EPD010

Daorstát is first and foremost a case study of Ireland currently. The title inverts Saorstát – referencing the Irish Free State of 1922-1937 – and could be considered a more accurate description of the country at present. Indeed, it is the so-called “free state” parties that still govern Ireland; the same parties that fought to break free from colonial oppression, yet today act as its biggest lapdogs, holding the country and its future hostage. 

Much of the album comes from watching Ireland in what feels like a culture war between the colonised and the decolonised, something that is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. It reflects on the devastating social and cultural impacts of colonialism, touching on arts, language, and identity. With this, the parallels with Palestine and the ongoing genocide are unavoidable – a conflict that has always resonated deeply in Ireland. After all, the Zionist state was once described as “a little loyal Jewish Ulster in a sea of hostile Arabism”, a comparison that still hits hauntingly close to home.

Daorstát bridges the gap between my previous two albums with a pair of opposing yet intrinsically linked triptychs. The first follows directly on from Antipropagandism – angry, dark, and confrontational, coming from a place of frustration and rage. The second continues the romanticism of anseo, taking a more personal, hopeful, and retrospective tone. Amid the chaos, change is brewing. Ireland is in the midst of a cultural revival – a golden age of arts and language. The latter half of the album is bookended by reflections on two of the most significant figures of recent times: Michael D. Higgins, whose presidency ended this year and will be remembered as one of Ireland’s greatest ambassadors for justice, human rights and culture; and Manchán Magan, whose passing this year marked the loss of one of the most important advocates for the Irish language and a major catalyst in its revival. 

This album sits in the tension between anger and hope, capturing a moment when the weight of colonialism remains devastating, but the desire to break free feels louder than ever.

Go raibh maith agat as éisteacht agus Saoirse don Phalaistín.

Recorded February & September-December 2025