List of Irish ballads

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).

The following are often-sung Irish folk ballads.

This song or music-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

1 Political
2 Non-political
3 See also

[edit] Political

[edit] 16th/17th Centuries

The Flight of Earls - about the flight of the Irish earls abroad following their defeat by the English in the early seventeenth century.
Follow me up to Carlow - about Fiach MacHugh O'Byrne and the Second Desmond Rebellion against Elizabeth I of England, written in the 19th century
Alasdair MacColla (song) - song dating from the 1640s about warrior Alasdair MacColla. Still performed by Clannad.
Lament for Owen Roe - ballad written in the mid 19th century about Owen Roe O'Neill d. 1649
Lilliburlero Protestant ballad first composed in the late 1680s in the lead up to the Williamite war in Ireland
The Boyne Water song dating from 1690 about the battle of the Boyne
The Sash song composed in the early twentieth century about the events of the 1690s
Derry's Walls commemorating the siege of Derry of 1689.

[edit] 1798 Rebellion

Boolavogue - song about Fr. John Murphy by P.J. McCall (1861-1919), one of the leaders of the Wexford rebels.
The Wind that Shakes the Barley- A young man's remorse at leaving his lady love to join the United Irishmen is cut short when she is killed by an English bullet.
The Rising of the Moon - This ballad invokes the hope and optimism surrounding the outbreak of the Irish rebellion of 1798.
The Croppy Boy - One of the saddest of the 1798 rebellion songs, it is concerned with the period following the suppression of the rebellion and how the climate of repression saw relatives and close family deny any links to condemned rebels for fear of being deemed guilty by association.
The Wearing of the Green -song about repression after the rebellion
The Sean-Bhean bhocht - The "Poor old woman", i.e Ireland, is about to be liberated in tandem with the French. Also known as "The French are on the sea"
Kelly of Killanne - Famous ballad by P.J. McCall (1861-1919), reflecting exploits of John Kelly, one of the most popular leader of Wexford rebels.
The Liberty Tree - Anonymous United Irishmen ballad in praise of the French Revolution.
Dunlavin Green - Local ballad written response to the massacre of 36 prisoners suspected of United Irish sympathies in Dunlavin, co. Wicklow on May 24th 1798.
Roddy MacCorley - Famous ballad by Ethna Carbery lamenting the execution of a young Antrim Presbyterian rebel, there is also a loyalist version which also mourns his death but blames it upon betrayal by Catholics.
Tone's Grave - Lament for Wolfe Tone, United Irish leader, the ballad is more commonly known as "Bodenstown churchyard", written by Thomas Davis, one of the leaders of Young Ireland movement.
Croppies Lie Down - Orange anti-croppy ballad
Henry Joy ballad about United Irish leader Henry Joy McCracken
Boys of '98 - Irish-American tribute
The Minstrel Boy - in remembrance of a number of friends of Thomas Moore who lost their lives in the rebellion

[edit] Nineteenth century

A Nation Once Again - nineteenth century Irish nationalist anthem
The Bold Fenian Men - song about the nineteenth century Fenians
The Fields of Athenry - 1880s song about the Irish potato famine
God Save Ireland- nineteenth century Irish nationalist anthem
The Harp that Once (Rang Through Tara's Halls) - anthem of County Meath - one of Moore's Melodies
I'm Asking You Sergeant, Where's Mine - An anti-recruiting song from the 1850's.

[edit] 1916-62

Oró Sé do Bheatha 'Bhaile -Originally a jacobite tune, it later received new verses and popularised by nationalist poet Padraic Pearse
Amhrán na bhFiann - or the Soldiers Song, Irish Volunteers anthem, since 1927 the anthem of the Irish Free State/Éire/Republic of Ireland
Come Out Ye Black and Tans - Loyalist-taunting song written by Dominic Behan, brother of Brendan
The Foggy Dew - about the Easter Rising of 1916
Kevin Barry - about a young medical student and Irish revolutionary controversially executed during the Irish War of Independence
Salonica (song) - song about the Irish serving in the British Army in the First World War.
The Man from the Daily Mail- song composed around 1918-19 mocking British media coverage of Ireland.
Sean Treacy (song) - ballad about an IRA man killed in Dublin in 1920
The Boys of Kilmichael -ballad about the Kilmichael ambush of 1920.
The Boys of the Old Brigade-nostalgic ballad about the "old IRA".
Dying Rebel
The Rifles of the IRA- song disparaging the Black and Tans and praising the IRA
The Valley of Knockanure - about an incident in 1921
Some Say the Divil is Dead satirical song about the British Army
The Broad Black Brimmer written by Noel Nagle of the Wolfe Tones in praise of the IRA during the War of Independence 1919-21 and specifically the IRA of the Civil War and after.
Take It Down From The Mast -Anti-Treaty song about the Irish Civil War
The Old Alarm Clock song by Brendan Behan about the Sabotage Campaign (IRA) of 1939.
The Patriot Game written by Dominic Behan about Fergal O'Hanlon killed in action during the IRA border campaign of 1956-62 .
Sean South from Garryowen about Seán South, killed in the same incident as O'Hanlon.
Four Green Fields - 1967 folk song, an allegory about partition by Tommy Makem

