Every family has one. The one tapping out rhythms on the steering wheel, drumming on the kitchen table with two biros, or practising paradiddles on a pillow at midnight. Every year you wonder what to get them for Christmas — and every year it ends up being another pair of sticks.
This year, we have a better idea: Irish Drummers: Volume 1.
A book about the people behind the kit
Published by Tribes Press and written by Tom Gilligan, Irish Drummers: Volume 1 was the first book of its kind — a celebration of Irish drummers told through interviews and personal conversations with some of the most successful and influential players this country has produced. Seasoned professionals who have played stages all over the world sit alongside exciting emerging talent, and running through all of it is the thread that makes Irish drumming so special: a love of rhythm rooted deep in our traditional music.
It is not a technical manual. It is about the people — how they started, who inspired them, what kept them going, and the advice they would pass on. That makes it a great read for a working drummer, a teenager on their first kit, or anyone who simply loves Irish music.
Why now?
It has been some year for Irish drumming. Fontaines D.C. release their new album Dopamine Chamber on October 16th, and with two nights at Slane Castle confirmed for June 2027, Mayo’s own Tom Coll is about to play to 160,000 people. Irish drummers are on the biggest stages in the world — and there has never been a better time to celebrate the players who paved the way and the ones coming up behind them.
Why it makes a great gift
- Something different: a thoughtful, home-grown present that is not another gadget.
- For all ages: inspiring for young drummers just starting out, and full of stories that seasoned players will recognise.
- Supports Irish publishing: it comes from Tribes Press, an independent Irish publisher.
- Great value: just €20.
- Stocking-friendly: it fits under the tree a lot better than a floor tom.
Don’t leave it too late
Christmas has a habit of sneaking up on all of us, and the post gets busier with every week of December. Get your order in early and that’s one name ticked off the list before the Late Late Toy Show has even aired.
Order Irish Drummers: Volume 1 from Tribes Press →
Know a drummer who deserves a mention in a future volume? Let us know in the comments — Ireland’s pool of drumming talent just keeps growing.