"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 – Irish Song Lyrics
"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 – Irish Song Lyrics
"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 – Irish Song Lyrics
"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 – Irish Song Lyrics
"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...