O'McPub Band | Irish-American Duo

The Rattlin’ Bog stands as the quintessential Irish "cumulative song"—a rhythmic test of memory that accelerates in speed, volume, and delightful chaos with every new verse.

Although its precise origin remains a mystery, similar cumulative songs have been part of…

Gaelic Storm's "Kiss Me I'm Irish" is a celebration of Irish identity, humor, and heritage. Released on their 2004 album How Are We Getting Home?, the song cleverly weaves references to classic Irish folk songs like “Wild Rover” and…

"The Auld Triangle" is a foundational piece of Irish folk music, famously opening Brendan Behan's 1954 play, The Quare Fellow. This somber drama is set in Mountjoy Prison, chronicling the final hours before an execution. The song functions as…

"The Green Fields of France" (also known as "No Man's Land" or "Willie McBride") was written in 1976 by Scottish-born Australian folk singer Eric Bogle. The song was inspired by a visit to the military cemeteries of Flanders and Northern…

Today marks half a century since the massive freighter SS Edmund Fitzgerald, along with its entire crew of 29 men, vanished beneath the frigid, churning waters of Lake Superior.

For many around the world, the story of the "Mighty…

"Drunken Sailor" is a sea shanty whose exact origins and authorship remain unknown, although it shares similarities with traditional Irish folk songs. The song likely emerged in the early 19th century and was used by sailors for various tasks aboard…

"The Rare Old Mountain Dew" or “Let the Grasses Grow” resonates with Ireland's famed illicit whiskey—poitín or poteen. Poitín, brewed by the Irish for centuries, was a covert endeavor to avoid heavy British taxes. The distillers, dubbed poitín makers, navigated…

"Whiskey in the Jar" is an Irish traditional song set in the southern mountains of Ireland, with specific mention of counties Cork and Kerry. The song revolves around a rapparee (highwayman) betrayed by his lover Jenny. It is one of…

The lyrics to “Raglan Road” were written by Irish poet Patrick Kavanagh as a poem titled “Dark Haired Girl” about his unrequited love for Hilda Moriarty, a medical student he met in Dublin in the 1940s. 

When Luke Kelly met…

"Killeagh," Kingfishr’s B-side released with “Bet On Beauty” in December 2024, became an unexpected hit. Its popularity surged due to TikTok videos featuring its chorus and green imagery around St. Patrick’s Day. Since then the song has spent 18 weeks…

"Come Out Ye Black and Tans" was written by Irish singer-songwriter Dominic Behan, son of Irish revolutionary Stephen Behan and the younger brother of playwright Brendan Behan. The song is a powerful response to the actions of the Black and…

If you've spent time in good Irish pubs, you've likely heard the boisterous shout of "MacIntyre!" during a song, followed by laughter and raised glasses to "The Old Dun Cow." If your local Irish pub hasn't experienced this, kindly encourage…

“Raggle Taggle Gypsy” is believed to be inspired by the actual events of Lady Jean Hamilton, wife of the Earl of Cassilis in Scotland, who was rumored to have eloped with a gypsy in the early 1600s. 

The term “gypsy”…

Fisherman’s Blues was released by The Waterboys in 1988 after frontman Mike Scott felt the pull toward more traditional music, particularly the sounds of Ireland and the roots of Americana. In 1986 he packed up and headed to Spiddal in…

"Four Green Fields," penned by Tommy Makem of the renowned Irish folk group The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, debuted in 1967. The song utilizes the symbol of an old woman in Irish folklore to represent Mother Ireland, lamenting the…

Nancy Whiskey tells a cautionary tale about the dangers of alcohol and/or women. The song's lyrics narrate the story of a young man who falls for the charms of Nancy Whiskey, a personification of strong drink. As he becomes obsessed,…

Sean South, a dedicated Irish nationalist and devout Catholic, was born in Limerick on February 8, 1928. His deep-rooted belief in Irish independence and fervent opposition to British rule in Northern Ireland led him to join Sinn Féin and the…

During the Irish Genocide of the 1840's, Irish families had to make tough choices about who they would send to America in hopes of a better life and who would stay behind to continue to face the hardships of famine. 

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"Jolly Rovin' Tar" is a song made popular by the Irish Rovers that embodies the spirit of a sailor's life, full of adventure and revelry. The song is a blend of sea shanty, pub song, and cautionary tale, reflecting the…

In 1983, U2 released "Sunday Bloody Sunday" as the first track on their album War. The song's title references the tragic events of January 30, 1972, in Derry, Northern Ireland, where British soldiers fired on unarmed civil rights protesters. Fourteen…

Big Strong Man traces back to early British and Irish music hall traditions. Variations of the song have existed for over a century, often under the title My Brother Sylvest. However, it was The Wolfe Tones' lively rendition that solidified…

The lyrics of "Back Home in Derry" were written by Bobby Sands, an Irish republican who died after 66 days of a hunger strike while being imprisoned in Long Kesh (Maze Prison) in Northern Ireland. Sands led the hunger strike…

“Men Behind the Wire” was written in 1971 by Paddy McGuigan of the Irish folk group Barleycorn and quickly became an anthem of resistance during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. 

On August 9, 1971, the British government implemented a policy…

"On The One Road" was written in the 1940s by Francis O’Donovan, an Irish songwriter who sought to capture the division and hope within Ireland during a time of political turbulence. The lyrics acknowledge Ireland’s divisions but reinforce the idea…