The Most Popular Irish Songs

Our Irish pubs are famous the world over, asWhen Irish Eyes are Smiling, The Wild Rover, The
there's no better place to enjoy, good food, goodAuld Triangle, The Irish Rover, Whiskey in the Jar,
drink and good craic! This is also where you'll findSome say the devil is Dead, Black is the Colour,
some of the best Irish music and Irish dancing, soMy Irish Molly, Fiddlers Green, Seven Drunken
make sure to pop down to the local watering holeNights, Rare Ould Mountain Dew, Black Velvet
when you're here, and don't worry - you're neverBand, The Streets of New York and the Rare
too far from a traditional Irish pub no matterOuld Times.
where you stay!Each county in Ireland is also represented by its
If you want to listen to some good old Irishown song. For example Cockles and Muscles is a
songs, then head to the pub. Look for a traditionalCounty Dublin song, Rose of Tralee - a Kerry
Irish pub, which usually has music every nightsong, Lovely Rose of Clare - County Clare, The
during July and August. If you're here in theBanks of My Own Lovely Lee - County Cork,
quieter months, pubs are likely to haveGalway Shawl/Fields of Athenry - County Galway,
entertainment only on Saturday nights. The bestThe Curragh of Kildare - Kildare, The Rose of
way to find a good music session is just to strollMooncoin - Kilkenny, Limerick You're a Lady -
around the town and see for yourself. Most pubsCounty Limerick, The Isle of Inishfree - Sligo,
will have music advertised in the local paper orSlievenamon - County Tipperary, The Meeting of
maybe on a billboard or notice board at thethe Waters - County Wicklow. So if you're at a
entrance to the pub. (Check out our list of Irishgaelic football match or if you happen to be
pubs).staying in one of these counties, you're likely to
There are thousands of Irish songs, some stillhear the county song played at some stage.
sung in Gaelic (Irish language) but most nowadaysIreland is steeped in a long and eventful history
sung in the English language. One of the mostand a lot of it is remembered through song.
popular Irish songs you're likely to hear while inFamous Irish songs which are reminiscent of our
Ireland is the Fields of Athenry. It's a folk songpast include, A Nation Once Again, Sean South
about the Great Irish Famine (1845), but was onlyfrom Garryowen, Banna Strand, Oró
composed in the 1970's. Today, this song hasSé do Bheatha 'Bhaile (O Ro you are
become one of our favourite national songs andwelcome home), The Rising of the Moon, Spancil
not only is it the anthem for County Galway andHill and the Green Fields of France to name a few.
Ireland but also Glasgow Celtic FC.One Irish song that you're bound to hear every
Another popular Irish song is Danny Boy. This isnight is Amhran na bhFiann - Ireland's national
another Irish folk song, which was first writtenanthem. It translates as 'The Soldiers Song' and
about 1913, although it's a bit unclear where thiswas composed about 1907. It's usually the last
song originated from. It has been recorded by asong of night and all present must stand when it
long list of bands and singers which include Bingis sung.
Crosby, Cher, Johnny Cash, Charlotte Church,Why not brush up on your Irish songs now so
Elvis and Thin Lizzy to name a few.that you can sing along when you come to
Other Irish songs you'll hear include the favouritesIreland?