Strange Boy

Hip Hop // Kilfenora, Limerick // He/him

Strange Boy has arrived as one of the new Irish greats. Having released his striking debut album to resounding critical acclaim in 2021 Strange Boy is charting a fast rise to all-time greatness.
Hot Press named it in their 2021 Top 6 hip-hop albums in the world stating: ‘“Strange Boy presents his full set of skills in 10 astonishing tracks which detail his personal story, a story that is unique, but relatable for many other young Irish people.”
Having established the new genre of Traditional Irish Rap (Trad-Rap) with producer Enda Gallery, Strange Boy has attracted and delighted audiences at numerous festivals, including The Great Escape, Sionna Music, Doolin Folk Festival, Body & Soul, Altogether Now, and It Takes a Village.
His achievements were recognized this year when he was awarded the Prestigious Liam O’Flynn award and honoured with a residency in the National Concert Hall to further pioneer his new fusion of hip-hop and traditional Irish music.
His featured verse on It’s Alright featured on the global hit BBC series Normal People. Strange Boy, as well as in the ‘Ireland in Music’ series which was broadcast on PBS in the United States as well as The Great Escape Online Festival.
Currently working on his highly anticipated second album tipped to be one of the stand-out albums of 2023, He is a new artist for a new generation in Ireland, singled out by District Magazine as a “national treasure”.
“The dominant sense is of an artist trying something that hasn’t been done before (or if it has, not with such vital character).” - Tony Clayton Lea (The Irish Times)
“Strange Boy has made one of 2021's outstanding hip hop records” - Ed Power (The Irish Examiner)
“For the first time, the music of youth meets the callings of Ireland’s musical past in a way that is not only convincing but powerful beyond measure.” - Cailean Coffey (Golden Plec)

Maureen Kennelly, Director of The Arts Council commented:

“Storytelling and the oral arts are an integral part of our traditional arts and Strange Boy’s contemporary take on the seanchaí is a relevant and natural response to an ever-evolving artform, bringing the traditional arts to new, more diverse audiences. We are delighted to partner with the National Concert Hall to present this award, honouring the legacy of the great Liam O’Flynn, to such an exciting, innovative artist.”