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 "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling." It acknowledges the stereotype of Irish drinking with "I'm seldom sober" and “only drink on the day of the week that ends with a Y.”

The lyrics highlight the importance of oral tradition ("Old songs and old stories / they keep us alive") and the…

"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 a sort of "Greek Chorus," sung by an unseen inmate, perfectly establishing the atmosphere of despair and endless routine.

Although the song's appearance in his play often leads to Brendan Behan being credited as the author, it is widely believed that his younger…

"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 ships, often sung in a call-and-response style to maintain rhythm during laborious work like hauling ropes. While the song's popularity waned as ship crews diminished, it experienced a revival in the 20th century, becoming a well-known piece both among sailors…

"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 a perilous existence, evading authorities and bounty hunters, even as the Catholic Church and the Irish Government opposed their craft.

Despite relentless pursuit, the poitín industry persevered, operating in shadows. Campaigns to legalize poitín…

"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 most widely performed traditional Irish songs and has been recorded by numerous artists since the 1950s.

The song gained international exposure through performances by Irish folk band the Dubliners in the 1960s, becoming one of their signature pieces. The Highwaymen…

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 Kavanagh in the 1960s, he asked Kavanagh if he could set the poem to music. Legend has it that Kavanagh insisted on being paid five pounds! With the business out of the way, Kelly began searching for a melody to complement the poignant words. He landed on a traditional Irish air "Fáinne…

"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 in Ireland’s Top 10, achieved four-times platinum status, and was the first soulful, folk-leaning song to reach such heights since The Fields of Athenry in the early 1980s. 

The song originated when Eoin “Fitz” Fitzgibbon, the band’s bassist and a native of…

"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 Tans, a British paramilitary force deployed during the Irish War of Independence (1919–1921).

The Black and Tans were mostly recruited from British veterans of World War I and sent to support the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) in suppressing the Irish Republican Army…

“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” in the song refers to the Romani people, a group long marginalized and often romanticized for their perceived wildness and nonconformity. In the ballad, the gypsies are portrayed as mysterious and free-spirited — an alluring contrast to the rigid norms of noble society. 

At its heart, “Raggle…

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 County Galway, Ireland. There, in an old house that doubled as a recording studio, Scott and a rotating cast of musicians—including fiddler Steve Wickham—immersed themselves in folk tradition, jamming, writing, and recording hundreds of songs over two years. 

The opening line…

"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 loss of one of her "four green fields" – a metaphor for the four provinces of Ireland: Ulster, Munster, Leinster, and Connacht. 

The song's narrative is a thinly veiled allusion to the British colonization of Ireland and the subsequent partition in 1921, which resulted in…

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, his life takes a downward spiral, resulting in financial ruin and hardship. 

Originating in Scotland, likely during the 19th century, the song's popularity surged during the mid-20th century folk revival. Its enduring appeal lies in its relatable theme, infectious melody, and…

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 Irish Republican Army (IRA). South was also a talented writer who frequently contributed to nationalist publications, where he articulated his anti-communist and pro-Irish sovereignty views. 

Motivated by his passion for the republican cause, South joined the IRA’s…

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. 

Often the night before someone left for America, their family and friends would gather for a goodbye party that would later be referred to as their American Wake. It was not guaranteed that this person would survive the 11 week voyage to America. If they did make it, chances are no one gathered…

"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 joys and sorrows of a seafaring life. 

"Jolly Rovin' Tar" tells the story of a carefree "tar" (aka sailor) who wanders from port to port, indulging in drinking, love, and a life unburdened by responsibilities. The song is a mix of celebration and cynicism, glorifying the sailor's freedom and…

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 people were killed and many others were wounded. The protest was against internment without trial, a policy that disproportionately targeted the Catholic nationalist community. 

This event, known as Bloody Sunday, escalated the conflict known as The Troubles.…

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 song's place in Irish pub culture. The tune follows in the tradition of tall tales, where feats of strength and adventure are exaggerated to an almost absurd degree—akin to the legends of Paul Bunyan in American folklore.

The song introduces us to Sylvest, a…

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 in protest of the British government's refusal to grant political prisoner status to IRA inmates. His death on May 5, 1981 became a symbol of Irish resistance to British rule. 

“Back Home in Derry” describes the aftermath for many Irish involved in the nationalist movements such as the…

“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 of mass arrests, detaining hundreds of suspected Irish republican paramilitaries without trial. This policy, known as internment, was intended to suppress the growing violence in Northern Ireland. However, it disproportionately targeted the Catholic nationalist…

"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 that, despite differences, its people are ultimately traveling in the same direction, striving for a united future. 

The Wolfe Tones brought "On The One Road" to a wider audience in 1972. Since then, it is often sung at events advocating for Irish reunification…

Ride On was written by the renowned Irish songwriter Jimmy MacCarthy. Born in 1953 in County Cork, MacCarthy is known for penning some of Ireland’s most beloved modern folk songs, including No Frontiers and Bright Blue Rose. 

MacCarthy originally wrote Ride On in the early 1980s, and it was first recorded by Mary Coughlan. However, it was Christy Moore’s 1984 rendition on his album of the same name that truly brought the song to widespread recognition. Moore’s stripped-down acoustic arrangement, coupled with…

"Jackie," the haunting opening track from Sinéad O’Connor’s 1987 debut album The Lion and the Cobra, is a chilling ballad that establishes the record's tone. This spectral lament narrates the tale of a person mourning their lost love, a sailor named Jackie, who vanished at sea. The lyrics depict their eternal search for Jackie amidst the crashing waves and cold night air. As the song unfolds, a supernatural twist emerges: the narrator is a ghost, destined to wander the shore, awaiting Jackie's return. 

This…

"Thousands Are Sailing," by The Pogues' Philip Chevron, is a moving tribute to Irish immigrants who left their homeland for a better life in America. Released in 1988, the song's title evokes the countless Irish people who emigrated to the U.S., driven by famine, economic hardship, and political unrest. These immigrants left behind everything they knew, seeking refuge and opportunity in the "land of opportunity." While the lyrics highlight the optimism of a fresh start, they also acknowledge the sorrow of…

Black Velvet Band is a song of love, betrayal, and exile that has been a favorite among pub-goers for generations. The song is part of a broader tradition of “transport ballads” - songs about criminals (often unfairly accused) being sentenced to transportation to Australia. The first found mention of The Girl in the Black Velvet Band, appeared in the 1840s with various versions found throughout England and Ireland. Despite different lyrics the story always centers on a young man deceived by a beautiful…

Haul Away Joe is classified as a “halyard shanty,” which refers to songs sailors used to sing while hauling on the ropes used to raise or lower the sails of a ship. These shanties were often sung in call-and-response style, with a lead singer calling out a line and the crew responding in unison. This helped set the rhythm for the laborious tasks involved in sailing, making it easier for sailors to work together and maintain a steady pace.

Sea shanties like Haul Away Joe often have fluid lyrics, with…