About Declan O'Rourke
Introduced to the guitar at thirteen, O’Rourke first tried songwriting in his mid-teens whilst living in Australia. At twenty-four, he returned to his country of birth, Ireland, and found himself in the thick of an explosive scene that proved a fertile breeding ground for the young artist and his contemporaries.
Five of O’Rourke’s seven studio albums to date have enjoyed top 5 status in the National Irish charts. Produced by Paul Weller, Arrivals, (Apr 2021), reached #2 in Ireland and was nominated for International Album of the Year by the Americana Music Association, UK.
O’Rourke’s literary debut The Pawnbroker’s Reward, reached #2 in the Hardback Fiction bestseller’s chart, staying top 5 for seven weeks. A Whisper From Oblivion, the sequel, followed in 2023, reaching number 6.
STUDIO RECORDINGS:
Since Kyabram (V2 records), 2004
(2 x platinum in Ireland).
Big Bad Beautiful World (N4 records),2007
(Gold in Ireland).
Mag Pai Zai (Rimecoat Records), 2011.
Received much attention in US with coverage in New York Times, Spin, American Songwriter, Wall Street Journal, + NPR’s World Café.
Gold Bars in the Sun (Rimecoat Records), 2015
Included a number of collaborations, most notably‘ Let’s Make Big Love' a duet with John Prine.
In Full Colour (Rimecoat Records), 2016.
Featured a 50-piece Orchestra, built on a series of concerts spanning ten years. “It transports you to another world.” - Hot Press, Ireland
Chronicles of the Great Irish Famine (Maiesta Music), 2017.
Arrivals (Warner Music UK), 2021.
Produced by Paul Weller, who said of Declan, “He brings such modernity and timelessness to his words and music that is far, far reaching. Beyond limiting categories.”
Oceanic, (O’Rourke’s 8th studio record)
Co-produced by longterm collaborator Jim Moginie (Midnight Oil), will be released in Oct 2026.
Almost With You
An Australian feature film starring Declan, and featuring his music, is due for release in early 2027.
ACOMPLISHMENTS:
Though equally gifted as a writer, singer, and musician, from the outset O’Rourke’s reputation has been that of a songwriter’s songwriter. O’Rourke’s songs have been recorded by Christy Moore, Camille O’Sullivan, Josh Groban, Eddi Reader, Paul Weller, Peter Joback, and Imelda May among others.
Approval has come from such songwriting giants and media figures as Pete Townsend, Iggi Pop, and John Prine, who duetted with O’Rourke on ‘Let’s Make Big Love’, an original from O’Rourke’s ‘Gold Bars In The Sun’, (2015).
O’Rourke contributed to the BBC’s Transatlantic Sessions (2011) alongside Alison Krauss and Amos Lee. Performed to an audience of 70,000 at Transatlantic Sessions USA MerleFest (2017). He was selected as the sole performer to honour actress Meryl Streep at New York’s Pier 60 (2025) and has collaborated with, or performed alongside: James Taylor, Rosanne Cash, John Prine, Paul Weller, Jerry Douglas, Paul Brady, The Dubliners, The Cardigans, Midnight Oil, Glen Hansard, Paddy Casey, Laura Marling, Peggy Seeger, Neil and Calum MacColl, Eliza and Martin Carthy, Divine Comedy, Badly Drawn Boy, Snow Patrol, The Mavericks, Kate Rusby, Paulo Nutini, John Paul White, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Damian Dempsey, Rodrigo y Gabriella, Ralph McTell, and more.
RECENT AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS:
International Album of The Year, AMA UK Americana Awards 2021 - Arrivals
International Song of The Year, Tower of Song Awards 2021 - The Stars Over Kinvara
Best Original Song, RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards, 2018 - Along The Western Seaboard
Best Original Song, BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, 2018 - The Great Saint Lawrence River
RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards - Best Singer.
REVIEWS:
“Compassion, romance, a sense of mortality, and a sense of history run through the songs . . . his calling is as a balladeer, proffering reassurance in the face of inevitable sorrow.” - Jon Pareles, New York Times.
“O’Rourke is a masterful lyricist and staggering guitarist” - Mojo
“In a world clad with shortening attention-spans and a seemingly never-ending onslaught of over-stimulation, Declan O’Rourke and his intimate, contemplative music brilliantly stands out.” - American Songwriter
“Maturing quietly into one of the most significant Irish singers and writers of his generation.” Mark Radcliffe, - BBC Radio
“A penchant for writing about love and history with equal amounts of ease and gravity.” - NPR World Café
“Empathy and melody in abundance. Declan’s ability to emotionally blindside you with a flash of beautifully observed detail is incredible.” - Pete Paphides - Writer, journalist & broadcaster
