Walking On Cars and Fontaines D.C. battling for Ireland's Number 1 album

This week is shaping up to be a big one for Irish acts on the charts, with two homegrown acts battling for Number 1 on the Official Irish Albums Chart and a further three aiming for new entries in the Top 50.

Leading the way at Number 1 on the Official Chart Update today (April 15) are Walking On Cars. The second studio album from the Dingle rock group, called Colours, is just over 600 combined sales ahead of Dogrel, the debut collection from Dublin post-punk band Fontaines D.C.. 

At the midweek stage, Walking On Cars are ahead on CD sales and digital downloads, while Fontaines D.C. are cleaning up on vinyl. Should Walking On Cars hold onto their momentum, the four-piece will claim their second consecutive chart topper: their 2016 debut Everything This Way was Number 1 for two weeks and spent 31 consecutive weeks in the Top 10.

Colours was recorded between the band’s home studio in County Kerry and London’s famous RAK studios and Angelic Studios, and sees the band take on a more synth-rock sound. They'll be supporting the release with three huge shows across Ireland in May and June: at Belfast's Waterfront Hall on May 21, Dublin's 3Arena on May 23 and Cork's Irish Independent Park on June 21.

Billie Eilish should also not be ruled out for a third week at Number 1; her debut album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? leads on streaming and is at Number 3.

Meanwhile, singer-songwriter and actor Glen Hansard is looking at a strong debut this week. The Oscar winner's fourth studio album This Wild Willing currently sits at Number 15 and could become his fourth Top 20 record as a soloist.

Elsewhere, Dublin duo All Tvvins land at 22 with Just To Exist, while trad group Dervish are at Number 45 with their 12th album The Great Irish Songbook.

Find out the final chart placings for these albums on OfficialCharts.com/Ireland when this week's Irish Albums Chart is revealed at 3pm on Friday (April 19). See the latest albums Top 50 here.

© IRMA