You’ve probably seen the clip. That soft, acoustic strumming, a voice that sounds like it was pulled straight out of a foggy 19th-century moor, and those lyrics that felt way too personal to be a trend. It’s been a few years since Irish Eyes by Rose Betts first wrecked everyone's TikTok FYP, but the song hasn't faded into the background of "old" viral hits. Honestly, it’s done the opposite. It’s become a sort of modern folk anthem that people keep coming back to when they feel a bit lost or disconnected from where they came from.
Rose Betts isn't some manufactured pop star. She’s an English singer-songwriter from Chipperfield who basically grew up in a house where singing was as common as eating. Seriously. Her family was nicknamed the "Von Betts" because they’d just burst into song at the dinner table or in French cathedrals while on holiday. That eccentricity? It’s exactly what makes her music feel so lived-in. When she sings about heritage, she’s not just guessing; she’s pulling from a childhood where music was the primary language.
What People Get Wrong About Irish Eyes
Most people think Irish Eyes is just a song about being Irish. It’s not. Or at least, it’s not only that. If you actually listen to the lyrics—which Rose wrote entirely herself—it’s a map. She literally says, "I'm a map of the world and the ones before."
It’s a song about the bits and pieces we inherit from our families that we didn't necessarily ask for but can't get rid of. The "English hair" from her father, the "travelling feet" from her nana, and the "restless soul" her sister sees in her. It’s about the collision of being born in England, living in LA, but carrying these deep, blue "Irish eyes" passed down from her mother.
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The song went supernova in 2023, racking up over 30 million plays on social media and tens of millions of Spotify streams. People from all over—not just those with Celtic roots—started using the audio to talk about their own ancestry. It turned out that "celebrating heritage" was a universal craving, even if you don't have a drop of Irish blood in you. Rose was actually surprised by this. She wrote it as a very specific, personal diary entry about her own move to Los Angeles and the "alien" feeling of being in a new country.
The Journey From Viral Clip to "There Is No Ship"
Success didn't just stop at a viral 15-second loop. Following the massive reach of Irish Eyes, Rose Betts didn't just try to replicate the same sound. She leaned into it. In early 2025, she released her sophomore album, There Is No Ship. The title itself is a massive nerd-out moment—it’s a reference to J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Specifically, a line by Arwen about choosing a mortal life for love.
That album solidified her as a "Celtic pop-fusion" heavyweight. She’s not just a girl with a guitar; she’s a producer. She co-produced almost everything on that record.
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While many know her from the TikTok fame, she’s also the voice behind "Song to the Siren" in Zack Snyder's Justice League. She’s got this weird, brilliant bridge between the indie folk world and big-budget Hollywood soundtracks. Snyder loved her sound so much he brought her back for Rebel Moon to write and perform "From Far" and "Kali's Lament."
Why We Are Still Talking About Her in 2026
It’s January 2026, and Rose is currently touring across Ireland and the UK. Shows in Belfast, Galway, and Dublin are selling out because that "viral" audience actually stuck around. That's rare. Usually, TikTok stars have the shelf life of an open avocado. But Rose Betts feels different because she’s a "100-percenter"—she writes the lyrics, plays the instruments, and handles the production.
Her recent 2025 tracks like "Doodles" and "Hot Girl Summer" (no, not that kind of Hot Girl Summer—it’s Rose’s own folk-pop twist) show she’s not afraid to be funny or weird. She’s admitted in interviews that her Voice Memo app is her most prized possession. She’s recorded everything from dream melodies she woke up humming to her family screaming during a game of Scattergories.
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Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're just getting into her music or only know the chorus of the big hit, here is how to actually dive into the Rose Betts rabbit hole:
- Listen to "Driving Myself Home": This was her first viral hit before "Irish Eyes." It’s a painfully relatable story about a bad blind date. If you've ever sat in your car after a social disaster, this is your song.
- Check the There Is No Ship Deluxe Album: Released recently, it includes "Six" and "Take This Body Home." It's more experimental and shows off the "darker hues" of her voice.
- Watch the Live Sessions: Rose is a "pin-drop" performer. Search for her Sofar Sounds sets or her "Piano Versions" on Spotify. The production on the studio tracks is great, but her voice in a quiet room is where the real magic happens.
- Follow the Lyrics: She’s a literature nerd. If you like Florence + The Machine or Hozier, pay attention to the metaphors. She’s writing poetry that just happens to have a beat.
Rose Betts has managed to do what very few "internet famous" musicians do: she built a world. Whether she's singing about her nana's feet or elven immortality, she’s proved that Irish Eyes was just the opening chapter of a much longer, much more interesting story.