The Scratch / DUG – live at The National Stadium Dublin 23.01.2025 for TradFest 2025

I am reminded of a trip I made to Galway. 

On the way back home to Dublin, I was listening to the Scratch and felt a sudden rush of pride for my country. I took out my notes, and wrote:

GRÁ for this land 

GRÁ for this life 

GRÁ for these moments in time 

And GRÁ for the chance to experience it all. 

The note was dated 06/06/2021.

Few days later I had GRÁ poked onto my fingers. Possibly as a little reminder of how I felt that day with The Scratch as the soundtrack. And to know that this feeling exists. And can be felt again.

Isn’t it a magical feeling when music does that to ya? It’s a universal language that is felt across cultures, and when a piece of music hits you and resonates with you, regardless of the language, it’s almost spiritual.

The Scratch have just been growing and growing each year with more and more people feeling the magic. They have just completed their 3rd album and anticipation is high. It will be the first album with new guitarist Gary Regan and I am buuuuuzznn to hear him shred. Yup LUCAN!.

It was a beautiful night in the National Stadium, and my first time ever in the place.The National Stadium is an old boxing arena, built in 1939 and was a perfect setting for the lads on Thursday night. The crowd were squeezed in and made for an epic sight from back of the stadium. The masses were moving to every beat of Lango’s drum and along with Conor, Gary and Cathal, they evoked an Irish war cry within us all. 

The crowd reacts the same way to The Scratch, no mater the venue, big or small. You will always see the crowd surfer shredding the waves of each persons hand as they are held up. And you are damn sure to see a massive pit in the middle with the screams of “Running in a circle” coming from the stage. And Thursday night was no different to what I witnessed in Dundalk’s Spirit store, last year. Except this time, on a much larger scale. 

A few hick ups with the bar closing at 8.15. A lot of thirsty mouths, and for sure a Scratch gig always calls for a few pints of porter but they were sadly missed on the night. But thankfully the boyz came to the rescue and it was like a scene from Oprah with cans of Guinness being handed out to the crowd. YOU GET A CAN AND YOU GET A CAN! Heck, I even had two myself, Cheers RATS 🙂 

We had a beautiful moment with Conor singing a rendition of Christy Moore’s “Joxer Goes To Stuttgart’. Dedicated to his dad who I believe is not well at the moment, so I am sending nothing but positive vibrations his way and a quick recovery. It was a beautiful connection between both Conor and the crowd and a few tears followed after with the band quickly coming together to surround Conor with the sweaty hugs. 

The lads performed some tracks off their new upcoming album and its hard not to feel excited  about seeing the next journey that awaits. If Thursday nights show is anything to go off of, then we are in for a treat and the magic of The Scratch will just continue to capture the hearts of the Irish and abroad

DUG photos:

The Scratch photos & set-list:

Set-list:
Flaker
Joseph Ronald Drew
Cig in the Breeze
Foolin’ Noone
Banshee
Cheeky Bastard
Pulling Teeth
Chilli
Ringsend
Joxer Goes To Stuggart (Christy Moore cover)
McAlpines Fusiliers
Blaggard
Old Dog
Pull Your Jocks Up
Latchico

Words & Photos Carl Foran – @carlforanphotography