Oasis legend Noel Gallagher might be known as one-half of the UK's biggest rock bands, but he's got stern words for anyone who calls him English. During the 2024 Euros, he had a blunt response when asked a soccer question. City clinched a 3-1 win over West Ham during the tournament in May, securing their fourth consecutive league title. Gallagher, a staunch City supporter, joined the post-match celebrations on the pitch. In the midst of the trophy-laden celebrations, a BBC journalist asked Gallagher if Foden could replicate his club form in the upcoming summer tournament in Germany. Gallagher's response was clear: "I'm not an England fan, I'm Irish."
The rock star has strong Irish roots, with his mother Peggy hailing from Co Mayo and his father Tommy from Co Meath. Speaking about his Irish heritage, Noel has been quoted as saying: "We are Irish, me and Liam, pretty much," adding, "There is no English blood in us.."
Reflecting on the deep cultural roots of one of Britain's most iconic bands, Oasis frontman noted: "Oasis could never have existed, been as big, been as important, been as flawed, been as loved and loathed, if we weren't all predominantly Irish."
Growing Up Irish in England
Noel Gallagher has opened up about feeling "demonized" as part of the Irish community while growing up in England. The rock legend, who was a key member of the iconic band Oasis alongside his younger brother Liam, discussed his experiences growing up as the child of Irish immigrants in the UK during the peak of IRA activity. Noel was born at the end of the 1960s - around the time the Troubles kicked off in Northern Ireland - to a mother from Co Mayo and a father from Co Meath. In a chat with the Sunday Independent, the musician revealed he was conscious of anti-Irish sentiment and suspicion during his childhood in Manchester.
Memories of Suspicion
He remembered an incident when the family car was inspected by British soldiers shortly after they returned to the UK from a trip to visit his granny in Mayo. "When you're with your parents, you feel safe," he said. "But when they're taking your Uncle Paddy out of the car, and then you go off into a room and the sniffer dogs come out and they'd have mirrors underneath the car? I didn't really realize then what they were searching for... I was old enough to hear it on the news but young enough not to completely understand it. I know more about it now than I did then - like the Birmingham Six and all that."
The Birmingham six refers to one of the most infamous miscarriages of justice, where six Irishmen living in Birmingham were falsely accused and convicted for the bombings of two pubs which killed 21 people in 1974. These men endured 16 years behind bars before their convictions were finally overturned by the Court of Appeal in 1991.
A Sense of Demonization
"The Irish community in Manchester circled the wagons because the Irish community were demonized," Noel said. "I felt that at the time. But I would only have been six, seven, eight when it was going on in 1974 and 1975." Despite a strained relationship with their father, a well-known DJ in Manchester's Irish circles, the Gallagher brothers from Oasis have always publicly celebrated their Irish heritage, drawing strength from their "angel" mother, Peggy. Brought up in the Catholic faith, Noel even played Gaelic football during his teenage years. In a 2021 autobiography about Oasis, he credits their Irish background as a defining factor in the band's identity and success. "We are Irish, me and Liam, pretty much," he said. "There is no English blood in us. Oasis could never have existed, been as big, been as important, been as flawed, been as loved and loathed, if we weren't all predominantly Irish."
An Oasis Reunion in Ireland?
It comes as Oasis are tipped to perform at Croke Park amid rumours of a reunion 15 years post-split. Noel and Liam shared a cryptic post on their social media accounts and the band's website over the weekend. A brief video was shared in the style of the band's logo that reads: "27.08.24. 8am." Bookies now predict the legendary band will chose an aptly legendary venue for their first Irish gig for over a decade.
Irish Roots, Global Impact
The impact of Oasis's Irish heritage can be seen in their music, which often reflected the struggles and triumphs of working-class life in Britain. The band's songs, with their raw energy and powerful lyrics, resonated with a global audience, solidifying their status as one of the most influential bands of the 1990s. Noel Gallagher's candid revelation about his experiences as an Irish immigrant in England during the Troubles sheds light on a lesser-known aspect of the band's story, highlighting the complex relationship between identity and belonging. It also serves as a reminder that the Irish diaspora has a rich and diverse history, one that continues to shape the cultural landscape of the UK and beyond.
