U2 lead charge of Irish albums ready to roll this year

2008 was a bumper year for Irish albums, with more than 180 releases in all.

While most of the domestic attention in 2009 will be on U-know-who, other Irish acts will also be getting back in the game.

Bell X1 release their fourth studio album, Blue Lights on the Runway, on their own label in Ireland on February 20th, with Yep Roc releasing the album in the US on March 3rd.

Veteran Northern Irish band Therapy? are also prepping a new album, with their 10th studio album Crooked Timberdue for release on March 20th on the Demolition label.

And David Kitt's sixth album, The Night Saver, will be released on his own label in March.