# Gemma Dunleavy > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Gemma_Dunleavy > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Gemma_Dunleavy.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemma_Dunleavy > Source revision: 1327262124 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Irish singer-songwriter Gemma Dunleavy Born Dublin, Ireland Genres Pop, garage, grime, electronic Occupations Singer-songwriter, poet Instruments Vocals, keyboards Musical artist **Gemma Dunleavy** is an Irish singer-songwriter. She is best known for her song "Up De Flats", which was an underground hit in Ireland.[1] ## Early life Dunleavy was born in [Dublin](/source/Dublin) and grew up on [Sheriff Street](/source/Sheriff_Street) in a working-class neighborhood. She lived in the Phil Shanahan Flats, a public housing complex which was demolished in the late 1990s. Dunleavy characterized the community as "like one big family", with close ties between neighbors.[2] As a child, she enjoyed singing but felt she had no outlet. “I used to try and sing over stuff I had taped on my radio. No one around me was into art, it wasn’t a normal thing in my family or around my road.” She trained in dance until suffering a debilitating leg injury.[3] ## Career In 2015, she was featured on the single "Jasmine" by electronic producer Murlo, published by [Mixpak Records](/source/Mixpak_Records).[4] That year she also performed a set at [Boiler Room Dublin](/source/Boiler_Room_(music_broadcaster)).[5] In 2017, she appeared as a guest vocalist on two songs on the album *Ojalá* by Lost Horizons, a project by former [Cocteau Twins](/source/Cocteau_Twins) member [Simon Raymonde](/source/Simon_Raymonde).[6] In 2018, she released a poem "I Was Never Young But I’m Not Yet Old" and accompanying video about her life in Dublin.[3] In 2019, she released the [grime](/source/Grime_music) single "Better 4 U" and an accompanying music video.[3] In July 2020, she released an EP, *Up De Flats*.[2] In 2022, she appeared in the documentary *North Circular*, which examines the history of music in Dublin and its connections to socioeconomic changes.[7] In 2024[8] and 2025,[9] Dunleavy supported [Kneecap](/source/Kneecap_(band)) for shows in Ireland and Northern Ireland. ## Political views Dunleavy is a critic of [classism](/source/Classism) in Ireland. She remembers family members using fake addresses on job applications since many employers refused to hire people from Sheriff Street. As a child, her dance teacher told her to "speak nice" and hide her working-class accent.[2] She has criticized [gentrification](/source/Gentrification) and its effects on Dublin.[3] In May 2025, she and more than 40 other British and Irish music acts signed a letter opposing the UK government's counterterrorism investigation into the Irish rap group [Kneecap](/source/Kneecap_(band)) and expressing solidarity with Palestinians amid the [humanitarian crisis in Gaza](/source/Gaza_humanitarian_crisis).[10] ## Discography ### Extended Plays *Up De Flats* (2020) ## Recognition In 2020, her single "Up De Flats" was shortlisted for the [Choice Music Prize](/source/Choice_Music_Prize) Irish Song of the Year.[11] In 2021, Dunleavy was a recipient of the Decade of Centenaries Markievicz Award, a €25,000 government grant for artists.[1] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-thetimes_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-thetimes_1-1) Demolder, Kate (29 April 2023). ["Meet Gemma Dunleavy — the voice of Sheriff Street"](https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/meet-gemma-dunleavy-the-voice-of-sheriff-street-rfxtf538q). *The Times*. Retrieved 15 August 2025. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-inquirer_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-inquirer_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-inquirer_2-2) Donnelly, Dave (22 July 2020). ["In Sheriff Street, a Musician Draws Inspiration from Her Surroundings"](https://www.dublininquirer.com/in-sheriff-street-a-musician-draws-inspiration-from-her-surroundings/). Dublin Inquirer. Retrieved 14 August 2025. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-irishtimes_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-irishtimes_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-irishtimes_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-irishtimes_3-3) Mullally, Una (2021-02-06). ["Gemma Dunleavy's love letter to Dublin's inner city"](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/gemma-dunleavy-s-love-letter-to-dublin-s-inner-city-1.4465282). *The Irish Times*. Retrieved 2025-08-14. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Murlo - Jasmine"](https://www.discogs.com/release/7659341-Murlo-Jasmine). Discogs. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Gemma Dunleavy Boiler Room Dublin Live Set"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSkaJYPH0LI). Boiler Room. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Lost Horizons - Ojalá"](https://www.discogs.com/release/11117021-Lost-Horizons-Ojalá). *Discogs*. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Corscadden, Jane (19 July 2023). ["Review: Film shows importance of community and culture in working-class Dublin"](https://www.irishstar.com/culture/entertainment/north-circular-shows-importance-community-30507440). Irish Star. Retrieved 15 August 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Roberts, Hannah (2024-12-22). ["Kneecap take to Belfast stage after death of member's father: Tonight is for him"](https://www.offalyindependent.ie/2024/12/22/kneecap-take-to-belfast-stage-after-death-of-members-father-tonight-is-for-him/). Offaly Independent. Retrieved 15 August 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Costa, Imasha (13 February 2025). ["Kneecap review: Belfast rappers rock Cork City Hall"](https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsandculture/arid-41571706.html). Irish Examiner. Retrieved 15 August 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Kneecap row: Paul Weller and Primal Scream lead musicians in signing open letter in support of rap trio"](https://news.sky.com/story/kneecap-row-paul-weller-and-primal-scream-lead-musicians-in-signing-open-letter-in-support-of-rap-trio-13358969). Sky News. 2025-05-01. Retrieved 15 August 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Choice Music Prize: Best Irish Song of 2020 shortlist revealed"](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/choice-music-prize-best-irish-song-of-2020-shortlist-revealed-1.4469193). The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 December 2025. Authority control databases International VIAF Artists MusicBrainz --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Gemma Dunleavy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemma_Dunleavy) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemma_Dunleavy?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.