In 2018 In Tua Nua did a short Irish tour to celebrate 30 years since the release of ‘The Long Acre’, the album that, along with a slew of hit singles including ‘All I Wanted’, ‘Seven into the Sea’, ‘Somebody to Love’, and ‘Don’t Fear Me Now’, made In Tua Nua one of Ireland’s most iconic bands of the 1980s. 

Released on Virgin Records in 1988,  ‘The Long Acre’ became a huge US college radio hit, remaining in the charts for six months and paving the way for a 28 date North American tour. 

By this point, the band were well established as one of Ireland’s premier live acts, having already supported Bob Dylan at Slane Castle, U2 on the European leg of their Joshua Tree Tour and going on to share the stage with, Fleetwood Mac, Simple Minds and Eurythmics, among many others. 

Since then, the band (with founder members Leslie Dowdall, Paul Byrne and Jack Dublin) have reunited on various occasions, notably for a string of gigs in 2004, Electric Picnic 2012, and touring again in 2017 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their time spent on the Joshua Tree Tour. They also played at the yearly ‘A Night For’ series of charity concerts organised by drummer Paul to a packed out Olympia Theatre in 2015, ‘16, ‘18 and ’19.

When not playing together, the band members are still prolific in Irish music. Lead singer Leslie Dowdall has released two albums, claiming a smash hit with single ‘Wonderful Thing’ and most recently her Brightlight EP in 2020.

Drummer and singer Paul Byrne released his critically acclaimed ‘Cruel and Tender Ways’ in 2014, while also playing with The Drays, The Unelectables and The Guilty Party. When not playing, Paul also organises and curates The Howth Trad Fest and The Howth Roots and Blues Fest.

Bassist Jack Dublin (also in The Guilty Party with Paul) has experienced international success with the studio project Audiokiss, most recently charting in the US digital charts with single ‘I Don’t Wanna Say.’ 

The new live line-up includes Spanish fiddle player Jaime Lapena Del Rio.