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