Dermot Kennedy debuts No.1 on Irish and UK Charts with new album The Weight of the Woods

Dermot Kennedy’s new album The Weight of the Woods has hit No.1 on the Irish and UK album charts following its release last Friday, April 3.

The achievement marks the biggest chart debut of 2026 by an Irish artist on the Irish Albums Chart and becomes Kennedy’s third consecutive No. 1 album in both Ireland and the UK.

The Weight of the Woods was rated an 8/10 by Hot Press, saying that Kennedy is “possessed of a golden melodic ability and mighty storytelling chops.”

The Weight of the Woods includes major tracks ‘Funeral, Refuge’ and ‘Honest’, as well as the latest single ‘Turnstile’, which Kennedy recently performed at Glenmaroon House in Dublin with the Maynooth University Chamber Choir.

Asked how literally we should take the lyrics of his new record in the cover interview of Hot Press last month, Dermot said: “It’s all quite literal to me, ‘Trepidation’ being one of my favourites. I’m not saying that it’s something that necessarily happened to me, but what I’ve found to be of growing importance is the idea of different perspectives. I often think about my family and the other people I’m closest to.”

In July, the musician will return to Dublin for two colossal homecoming shows at Aviva Stadium. Tickets are still available here for his July 12 date, while his stop on July 11 is sold out.

Listen to The Weight of the Woods below:

You can order our current issue, featuring a major interview with cover star Dermot Kennedy below: