Here’s the Thing About Being Irish
By Bethany Lockhart
For many, the summers of ‘25 and ‘26 were defined by the release of Irish sensation Fontaines D.C.’s “Romance” (2024). ‘Starburster’ and ‘Favourite’ likely soundtracked our drinking sessions in beer gardens, plaguing our TikTok For You Pages with Mr Bruv and his partner, and of course, their gig in Boucher Playing Fields, which everyone and their granny basically attended. Ultimately, Fontaines were having a moment in the spotlight, exhibiting the talent that lies beneath Irish soil and accumulating Hibernophiles.
I’m certainly not the first person to notice the increase in yearning for Ireland in popular culture at the moment, and I doubt I’ll be the last. With the release of the band’s fifth album “Dopamine Chamber”, I’m predicting Ireland’s idealisation will increase, with ‘Romance is a place’ appearing to be Ireland for many. I want to question why. What is so appealing to outsiders:
Bethany: Why do you think everyone wants to be Irish right now? Is there anything specifically appealing?
Quianna (from Braintree): “I blame splitting the G for becoming a TikTok trend.”
Bella (from Minnesota): “Parasocialism has a large part to play. The people I know who want to move to Ireland are fans of Inhaler and other Irish musicians.”
John (from Belfast): “What makes Ireland so appealing is just how unapologetic people are. If someone is being [annoying], I feel like 9/10 times they’d call them out.”
Bethany: Is there a specific form of media that you think draws people to here?
John: “I suppose Derry Girls or Fontaines. Derry Girls gives you a good chuckle and a history lesson at the same time. For Fontaines, it’s a band that sounds different to other bands.”
While I agree that Ireland is a victim of romanticism (as seen through TikTok edits with pictures of sheep, fields, the coast and most importantly, Guinness), I would argue that the most notable reason for Hibernophiles is our pride. We embrace the island’s productions; whether it’s a beer, a band, or films, we stream the likes of CMAT, Inhaler, and everything that comes out of our seemingly small island because we take pride in our creations finally receiving their flowers. This was obvious at HMV Belfast’s listening party for “Dopamine Chamber” on the 8th of October.
Attendees wore a range of all things ‘Irish’, from Guinness shirts and Fontaines merch (of course) to Claddagh-themed jewellery. However, the pride that could be felt in the room as we sat on the floor listening attentively to the new record was the most memorable aspect, tapping our fingers and nodding our heads as our ears were exposed to new vibrations and frequencies.
We silently celebrated in our own ways a band that has managed to put Ireland on the map while simultaneously representing what it genuinely means to be from a complex island with deep-rooted history.
