CMAT has called out fascism, Nigel Farage and “anybody who decides to make life more difficult for people who are just trying to live”.
The Irish musician won the Best Album award at the Ivor Novello Awards in London last night (May 21) for her third album ‘Euro-Country’, and she used her speech to address the current political landscape.
“This record ‘Euro-Country’ is about the very complicated relationship that I have with my country, which, I don’t know if you know, is Ireland,” she said from the stage.
“And I happen to be a legal immigrant to this country only because Ireland was lucky enough to get colonised 800 years ago by England, and that is actually the only difference between me and you, admin-wise,” she added, referring to Trinidadian rapper Berwyn, who is now based in London and had presented her with the award and had used his own speech to talk about the far right and immigration.
“I have a very specific idea of what songwriting is supposed to be for,” CMAT continued. “And I think it is to reflect the times through your own personal view, so that everybody can have something to connect to and something to learn from years later.”
“And now, I would compel my fellow artists in the room, it is not the time to sit on the fence. Fascism is on the rise. That c*** Bertie Ahern recently decided that he was going to be really fucking racist on camera, he revealed his true colours.”
Former Irish prime minister Ahern was recently filmed saying he had “no problem” with Ukrainians coming to Ireland, but added, “The ones I worry about are the Africans”.
CMAT concluded her speech by saying: “Fuck Reform, fuck Nigel Farage. I have no time, sympathy or empathy for anybody that decides to make life more difficult for people who are just trying to live.”
Other big winners at the Ivor Novellos were Thom Yorke, who was handed the Academy Fellowship alongside George Michael, as well as Sam Fender and Rosalía.
NME awarded ‘Euro-Country’ the full five stars, writing: “Modernity has failed us, but that won’t stop Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson. That’s the CMAT way in 2025: approach with absolute confidence, total honesty is the only option, and you might as well have a laugh and shake your bits while you’re at it. ‘Euro-Country’ has the courage and the consistency to land high on the fast-approaching end-of-year lists, and to make CMAT the icon she’s been giving all this time.”
She has a huge show at Dublin’s St. Anne’s Park on May 30 and another at Cork’s Virgin Media Park on June 20, and you can find any remaining tickets here. She’s also on the bill for Lollapalooza and All Things Go this year.
