As well as starring in the first Hot Press of 2009, the extremely wonderful Villagers have lined up their first Irish tour.

Along with previously confirmed dates at the Ruby Sessions @ Doyle’s, Dublin (February 3); Cyprus Avenue, Cork (17) and Crawdaddy (21), the band will now play the Roisin Dubh, Galway (12); De Barra’s, Clonakility (13); Spirit Store, Dundalk (20).

The jaunt coincides with the release of their debut Hollow Kind EP, which confirms former Immediate man Conor O’Brien and his rotating bandmates as the best thing to have come out of Dublin in an age.