Track of The Day: The Mercadonnas 'Céad Míle Fáilte'

Music
02 Sep 24

The emerging Carlow-based rock duo release their debut post-punk ballad.

The Mercadonnas have released their emotional debut single 'Céad Míle Fáilte', a tune which sheds a captivating light on Irish identity.

The track is all about changing times in Ireland and having empathy for outsiders, with the title alluding to the well-known Irish phrase meaning a 'hundred thousand welcomes'.

Lyrically, the track veers between grunge and folk-punk, calling for the acceptance of visitors and immigrants in Ireland and ending with a call to Irish identity with the line, “God bless our island.”

Theses sentiments are echoed in the rousing instrumentation, which compliment the words via a post-punk ladened guitar riffs and a driving bass-line, not too dissimilar to Fontaines D.C or early Pearl Jam.

Speaking about the song, band member Jack O'Flaherty says, "Historically, Irish people know what it is to be a refugee, a migrant. The Irish diaspora is proof of that. Maybe that's why we pride ourselves so much on the Irish welcome, 'Céad míle fáilte’".