Independent Records Limited (irl) was originally formed to release the best of contemporary Irish music.  Since then we have expanded to include exciting roots, rock and pop music from other parts of the globe.  The label is distributed by Pinnacle in the UK, and is licensed to Hummingbird in Ireland.  European, US and RoW licensees include Vanguard (USA), Roadrunner (Europe), Keltia Musique (France), Beat Ink (Japan), The Music Plant (Japan) and Didgeridoo Records (Australia).

The label was created in 2003 by John Dunford, David Jaymes and Tom Haxell.

Dunford’s involvement in the Irish music industry spans over twenty years, commencing as a sound engineer for Planxty and DeDannan. He went on to become the live sound engineer for the Waterboys and later co-produced their album, “Fisherman’s Blues” during which he introduced Sharon Shannon to the band. Subsequently, he has managed Sharon since 1991. Dunford also runs Hummingbird Records that he formed with Donal Lunny, Philip King and Kieran Corrigan and released albums by Lunny, De Dannan, Sinead O’Connor and several original soundtrack albums. Through Hummingbird’s television production company, he has also co-produced several live events for television including “The Kennedy Center Presents The Irish Gala” - a festival of Irish Music and Arts at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC for PBS and the BBC in 2000.

After a successful career as a professional musician David Jaymes went on to compose music for advertisements and films with John Du Prez. He became a consultant for Eaton Music Publishing handling the catalogues of Jimmy Webb, Harry Nilsson, George Fenton and Chuck Mangione. From publishing David went into artist management; his first client was Jah Wobble. Later he co-founded Rise Management with Diane Wagg and managed Mike Scott, Beth Orton, Rialto, Republica and Drum Club among others. In 2000 he went on to form Spirit Music and Media with Tom Haxell, a former Rise Management employee.

Tom Haxell joined Rise Management as General Manager in 1996 after completing an HND Business Studies within Music Management. After two years in the GM role, Haxell moved into an artist's management position especially focusing on the live and touring side of the Rise roster.

In 2000, Haxell and Jaymes formed Spirit Music and Media to manage artists, songwriters and producers. Spirit’s artist roster includes Sinead O’Connor, Justin Adams, Miles Hunt, Ghostland, classical cellist Caroline Dale and Irish singer-songwriter, Damien Dempsey. Spirit also manage the careers of producers, engineers and songwriters John Reynolds, Jonny Male, Tim Dorney, and Jonny Bull.