Damien Dempsey

Damien Dempsey (born 9 June 1975) is an Irish singer and songwriter who mixes traditional Irish folk contemporary lyrics that deliver social and political commentaries on Irish society. Damien sings in his native, working-class accent in the English language, and to a lesser extent in the Irish language. Damien has worked with many other artists in is career with people such as Eddie Sherlock, Sinéad O'Connor, Brian Eno, and many more.

Dempsey was born and raised in Donaghmede, a Northside suburb of Dublin. His father was a panel beater while his mother had a variety of jobs in the area.

His earliest musical influences came from the post-pub musical sessions that were held in his parents' house when he was a toddler. This developed into a love of artists such as Christy Moore, Luke Kelly, Shane MacGowan, Bob Marley and Elvis Presley. Shy as a teenager, Dempsey retreated to his bedroom where he spent his time honing his singing and guitar playing. He soon started to pen his own songs, testing the water on his pleasantly surprised family with "a song about smog". His family encouraged him to enter the 2FM Song Contest, and he came second with "Cardboard City", a song of his own about homelessness.

Although hugely taken with the Irish folk tradition, it was Bob Marley who inspired Dempsey during some of his darker times:

"I was in my teens and I was going through a bit of a phase, drinking a lot and doing E tablets and getting into street fighting and getting depressed. Then I'd listen to Marley and it lifted me out of it. I'd like to try [to] do the same for kids, that my music would give them a bit of hope and strength, and they'd know that I was telling the truth and I wouldn't lie to them." |source=Damien Dempsey

Dempsey attended secondary school at Mount Temple Comprehensive School, sharing classes with model Amanda Brunker. He then went on to Ballyfermot College of Further Education – the "Rock School" – for two years before graduating in 1995. There he studied musical performance and management and his first EP, The Contender, was released in 1995 on the school's record label.

Unemployed and on the dole for several years, Dempsey was a regular visitor to the library in Donaghmede where he read about Irish history and developed a lasting appreciation for the "seanchaí" – the Irish storyteller.

Musical career

One of his songs was included in an album by his Ballyfermot school, and he mimed it at a promotional concert. In the following period, he performed at bars and clubs, sometimes having to "pay to play", sometimes earning a little. His first commercial single "Dublin Town" was released in 1997, and reached number 18 on the Irish music charts. The Irish music magazine Hot Press praised the single, remarking that it was "an underground anthem for disaffected youth and closet balladeer alike". His first full-length album, titled They Don't Teach This Shit in School, was released in 2000 and contained a re-recorded version of this song; it was not a commercial success. He took a break from performing and moved to New York, working in an Irish bar there.

, Dempsey is signed to Australian independent music label FOUR FOUR.

On 25th October 2024, Dempsey returned with the double album "Hold Your Joy". Hot Press gave the album 9/10 noting "Indisputably, this is an artist at the top of his game."

Covers Many artists have covered Damien Dempsey's work, including Sinead O'Connor, The Proclaimers and The Wonder Stuff's Miles Hunt. His songs have been featured on many TV shows, including Sons of Anarchy, Fair City, the BAFTA-winning Tyrannosaur and, most recently, Broken Law.

The song "Damo", written by Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls, which features on the band's 2011 album Beauty Queen Sister, is about Dempsey and features him on guest vocals, as well as his regular bassist Claire Kenny, who had also worked with the Indigo Girls regularly since 1999, and drummer/producer John Reynolds.

Discography

They Don't Teach This Shit in School (2000) Seize the Day (2003) Shots (2005) To Hell or Barbados (2007) The Rocky Road (2008) Almighty Love (2012) It's All Good – The Best of Damien Dempsey (2014) No Force On Earth (2016) Soulsun (2017) Union (2018) Hold Your Joy (2024) Holywell (2026)

Film The Irish crime film Between the Canals featured Dempsey's debut performance as an actor. He played the fictional Dublin crime boss Paul Chambers. The film has been well received by critics; The Irish Times stated that the film "has all the raw, angry energy of the great man's roaring songs." The film was released in cinemas in March 2011.

He appeared in the 2017 Irish crime film Cardboard Gangsters.

His song "St. Patrick's Day" was featured in the 2014 movie Patrick's Day.

Documentary A 2003 documentary, It's All Good: The Damien Dempsey Story, by independent filmmaker Dara McCluskey, followed Dempsey's career progression up to the release of Seize the Day. It was broadcast on Ireland's national television station RTÉ in 2004 and shown at film festivals in Ireland and in New York.

Awards and nominations

Nominated in four categories in the 2004 Irish Meteor Music Awards, Dempsey walked away with two, the only 2004 double winner. In 2006 and 2007, he added to his collection of Meteor Awards when he won Best Irish Male. He was also nominated in two categories in the Irish Meteor Awards 2008 and won "Best Folk/Traditional".

Meteor Music Awards

Best Folk/Traditional Act Best Irish Country/Roots Artist Best Irish Male Seize the Day Best Irish Album

Damien Dempsey Best Irish Male Shots Best Irish Album 2007 Damien Dempsey Best Irish Male

Best Folk/Traditional Act Best Irish Male

Best Folk/Traditional Act Best Irish Male