“It's about as early as you can get,” says Dropkick Murphys' Ken Casey, revealing all the hitherto available information on the band’s next album. “I’m on my way to the very first writing session.”

It’s unsurprising that the much-loved racket makers are back at it. Since their formation in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996, they’ve conjured up twelve rip-roaring full-lengths, and they don’t seem to be showing any signs of slowing down.

“There’s the age-old saying you you're only as good as your last album,” says Casey of the group’s creative appetite. “If you don't put your heart and soul into writing you're not going to get the right reaction back from the fans, which is what we want."

Dropkick Murphys 3 Arena 14-01-23

Their most recent effort was last year’s Okemah Rising. Recorded during the sessions for its predecessor This Machine Still Kills Fascists, both works are comprised of tunes set to previously unreleased lyrics of Woody Guthrie.

“As much as traditional Irish music has had a major influence on the band, so have great American songwriters,” reveals Casey. "We had these unpublished lyrics from Woody sitting in the archive so we seized the opportunity to bring his work to light.”

Guthrie’s timelessness is not just a testament to the troubadour’s sagacious social commentary, with the Dropkick's decision to use his words influenced by a political climate in disarray.

“Those words were written while the Nazis were coming to power in Germany, and when there was a massive expansion of workers’ rights and unionisation in America," Casey observes

“The themes feel eerily familiar. People with fascist ideologies are running for power and waving Nazi flags on overpasses in America. It's crazy to see it come full circle. I think Woody would be rolling over in his grave.”

At the time of our conversation, Donald Trump has just become the first American President to face a criminal trial. If recent history is anything to go by, it’s likely that the Republican candidate’s antics (alleged adult actress pay-offs included) won’t be much of a deterrent for his fervent following. The forthcoming election, Casey thinks, is make-or-break for American democracy.

“If he wins, you might be seeing a new immigrant on your shores,” he jokes, with more than a hint of seriousness in his voice.

“America will have to hang its head in shame for eternity,” he adds. “I'm shocked to see how that guy has pulled the wool over the eyes of the working class, to have them believe that he would piss on them if they were on fire. I don't give a shit what was better financially under Trump, I don't even agree that it was by the way, but if you want to make the argument that gas prices are more important than decency, kindness and humanity, then you can fuck off.”

The partisan division has fuelled a drop-off in politesse, with Casey saying that he's fallen out with lifelong friends over the "us vs them" rhetoric adopted by many ordinary Americans. Spurned relationships, I'm told, are only the tip of the iceberg for those who oppose MAGA zealotry.

“I've had death threats mailed to my house, and god forbid the things you see written on social media,” he says. “You have no choice but to fight back against it. I like to use the band's platform to speak up, especially on behalf of people who might be afraid to. There’s traction to be made in singing and speaking positively about workers’ rights, and the reasons why we need to stick together.”

The Dropkick Murphys remain committed to fighting the good fight, having brought their politically charged Celtic punk to the masses with a recent St Patrick’s Day tour across the US last March. Joining them were four of our own, with lauded noisemakers The Scratch among the support acts. How did the Dubliners' gloriously clamorous trad go down on the other side of the Atlantic?

“When you've been around as long as we have, it's very rare when you come across a band that's just unique,” says Casey, smiling through the phone line. “They’re definitely in the top three bands we've ever had the pleasure to share the stage with.”

“It's been amazing to watch,” he continues. “I know they have a big following in Ireland, but we took them into way deep parts of America where a lot of bands don't go, like Montana or Wyoming. They’re playing to an audience who's never heard of them, and by the second song, the crowd are losing their minds. That just tells you everything you need to know.”

While the present and indeed future for Irish music is as bright as ever, the last year has brought cause for reflection after the parting of some legends.

Even though Casey never met her in person, he describes Sinéad O’Connor as being "ingrained" with the band, not least because they use The Chieftains' version of 'The Foggy Dew' with the late singer's vocal as their intro song before each gig. Ultimately, he says, it was late Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan who left an indelible mark on an impressionable Ken Casey.

“I went to see their gigs in Boston as a teenager," he beams . "Without Shane McGowan and The Pogues, there'd be no Dropkick Murphys. Growing up I always thought Irish music was just my grandparents' music and older people's music. And then The Pogues came along when I was about 13 and just made me stop on my tracks and go, ‘wait a minute, this is actually cool."

“We’ve had a great history” he continues, touching on his personal friendship with the 'Fairytale Of New York' singer. “He sang on our third album, Sing Loud, Sing Proud! We also did The Pogues Christmas tour supporting them. I often say, The Pogues were a folk band with a punk influence, and we consider ourselves a punk band with a folk influence.”

 

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The Dropkick Murphys were part of the bill at a Carnegie Hall tribute concert for O’Connor and MacGowan which took place last March, appearing on a line-up which also featured the likes of David Gray, Glen Hansard, Lisa Hannigan and Cat Power, to name a few.

“What was amazing was that Shane's partner and Sinéad's daughter were there to witness it,” he says of the evening. "It was a hair on the back of your neck standing up kind of night, let alone the fact that it was at Carnegie Hall."

The band will be heading on tour this summer, swapping storied New York venues for the delightful (when the weather permits) Iveagh Gardens. Having headlined the 3 Arena last year, Casey and Co. are chomping at the bit to return.

“We'll be looking forward to ending the tour in Dublin, it’s definitely special," he says. ”We’ve been coming to Ireland since 1997 and everyone's always been amazing to us. This is our second time playing Iveagh Gardens, it’s incredible to play there in the summer. It's the last show of the tour and those gigs are always great, you leave every last bit of energy on the stage because you don't have to save anything in the tank for the next one.”

• Tickets to Dropkick Murhpy's Iveagh Gardens show on Sunday, 7 July, start from €48.20 and are available now via ticketmaster.