Damien Dempsey on the General Election: "A left-wing coalition is the only way at the moment"

As part of his cover story interview in the new issue of Hot Press, Damien Dempsey has shared his thoughts in the run-up to the General Election – stating that he believes "a left-wing coalition" is "the only way at the moment."

The Donaghmede singer-songwriter made the comments while discussing his track 'Landlords In The Government', which features on his acclaimed new album, Hold Your Joy.

Articulating the artist's current political stance in no uncertain terms, the song – which channels the spirit of his searing 'Celtic Tiger' from 2003's Seize The Day – features the timely refrain: "Vote them out, for the first time in the history of this State…”

"I'd just love to see someone else get in, instead of Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael, perpetually, forever," he said in his Hot Press interview.

“I don’t care what they say – when working people in a rich country can’t afford a home, it’s a load of bollix," he resumed. "We need someone else to have a go. If you don’t like them, vote them out – but let’s not just have Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael forever. At least if Fianna Fáil and Fine were voted out, they’d have to then regroup and readjust, and maybe come back better.

“We just need a bit of change,” he continued. “A left-wing coalition, I think, is the only way at the moment. Let’s give it a go anyway.”

The sense of compassion that has shaped both his political views and his songwriting has deep roots, he explained.

"I had an aunty, Jennie Shanahan, who was with James Connolly in the Irish Citizen Army,” he said. “They were socialists, probably even more than they were republicans. They wanted a fairer island for everyone – for the working people. So that’s rooted in me, coming from her.”

Elsewhere in the in-depth cover story, Damien discusses ‘sacred’ singsongs, meditation, loss, Palestine, the Catholic Church, online misinformation, and his captivating new album, Hold Your Joy.

You can read the full interview in the new issue of Hot Press – out now, and available to order online below: