Tom Dunne: From Horslips to CMAT — the six albums that shaped modern Irish music

Music has long been an important part of Irish society, but it's only in recent times that people are appreciating its impact beyond the cultural sphere 

Horslips, the Boomtown Rats, and Cmat feature in Tom Dunne's alternative history of Ireland.

With the winning of Oscars becoming quite commonplace in Cork and Kerry these days and Saint Patrick’s Day as usual giving us an opportunity to marvel at ourselves, I thought it might be useful to point out something: It was not always thus. Trust me, baby, we’ve come a long way.

And whilst the road to this new reality was a complex one and involved education, improved economics and the support and guidance of parents, educators and myriad other talented selfless people, I, as usual, want to highlight one thing. Music, the gateway drug and catalyst to so much.