Protest, subversion, and critical citizenship: Reflections on an Irish singer-songwriter

This chapter examines a protest song by working-class, Irish singer-songwriter, Damien Dempsey. Analysing the structure, lyrical content, and associated performance style, the song “Celtic Tiger” is theoretically and historically situated during and after Ireland’s economic boom. Why and how a songwriter/performer would choose to take on the role of social commentator and protester, championing the marginalised and disenfranchised, is discussed. Dempsey is therefore presented as a powerful example of the artist as creative and critical citizen and his protest songs and performances are understood as contributing to critical academic discourses and creative practices, in their literal, embodied and performed critique.