Supporting Irish Musicians and Artists
- Music
- 14 Sep 26
KCLR: Becca, BRENN, MARYANN and Patrick Dowling chosen as the station's A New Local Hero finalists
Irish Music Month is underway, and the good news is starting to roll in for rising stars across the nation, with more than eighty artists being named as local finalists in the national search for A New Local Hero over the coming weeks. Here are KCLR's four picks: Becca, BRENN, MARYANN and Patrick Dowling.
Becca, BRENN, MARYANN and Patrick Dowling have been picked as KCLR's local finalists in the A New Local Hero national talent search - a key part of Irish Music Month which is set to kick off on 22 stations across Ireland on September 14.
As one of the central features of Irish Music Month, A New Local Hero is a major call to arms for Irish musicians and bands – with all 22 participating radio stations having reached out for submissions in recent months. The excitement is rising, with a slew of announcements arriving over the next few days. Each of the acts selected by the stations will perform and be interviewed on their local station, with one act from each station going forward onto the long-list of contenders for the national A New Local Hero award.
Launched in 2021, Irish Music Month is an initiative of Hot Press and the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, and is funded by Coimisiún na Meán. Irish Music Month is also supported by IMRO, RAAP and Live Nation, along with Ticketmaster, Rubyworks, Camden Recording Studios and Spéir Mix and Master.
The stations participating in Irish Music Month are: Clare FM, Classic Hits, Cork's 96FM, East Coast FM, FM104, Galway Bay FM, Highland Radio, KCLR, KFM, Limerick Live 95FM, LMFM, Midlands 103, Midwest Radio, Northern Sound, Ocean FM, Radio Kerry, Radio Nova, Shannonside FM, South East Radio, Sunshine FM, Tipp FM, and WLR FM.
What Irish Music Month means, across participating independent stations, is:
– More Irish music song plays
– More Irish music artist mentions
– More Irish music features
– More Irish artist gig pushes
– More Irish artist interviews
And – what's more – we'll be putting over €100,000 into the hands of music makers and their crews across the country too.
Without further ado, let's meet KCLR's shortlisted artists..
Becca
Becca is a singer-songwriter from Carlow, writing 'raw and honest lyrics', accompanied by melancholic, melodic guitar. From intimate shows and open mics to the Hazelwood Stage at Electric Picnic, Becca is currently working on her debut album as a followup to 2025's Heartsick EP.
Becca.MARYANN
A rising force on Ireland's pop scene, blending glittering, feel-good energy with emotional depth and sharp lyrical wit, Carlow native MARYANN is aiming to be KCLR's New Local Hero for 2026. Her songwriting is rooted in sincerity, exploring the highs and lows of modern life, lust and love; with a refreshing honesty, while never losing a playful, self-aware edge. There is a distinct comedic thread woven through her work, giving audiences not just something to feel, but something to smile and laugh at too.
MARYANNBRENN
BRENN, or Billy Brennan, is a Kilkenny-based artist drawing much of his inspiration from folk, indie and contemporary singer-songwriters, his songs exploring relationships, uncertainty, and the moments that stay with us long after they have passed.
Cutting his teeth on Galway's live music scene, BRENN is looking to continue developing as an artist, performing live and pursing music in Kilkenny and beyond.
BRENNPatrick Dowling
Having busked around Ireland since the age of sixteen, Patrick Dowling has developed an introspective meditation on love, longing, and the importance of remembering where you come from. With influences from hip-hop to modern pop reaching as far as Irish indie folk, Dowling injects a unique energy from Ireland’s South East region into his heartfelt storytelling.
Patrick Dowling.
• Keep an eye on hotpress.com and listen to your local participating station for more news on Irish Music Month, A New Local Hero and the Irish song competition, Amhrán na Laoch.
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Irish Music Month is supported by IMRO, RAAP, Live Nation, Camden Recording Studios, Spéir Mix & Master, Ticketmaster and Square1
