'It seemed mad to leave a pensionable job': Meet Amble, the Irish folk trio selling out shows at home and abroad

They’ve already sold out their gigs for next summer, signed a record deal, and been named RTÉ 2FM’s rising stars. Meet Amble, the folk band building a loyal following at home and abroad

Oisin McCaffrey, Robbie Cunningham, and Ross Mc Nerney, Amble, pictured before their show at Cork Opera House. Picture: Michael O'Sullivan

When teacher Robbie Cunningham told his dad he was quitting the 9 to 5 to pursue music, he got quite the reply —“throw the trout out to catch the salmon”.

It’s a phrase that now adorns folk band Amble’s T-shirts — merchandise that was flying out the doors at their final sold-out date at the Olympia
Theatre earlier this week.

Since they met two years ago, Leitrim’s Robbie Cunningham, Sligo’s Oisín McCaffrey, and Longford’s Ross McNerney — previously a secondary school teacher, a primary school teacher and a data scientist, respectively —have been on quite the journey.

They performed as a band for the first time in 2022 after a football practice in Manorhamilton was moved to accommodate the gig.

Two years later, they’ve signed a record deal with Warner Music and are selling out venues across the country, with tickets for their recent dates in Cork and Dublin about as easy to source as Toy Show tickets.

“The Olympia shows were nuts,” Robbie says. “I said it on stage the first night and I meant it — I’d die a happy man knowing I played a sell out show at the Olympia. Please God the first of many.”

For Ross, the band’s set at Electric Picnic was a highlight of the year.

“[It] was a huge moment for us... 4pm, playing to 12,000 people in a tent and everyone’s singing the songs. It was emotional to be honest.”

Amble's recently announced tour dates for next summer have already sold out. Picture: Michael O'Sullivan

“For anyone who writes a song, this is the dream in the back of your mind,” Oisín continues, “to be up playing it and everyone singing it back.”

Sitting by the fire in Limerick’s beloved music venue, Dolan’s, the trio are reflecting on how “full circle” it all feels. This spot was where they did one of their first interviews, back when they released their first song, ‘Mariner Boy’, in 2023. When we speak, they’ve just released their latest, ‘Sam Hall’. Recently announced tour dates for next summer — including headline dates at the Marquee, King John’s Castle in Limerick and the Big Top in Galway — have already sold out.

“I come from a family where you go to college, you get a job and then you’re happy and you live your life,” Oisín reflects.

“To give all that up essentially for music was a big, big moment. I was never more nervous in my life.

“[My family] were like ‘What do you mean you would quit your job for this? That’s ridiculous, you went to college for four years’. We did a show in Castlebar, 20,00 people were there... they get it now.”

Ross, who used to be a teacher, adds: “My parents have always told me to do what I like, they’re never worried about me. But I think it only really hit them when they’ve saw us. It seemed like a mad decision to be leaving a pensionable teaching job.”

'It seemed like a mad decision to be leaving a pensionable teaching job.' Picture: Michael O'Sullivan

According to Oisín, the band “formed” around Robbie’s father’s encouraging phrase.

“When he told his father he was going to quit, his father texted ‘Throw the trout out to catch the salmon’, essentially saying to take the risk, to give up something small for a larger dream and hopefully reap the reward. That phrase resonated with all of us,” says Oisín. “That’ll probably be on every T-shirt forever.”

The musicians take inspiration from the mundane and at times unexpected moments life has to offer. From a letter left behind by a stranger on a train to a girl stumbled upon on Grafton Street to a man enjoying a pint by himself in Dingle, Amble craft love letters to their land and sea. And as their songs are
ferociously sang back to them, it’s difficult to imagine they haven’t been known for decades.

“It’s genuinely emotional. You’re singing to these rooms, and they’re belting out these sad songs back to you, but not in a sad way,” Ross notes.

Oisín continues: “People are singing from such a place of pride, it’s such a collective feeling. We want it to be a collective experience, it isn’t that we’re on the stage and you’re down there watching us. It’s a beautiful thing, it will never get old.”

All of Amble’s songs are live recordings. One of them, ‘Mary’s Pub’, is a five-minute slow song, one that “shouldn’t work” in today’s music industry.

“There’s no record label in the world that would recommend that. Then what do we do? Bring out an even sadder, even slower one,” Oisín smiles.

‘Throw the trout out to catch the salmon’... That phrase resonated with all of us. That’ll probably be on every T-shirt forever.

To those who might not have heard of them just yet, Amble describe themselves as three like-minded storytellers who decided to join efforts to do what they love most.

Perhaps it’s that storytelling element so dear to Ireland that makes them so popular.

“I think it comes back to the storytelling culture of Ireland. Even in a pub, everyone’s telling stories. We try and bring that into the songs, it doesn’t matter if it’s happy or sad, if it’s a story, people seem to just love it,” Oisín notes.

Each of them writes, which brings in some healthy competition.

“We do write the songs together as well, but I think we’re just competitive, we genuinely drive each other on,” says Ross.

Robbie admits: “Even with live shows, I think we’re so competitive. We’re so adamant to play as good as we can. That’s why I’m never nervous about the live shows, I know they’re always going to be good. There’s such a feeling of, even if I don’t do my best tonight, the two lads probably will play even better because they can feel it that I’m off.”

On a train journey from Dublin to Longford, Ross wrote ‘The Commons’, a track which also shares the title of their third EP.

“I put down the tray to put a cup of tea on it and there was an open letter there. It told a mother’s story about how she lost her 14-year-old son to suicide.

“It just hit me... by the journey home, I had written ‘The Commons’.

'Even in a pub, everyone’s telling stories. We try and bring that into the songs.' Picture: Michael O'Sullivan

“It was written about people I know, students I’ve taught, the topic in general, which I never thought I’d write about. I left the train feeling hope, that’s the big thing that struck me,” he says.

They listen to their songs just like their fans do.

“There was an actor recently who said they [got] pissed off at others saying they can’t watch their own movies. I think as an artist, you should be proud of your work and you should love your work,” Robbie says. “We’re all very much like that. I think the day that we don’t love something we’re putting out, it’s all fake.”

To the delight of their listeners, Amble release music frequently. After three EPs and several singles, there is one thing they learnt the hard way.

“Releasing a song too soon,” Robbie begins. “With recording and stuff, I had no history of it. I’d never done it until I met the two lads. We went into the studio and we recorded all these tracks, we threw three of them out and now I listen to them and I think we could have done that so much better.”

Amble don’t know what the future holds, but they’re excited to find out.

“I’ve never had more faith in my colleagues, I suppose I’ll call them that,” Robbie laughs.

“It’s our jobs now, our team. I’ve never stepped onto a football pitch with as much faith in the players as I have playing with these two guys. That’s a big part of not being scared and not letting it get too overwhelming, I just have so much faith in them.”

'As an artist, you should be proud of your work and you should love your work.' Picture: Eddie O'Hare

For Ross, it all still feels ridiculous — in the best way possible.

“I’m looking at what we’re doing now, and this is unbelievable. Less than two years into a band, it’s a dream. Of course you think about 10 years time, but I don’t let that sit in my head too much. We are living the dream.”

After having been on the road together for a whole month in America, the musicians turned best friends swear they never “once fell out”.

“My mom and dad were wondering did we fall out or was there any argument,” Robbie says.

“There genuinely wasn’t, which is what gave me even more faith in this band. It was tough and we were tired and hungover, but we never once fell out.”

“We all worked normal jobs for three four or five years,” Oisín says. “We know how good this is.”

“If you’re finding it tough, you’re so quickly reminded of what teaching was like,” Robbie adds.

“I used to teach in an autistic unit for a year, and some of the experiences that year, the things I learned, it was tough. The things we’re doing now is such a breeze compared to my life beforehand. Whenever you’re feeling sorry for yourself, you’re just so easily shaken out of it because it’s the dream.”

'We know how good this is.' Picture: Michael O'Sullivan

Robbie, who was teaching at primary school level when he left to pursue his dream, jokes that sound of the kids “got very brave” on social media once he’d ditched the classroom.

“Robbie, follow me back. Why is Mr Cunningham singing in the field, get back to the class,” he recalls.

He’s honoured that a group of his former students came to one of the Olympia dates.

He hopes, too, that his students may have taken away an important lesson from their former teacher.

“They’re seeing a teacher following his dream. If it inspires one child in the future to follow their passion, then my work is done,” Robbie says.

Former secondary school teacher Ross agrees: “I had one come up with his mother, it was his first ever concert. I just think that could be the best thing I taught him. For me to show them that you can do this and to follow your dream, I think that’s the best thing I’ve taught them.”

Before they head off on a world tour next year — kicking off in Scotland and taking in dates across Britain, Europe, Australia, the US, and Canada — the lads plan to take some well-deserved rest this Christmas.

Robbie is looking forward to sharing a few pints of stout with his family and play twenty-five in “lovely Leitrim”.

Ross is planning a Harry Potter marathon.

'They’re seeing a teacher following his dream. If it inspires one child in the future to follow their passion, then my work is done.' Picture: Michael O'Sullivan

Meanwhile, Oisín will be spending some time with his grandma, Imelda.

“My favourite Christmas tradition is going to my Granny’s house in Enniscrone, Co Sligo,” he explains. “We always have a big family quiz and a sing-song.”

As for what’s next for 2025, Robbie brings up some advice they got from singer Teddy Swims.

“It was just to keep going,” Robbie recalls.

For now, their challenge is to simply find the time to sleep, and adapt to life as one of Ireland’s fastest growing bands.

“It is very hard to come off stage and just go to bed, there’s such a high, and the gigs are getting bigger,” Robbie says.

“We were very bad at the start for treating every gig like the biggest night of our life. I find the privileges at home are getting a bit better though. I can go home now and lie on the couch for a weekend.”

“I’m not quite there, I’m still cutting the grass,” Ross laughs. “I think Ireland keeps you grounded, Irish people do. You’re not home six hours, and you’re out there cutting the grass.”