[2] This developed into a love of artists such as Christy Moore, Luke Kelly, Shane MacGowan, Bob Marley and Elvis Presley.

Shy as a teenager, Dempsey retreated to his bedroom where he spent his time honing his singing and guitar playing.

[3] Although hugely taken with the Irish folk tradition, it was Bob Marley who inspired Dempsey during some of his darker times: "I was in my teens and I was going through a bit of a phase, drinking a lot and doing E tablets and getting into street fighting and getting depressed.

The Irish music magazine Hot Press praised the single, remarking that it was "an underground anthem for disaffected youth and closet balladeer alike".

His first full-length album, titled They Don't Teach This Shit in School, was released in 2000 and contained a re-recorded version of this song; it was not a commercial success.

[citation needed] His next release, in 2002, the Negative Vibes EP, featured O'Connor on the title track, and led to an invitation to support her on her 2002/2003 Irish, UK, and European tour.

[citation needed] At Oxegen 2006, on the main stage on Saturday afternoon, Dempsey said that Patrick Pearse would be "turning in his grave" at the state of modern Ireland.

[citation needed] Shots was released in the US on the United For Opportunity label in June 2006 and Dempsey undertook a coast-to-coast tour.

An extended version of the album, which included a bonus CD featuring previously unreleased and rare tracks, was released in Ireland via Sony BMG in November 2007.

During the Australian leg of his tour promoting this album, he appeared on an episode of the comedy-music panel show Spicks and Specks.

In 2016, Dempsey released an album titled No Force On Earth of original and covered songs to commemorate the centenary of The 1916 Rising.

The album featured the traditional song "James Connolly" which Dempsey had become known for singing at recent protests to water charges introduced by the Irish government.

Many artists have covered Damien Dempsey's work, including Sinead O'Connor, The Proclaimers and The Wonder Stuff's Miles Hunt.

His songs have been featured on many TV shows including Sons of Anarchy, Fair City, the BAFTA-winning Tyrannosaur and, most recently, Broken Law.

[citation needed] The song Damo, written by Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls which features on the band's 2011 album Beauty Queen Sister, is about Dempsey and features him on guest vocals, as well as his regular bassist Claire Kenny, who had also worked with the Indigo Girls regularly since 1999, and drummer/producer John Reynolds.