The long-awaited album by Villagers, Becoming a Jackal, will be released on May 14th on digital download, vinyl and CD. The 11-track album will be preceded by a single, Becoming a Jackal, on April 17th (7-inch only for Record Store Day) and April 23rd (digital download).

Conor OBrien told The Ticket that the album was the culmination of three years’ work. “I feel like it’s scooped me out of my shell and left me squirming uncontrollably at the side of the street,” he said.

Villagers became the first Irish band to be signed to prestigious independent label Domino Records last year, after releasing an EP and 7-inch single on Dublin’s Any Other City label. They now count the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Cass McCombs, Wild Beasts and Franz Ferdinand amongst their labelmates.

Last April, O'Brien's new project was ranked at number six on The Ticket's50 Best Irish Music Acts Right Now poll, and the young songwriter has also had acclaim from his peers: Richie Egan of Jape described him as "about the best songwriter to come from here".

To accompany the album release, Villagers will play dates in Kilkenny (May 19th), Cork (May 20th), Galway (May 21st) and Dublin (May 22nd).

They’ll also be supporting Wild Beasts on their Irish tour later this month.

• myspace.com/ wearevillagers