Madra Salach

Madra Salach [ˈmˠad̪ˠɾˠa ˈsˠal̪ˠʊx] (English: Dirty Dog) is an Irish contemporary-folk band based in Dublin founded in 2023. Formed by founding members Paul Banks, Adam Cullen and Dara Duffy as they played gigs across various venues in the Northside of Dublin. Three additional members joined to complete the group, with Maxime Arnold, Jack Lawlor and Jack Martin rounding off the six-piece group. Madra Salach have played multiple festivals such as All Together Now and Electric Picnic, shows, and released their debut EP, It's a Hell of an Age in January 2026. Madra Salach started with its three founding members — Paul Banks, Adam Cullen, and Dara Duffy — forming a trad band and playing in pubs and small venues across the Northside of Dublin. Banks began talking separately with a future band-member Jack Martin about contemporary Irish bands and fusing contemporary sound into their music, the two projects combined and make up the group's distinct contemporary folk blend. Following a spate of pub and small venue gigs, alongside a successful festival season in 2025, the group got together to record their debut EP. Madra Salach's debut-single, "Blue & Gold" was released on September 18, 2025. This would be the first of two singles to be released as a preview to their debut-EP. Their second single, "I Was Just A Boy" debuted on October 30, 2025. They released their debut-EP "It's a Hell of an Age" on January 23, 2026, which topped the Irish Independent Albums Chart and was number 3 on the overall Irish Albums Charts. The record's name is taken from the opening line of the final track, "Murphy Can Never Go Home" a traditional ballad detailing the Irish migrant experience abroad written by Mick Curry, an Irish labourer working in Birmingham. Paul Banks (Vocals) Adam Cullen (Guitar) Jack Martin (Mandolin/Tin Whistle/Synth) Maxime Arnold (Harmonium) Dara Duffy (Drums) Jack Lawlor (Bass) It's a Hell of an Age (23 January 2026) Wilde, Jamie (6 January 2026). "On the Rise: Madra Salach". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 4 February 2026. "Dublin Folk Madra Salach". Breaking Tunes. Retrieved 4 February 2026. Niall, Byrne (18 September 2025). "Madra Salach's great debut single 'Blue & Gold'". Nialler9. Retrieved 4 February 2026. Thompson, Jenna (13 August 2025). "Madra Salach, Calum Agnew, The Donnys and The Wu join lineup for Electric Picnic's ArtLot Area". Hotpress. Retrieved 4 February 2026. Grabarek, Maria (20 January 2026). "Madra Salach announce extra Dublin and Belfast tour dates". hotpress. Noonan, A.L. (20 September 2025). "Dublin's Madra Salach Release Debut Single 'Blue & Gold'". Retrieved 4 February 2026. Byrne, Niall (31 October 2025). "Madra Salach to release debut EP and new song out 'I Was Just A Boy'". Retrieved 4 February 2026. Collins, Phineas (30 January 2026). "Madra Salach debut at No.3 on Irish Albums Chart with It's A Hell Of An Age". Retrieved 4 February 2026. Moylan, Terry, ed. (2020). A Living Voice The Frank Harte Song Collection. Craft Recordings. p. 191. ISBN 978-0-9553112-1-5.