Category: Culture

"Dirty Old Town," though frequently performed by Irish musicians and often assumed to be an Irish folk song, was actually written by English songwriter Ewan MacColl in 1949. The song was created as part of a play called "Landscape with Chimneys" set in MacColl's hometown of Salford, near Manchester, England....

"Whiskey in the Jar," also known as "Kilgary Mountain," stands as one of Ireland's most iconic folk songs, with roots stretching back to the 17th century. The song tells the tale of a highwayman who robs a military officer but is ultimately betrayed by his lover, a narrative that resonated...

"All Through the Night," known in Welsh as "Ar Hyd y Nos," is actually a Welsh folk song that has been mistakenly attributed to Irish origins over time. The melody dates back to at least the 18th century, with the earliest printed version appearing in Edward Jones's "Musical and Poetical...

"The Lakes of Pontchartrain," despite its Irish folk music associations, actually originated in America during the mid-19th century. The song tells the story of an Irish immigrant or traveler who finds himself stranded near the Lakes of Pontchartrain in Louisiana, where he falls in love with a Creole or Cajun...

"Erin Go Bragh," a patriotic Irish anthem whose title translates to "Ireland Forever," emerged during the tumultuous period of Irish nationalism in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The phrase itself became a rallying cry for Irish independence movements, particularly associated with the United Irishmen rebellion of 1798. The...

"Down by the Salley Gardens" is a beloved Irish poem-turned-song with rich historical roots. It was published by William Butler Yeats in 1889 in "The Wanderings of Oisin and Other Poems," where he noted it was an "attempt to reconstruct an old song from three lines imperfectly remembered by an...

"The Rakes of Mallow" is a traditional Irish jig that originated in the 18th century, celebrating the wild and carefree young gentlemen from the town of Mallow in County Cork. These "rakes" were notorious for their extravagant lifestyles, drinking, gambling, and general revelry. The tune first appeared in print in...

"Roddy McCorley" is a famous Irish ballad that commemorates the execution of a young Irish rebel during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. The song tells the story of Roddy McCorley, who was hanged at the Bridge of Toome in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Although historical records about the real McCorley...

"The Kerry Dance" is a sentimental Irish ballad composed in the late 19th century by James Lynam Molloy, with lyrics also penned by Molloy. Published around 1879, the song evokes nostalgia for rural Irish gatherings and celebrations that were disappearing during a time of significant cultural change and emigration. The...

"Be Thou My Vision" is one of the most beloved and enduring Irish hymns, with roots dating back to ancient Celtic Christianity. The text originated as an Old Irish poem called "Rop tú mo Baile" (Be Thou my Vision), attributed to the 6th-century Irish Christian poet Dallán Forgaill, though some...

"I'll Tell My Ma" is a traditional Irish children's street song that has been passed down through generations, with its origins likely dating back to the mid-19th century. Also known as "The Belle of Belfast City," this lively, upbeat tune began as a skipping and playground rhyme for young girls...

"The Black Velvet Band" is a traditional Irish ballad dating back to the 19th century that tells the cautionary tale of a young man led astray by a beautiful woman wearing a black velvet band in her hair. The song originated in Ireland but gained widespread popularity through oral tradition...

"Green Grow the Lilacs" has a fascinating, somewhat misunderstood history. Though often considered an Irish folk song, it actually originated as an English or Scottish folk song that later spread to Ireland and America during periods of migration. The song gained significant popularity among American cowboys and settlers in the...

"The Water is Wide," while often associated with Irish musical tradition, actually has its earliest documented roots in Scotland and England. The song dates back to the 1600s and appears in various forms under titles like "O Waly, Waly" and "When Cockleshells Turn Silver Bells." The haunting melody and poignant...

"Carrickfergus" is a haunting Irish folk ballad whose origins remain somewhat mysterious despite its widespread popularity. The song takes its name from the town of Carrickfergus in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, and is believed to date back to the 19th century, though some musical historians suggest it may have roots...

"The Lark In The Clear Air" is a cherished traditional Irish folk song whose origins can be traced to the mid-19th century. The hauntingly beautiful melody comes from County Derry in Northern Ireland, while the poignant lyrics were penned by Sir Samuel Ferguson (1810-1886), an influential Irish poet and antiquarian...

"Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms" is a beloved Irish ballad with origins dating back to the early 19th century. The melody, known as "My Lodging Is On the Cold Ground," predates the lyrics and was popular in Ireland since at least the late 17th century. The poignant...

"Father O'Flynn," also known as "Top of Cork Road," is a cheerful Irish folk song celebrating a beloved parish priest. The melody originated as a traditional slip jig, but gained widespread popularity when Alfred Perceval Graves wrote lyrics to it in the late 19th century and published it in 1880....

"Star of the County Down" is a beloved Irish ballad that originated in Northern Ireland, specifically from County Down, in the late 19th century. The song is set to the traditional Irish melody known as "Kingsfold," which has been used for numerous folk songs and hymns across the British Isles....

"Give Me Your Hand," known in Irish as "Tabhair Dom Do Lámh," is an elegant and historically significant Irish tune that traces its origins to the early 17th century. Attributed to the renowned Irish harper Ruaidhrí Dall Ó Catháin (Rory Dall O'Cahan), who lived from approximately 1570 to 1650, the...

"The Wearing of the Green" is a traditional Irish ballad that dates back to the Irish Rebellion of 1798. The song laments the suppression of Irish nationalism, specifically referencing the British ban on wearing green, which was a symbol of Irish identity and solidarity. The color green had become associated...

"Cockles and Mussels," commonly known as "Molly Malone" or "In Dublin's Fair City," is one of Ireland's most beloved folk songs, though its origins blend history with mythology. The ballad emerged in late 19th century Dublin, with its first published version appearing around 1884, attributed to James Yorkston. The song...

"The Irish Washerwoman" is a lively traditional Irish jig that dates back to the late 18th century, first appearing in print in 1791 in Peter Thompson's "Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances." The tune quickly became popular across Ireland, Britain, and later in North America. Unlike many traditional Irish...

"An Irish Lullaby," often known as "Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral," is a popular song with Irish-American roots rather than being a traditional Irish folk song. It was written in 1913 by James Royce Shannon (born James Royce) for the Tin Pan Alley musical production "Shameen Dhu." The song gained tremendous popularity when it...

"The Dawning of the Day" (also known as "Fáinne Geal an Lae" in Irish) is a traditional Irish air that dates back several centuries. The melody originated in the 18th century and has been adapted for numerous sets of lyrics throughout Irish history. Two distinct versions have become prominent: one...

"The Spinning Wheel" is a beloved traditional Irish folk song written by John Francis Waller, an Irish poet from County Limerick, who published it under the pseudonym "Jonathan Freke Slingsby" in 1865. The song portrays a tender domestic scene in a traditional Irish cottage, featuring young Eileen spinning wool while...

"The Rose of Tralee" was written by William Pembroke Mulchinock, a wealthy merchant's son from Tralee, and was first published around 1846. It's said to be based on a true love story between Mulchinock and Mary O'Connor, a poor servant girl who worked in his family's household.According to local legend,...

"I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen" has an interesting history, as it's often mistakenly believed to be a traditional Irish song. It was actually written in 1875 by Thomas Westendorf, a German-American school teacher and composer from Plainfield, Illinois. He reportedly wrote the song for his homesick wife, who was...

"When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" was written in 1912 by Chauncey Olcott and George Graff Jr., with music by Ernest Ball, for the American stage show "The Isle O' Dreams." Despite being composed in America rather than Ireland, it quickly became a cultural touchstone for Irish-Americans. Olcott, an Irish-American tenor...