Irish musician Cat Dowling dies aged 54

She rose to fame as the frontwoman of Dublin band Alphastates.

The Kilkenny-born musician, who rose to fame as the frontwoman of Dublin band Alphastates, died on Friday, August 7.

She spent more than two decades making music, first with Alphastates and later independently.

Alphastates released two albums, Made From Sand in 2004 and Human Nature in 2009, before disbanding the following year.

In 2013, Dowling released her debut solo album, The Believer. Her second album, Animals, followed in November 2021 through Irish independent label FIFA Records.

More recently, in March 2025 she released a version of The Pogues' A Rainy Night in Soho which was chosen by the Department of Foreign Affairs as the track to soundtrack its St Patrick’s Day campaign.

Tributes for the Dublin-based musician have been flooding in, with fellow musician Jerry Fish describing her as 'a warrior for LOVE' and 'a gentle soul, humble and generous to a fault'.

"We will miss her Punk heart and rasping angel of a voice. Cat Dowling was one of a kind."

Additionally, the team at the iconic Dublin music venue, Whelan's, said they were 'honoured' to have Dowling perform there over the years.

"Another great talent lost from Dublin’s music family," the venue stated.