The Coronas

The Coronas, an Irish rock band with roots in Dublin, officially formed in 2003. The founding members, Danny O’Reilly (vocals, guitar), Graham Knox (bass), and Conor Egan (drums), initially met at Terenure College and first formed a band named Kiros, later reorganizing as Corona. To differentiate themselves from an Italian dance act, they adopted the name The Coronas. Their earliest work quickly gained local attention, leading to a record deal with the independent label 3ú Records. Their debut full-length album, “Heroes or Ghosts,” was released in October 2007, with Dave McPhillips joining as lead guitarist to expand their sound. This album reached number 27 on the Irish Albums Chart and spent 74 weeks on the chart, peaking at number 18. They appeared on various Irish television and radio shows, and in 2008, received a Meteor Award nomination for Best Irish Pop Act. The band’s consistent touring, including appearances at venues like Whelan’s in Dublin, helped solidify their presence in the Irish music scene.

From 2009 to 2011, The Coronas continued to build on their foundational success. Their second studio album, “Tony Was an Ex-Con,” produced by John Cornfield, was released in September 2009. It quickly reached the number 1 spot on the Irish iTunes Album chart and debuted at number 3 on the Irish Album Chart. This album was critically acclaimed, winning Best Album at the 2010 Meteor Awards, triumphing over works by U2 and Snow Patrol. The band embarked on their first American and Asian tours, playing in cities such as Singapore. “Closer to You,” their third album, released in November 2011, saw the band collaborate with producer Tony Hoffer. It entered the Irish Indie Chart at number one and held the number three position in the overall chart. This period also marked their first mainstream UK release and included popular singles like “Addicted to Progress” and “Mark My Words,” the latter featuring Laura Whitmore in its music video. The band performed for United States President Barack Obama in 2011 at College Green, Dublin.

The trajectory of The Coronas’ career saw further growth and significant milestones in the following years. “The Long Way,” their fourth studio album released in November 2014, was their debut with Island Records. Following this, their fifth album, “Trust the Wire,” released in 2017 on their independent label So Far So Good Records, became their first to achieve number one on the Irish Albums Chart. In December 2019, founding guitarist Dave McPhillips departed, leading the band to continue as a trio. They subsequently released “True Love Waits” in 2020 which also charted at number one. Their seventh studio album, “Time Stopped,” released in October 2022, continued their streak, debuting at number one on the Irish Albums Chart and making them the first self-released Irish act to secure three consecutive chart-topping albums. The band has actively toured North America and continues to perform internationally, with their latest album, “Thoughts & Observations,” released in 2024, also reaching number one in Ireland.