moved to France, I’ve been listening almost exclusively to old Irish music. The Pogues, Sinéad O’Connor, The Cranberries, The Waterboys, and even The Saw Doctors at times (you can’t deny that N17 is a banger, yuppp!) have brought me comfort. I think you can hear the influence of The Pogues in Madra Salach’s music. It’s hard to properly express just how powerful Paul Banks’ voice is. You can feel both passion and pain, yet he has complete control. The emotion in his voice clearly recalls some of the most powerful Irish voices, such as Sinéad O’Connor and Shane MacGowan. With his unmistakable Irish accent and strong voice among skilled traditional musicians, he undoubtedly brings The Pogues to mind. The Celtic revival is alive and well, and I couldn’t be prouder.

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D'fhág mé mo chroí in Éirinn, i dtigh tabhairne le amhránaí sa chúinne ag casadh amach na hamhráin Chlasaiceacha Éireannacha, fuarbholadh beoir, bord adhmaid agus gáire ard. Is léir go bhfuil saghas brón glúine ag daoine na hÉireann, ach is sinne atá ag gáire is airde de chách. Tá cursaí difriúl sa Fhrainc. Is minic a shiúlaim thart tríd an cathair álainn agus beomhar, gach rud ag athrú ar luas lasrach, ach fós is é mian mo chroí istigh é a bheith i bpub le ceoltóir sa choirnéal, agus gan aon rud athrú. Tá paisean againn in Éirinn. Tá muid mothúchánach ach bíonn an craic againn. Feictear domsa go mbíonn seo le feiceáil i gceol Madra Salach.

Tugann Madra Salach deis dom le dul ag spaisteoireacht ar chosán na seanchuimhní. Cuireann siad beocht sa cheol. Is ceoltóir an-chumasach é gach duine sa ghrúpa seo. Is é I Was Just a Boy ceann de mo amhráin is fearr liom ó 2025. Tosaíonn sé go mall, ag tógáil mothúcháin agus ionchais agus ansin BOOM éiríonn sé níos gasta. Tosaíonn an t-amhránaí ag screadaíl agus seinneann na ceoltóirí go hard, ag taispeáint an chumas ollmhór. Beidh tú faoi dhraíocht ag an gceol, go háirithesa chuid uirlise den amhráin. Cuireann an t-amhrán sin mé i gcaillteanas iomlán ama.

Is cinnte go bhfuil na scealaíochta tradisiúinta ag liricí madra salach go háirithe a gcéad singil Blue and gold agus gan amhras tá gné ceol tradisiúinta acu ach níl siad ‘seanfaiseanta’ ina gcuid leiriú. Is saothar dáiríre ealaíne é seo. Ag an am céanna, bíonn an craic acu ar an stáitse, daoine nádúrtha iad. Grúpa soléir Éireannach le scéalíocht agus ceol tradisiúinta ach, tá rud nua aimseartha acu. Feictear domsa tionchar 80s agus 90s ‘alternative indie’ agus go leor fuinneamh agus cruthaitheacht, chomh maith le ceol traidisiúnta. Cuireann sé cumha ort ach ag an am céanna fadcheannach Ní feidir linn iad a chur i mbosca ‘trad’ amháin, ach tugann siad brí nua sa ceol na hÉireann sa la atá inniu ann. Níl aon daoine eile ag déanamh sé seo. 

Gan aon amhras ar bith beidh an chamchuairt ráthúil. Táim ag tnúth go mór le Madra Salach a fhéiceal arís (Tar go dtí an Fhrainc le do thoil!!). Freisin táim ag iarraidh The Man Who Seeks Pleasure ceann de na hamhráin is áille a chuala mé riamh, a bheith scaoilte leis an EP. Credim go láidir go mbeidh an grúpa seo chomh mór le bannaí cosúil le Fontaines DC go luath. 

ENGLISH CONTEXT

This article reflects on homesickness, Irish identity, and the emotional power of music while living abroad. It contrasts the fast-moving, constantly changing pace of life in France with the timeless comfort of Irish pub culture, a space defined by live music, laughter, shared emotion, and familiarity. Irish people are portrayed as carrying a deep-rooted sadness while still being the loudest laughers in the room, a duality that sits at the heart of Irish culture.

Madra Salach’s music becomes a bridge back to home, offering a sense of memory, comfort, and connection. Their sound blends traditional Irish storytelling and musical elements with modern alternative and indie influences from the 1980s and 1990s.

Tracks such as I Was Just a Boy demonstrate this dynamic approach, beginning slowly before erupting into powerful, emotionally charged moments that showcase the band’s full instrumental strength. Their debut single Blue and Gold further reinforces their commitment to storytelling, while refusing to be confined to a single “trad” category. Rather than simply reviving traditional Irish music, Madra Salach reimagine it for the present day, creating something both nostalgic and refreshing.

Go raibh Míle Isabel. This a brand new segment called Craic agus Ceol written by our Gaeilge Correspondent Isabel Duff. As an Independent, Irish platform we believe that it is vital to keep the Irish language alive, and that it is important to celebrate our heritage.