"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 brother, the prolific songwriter Dominic Behan, was the actual writer. Dominic asserted his authorship throughout his life, and this disagreement unfortunately led to a serious rift between the siblings.
The chorus, a staple for pub sing-alongs, grounds the listener historically and geographically within the prisoner's experience. The sound of the Royal Canal flowing right outside the cell wall becomes a cruel reminder of freedom that is frustratingly out of reach. Conversely, the "triangle" is the sound of prison authority—the "screws"—used to signal key moments like waking, mealtimes, and lockdown.
Many incredible artists, from Bob Dylan to U2, have covered "The Auld Triangle," but two versions particularly stand out. For many listeners, Luke Kelly's rendition is considered "the original." Driven by a simple banjo rhythm and his strong, raw voice, Kelly captures the profound isolation and the daily grind of prison life with iron and grit. In contrast, Glen Hansard often performs the song with a large ensemble, beginning quietly and building to a powerful, shouted climax. If Kelly's version is centered on the solitary inmate, Hansard's version is about the community singing together to keep the prisoner's hope alive.