Arguably, the best gigs of 2024 at the thriving Barrel Venue in McHugh’s was the debut appearance of Ireland’s latest supergroup, WHEN IRELAND ROCKED, back in February and their follow-up appearance there in June.

Well, the good news for aficionados of the trailblazers and pathfinders who brought modern Irish music to worldwide consciousness and put it on the global map, is that When Ireland Rocked are back with another show next Saturday, 15th February, as part of a nationwide Irish tour.

When Ireland Rocked features the music of Thin Lizzy, Horslips, Rory Gallagher, Mama’s Boys, U2, Stiff Little Fingers, Gary Moore, Boomtown Rats, Phil Lynott, the Undertones and more.

The period from 1973 to 1987 was a time of great musical discovery in Ireland when the generation of musicians who had learned their trade travelling the highways and byways of 1960s showbandland, north and south, struck out for pastures new with songs of their own and the confidence to export them beyond these shores.

With the dominance of the electric guitar, a revolution and fusion of musical styles occurred creating the signature Irish Rock sound which still reverberates down through the decades until today.

The music of that time resonated far and wide, energising young Irish people and inspiring future generations of musicians to follow in their footsteps.

The band focuses on this golden era, from approximately 1973 to 1987, celebrating the bands, musicians and songs from a time When Ireland Rocked the world.

The line-up reads like the creme de la creme of the nation’s finest rockers, featuring Pat MacManus on guitar duties and Cormac Neeson on vocals.

Guitar maestro Pat needs little introduction from his time as main man with the legendary Mama’s Boys, Ireland’s totemic hard-rock band of the 1980s, and whose iconic single, Needle In The Groove, still gets extensive radio coverage to this day. The band were one of the first Irish bands to make an impact in the USA and also toured with such legends as Thin Lizzy, Horslips and Hawkwind.

Lead vocalist Cormac is the singer with highly-rated northern outfit, The Answer, who have been Ireland’s most successful hard rock band of recent times, playing top venues worldwide, supporting AC/DC on tour, and backing up others as illustrious as Paul Rodgers of Free and Bad Company fame, Deep Purple and Aerosmith, to name a few. The Answer are currently on hiatus but will be resuming in the future.

The band are completed by ace accompanists Chris Carney, Brendan Reaburn and Jimmy Brennan who have seen service in some of Ireland’s most prestigious cover bands and tribute acts in the last decade or two, including Pearl Jem/Light Years, the Bruce Springsteen show, Cunning Stuntz, Metallitia, Blizzard of Ozzy and many others.

Huge crowds attended the gigs last February and June so advance ticket purchase is advised and doors open at 8pm with no support. When Ireland Rocked will take to the stage at 9pm and tickets are now avaialable on  Ticketstop.