Hot Asphalt Written by Ewan MacColl, it was made famous by The Dubliners. Luke Kelly, a member of the band, also recorded it solo as an a'capella in an apparent session. This was the same time when he recorded his version of McAlpine's Fusiliers
McAlpine's Fusiliers Dominic (Brendan?) Behan. Also made famous by The Dubliners; a fan favorite.

[edit] Northern Conflict 1969-98

Go on Home British Soldiers
The Men Behind the Wire - 1970s song about internment in Northern Ireland
My Little Armalite - early 1970s militant republican song
Fightin' Men Of Crossmaglen about south Armagh republicans
Rubber bullets for the ladies - 1970s song about the British Army in Northern Ireland
The Town I Loved So Well - 1980s song about the impact of The Troubles in Derry (Composer: Phil Coulter)
Teddy Bear's Head - song about the partition of Ireland and the fact that the six counties of Northern Ireland belong with the rest (author unknown, heard sung by the Wolfe Tones)
There Were Roses song by Tommy Sands that portrays a tragic story of two friends.
Roll of Honour, Republican song about the hunger strike of 1981.
Loughal Martyrs song about 7 IRA men killed at Loughgall in 1987.
SAM Song song praising the Provisional IRA and their acquisition of surface to air missiles.
Say Hello To The Provos, PIRA song
Gibraltar (song), song in memory of three PIRA members killed in 1988 in Gibraltar

[edit] Unionist

The Lambeg Drum
The Billy Boys song dating to the 1930s, about sectarian murder, first heard in Glasgow.
The Ballad of Michael Stone, song celebrating the Milltown Cemetery Attack in 1988.

[edit] Non-political

Are you right, there, Michael, are you right? - comic nineteenth century song about a slow train on a West Clare Railway that left the composer late for a concert (Composer: Percy French)
As I Roved Out
The Bard Of Armagh
Biddy Mulligan - about a Dublin woman, the "pride of the Coombe"
The Black Velvet Band
Carraigfergus - about Carraigfergus in County Antrim (more usually spelled Carrickfergus in modern fashion)
The Colleen Bawn
The Contender about 1930s Irish boxer Jack Doyle
Danny Boy - Most famous Irish song, though written by an Englishman and only later set to an Irish tune - and most recorded?
Dicey Riley - about drinking
Down by the Sally Gardens
Dublin in the Rare Old Times - 1980s song about Dublin before the 1960s (composer: Pete St. John; a cover of the song by Flogging Molly was called "The Rare Ould Times")
Fairytale of New York - about emigration (1988 song by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl. Composer: Shane MacGowan)
From Clare to Here - about emigration
I'll take you home again, Kathleen
Ireland's Call - Official anthem for the Ireland national rugby union team, which includes players from both the Republic and Northern Ireland
Leaving of Liverpool
Limerick Is Beautiful
Mother Macree
Molly Durkin
Mursheen Durkin
Molly (also known as Nora, referring to Nora Barnacle, wife of James Joyce)
Molly Malone - Anthem of Dublin (eighteenth century in origins)
Monto (Take Her Up To Monto) - about the famous red light district in Dublin around Mountgomery Street
The Mountains of Mourne - about Irish emigrants in London (Composer: Percy French)
Nancy Spain
The Auld Triangle - by writer Brendan Behan, about his time in Mountjoy Prison
The Old Bog Road
On Raglan Road (Patrick Kavanagh poem to the nineteenth century melody The Dawning of the Day)
Paddy On the Railway
Phil the Fluters Ball - (Composer: Percy French)
Ride On 1980s song most identified with singer Christy Moore (Composer: Jimmy McCarthy)

She Moved Through the Fair - one of the famed nineteenth century Moore's Melodies
Songs of Love - 1990s song by The Divine Comedy (theme music of Father Ted. Composer: Neil Hannon)
Seven Drunken Nights
Spancill Hill - about emigration
Star of the County Down about a peasant falling in love with the county's most beautiful lass
Tim Finigan's Wake, also known as Finnegan's Wake
Whiskey in the Jar
Whistling Gipsy Rover
The Dawning of the Day, 19th century song also known as Fáinne Geal an Lae
The Irish Rover
The Lonesome Boatman
The Rocky Road to Dublin
The Rose of Tralee
Rose of Clare
The Galway Shawl
The Wild Rover
The Moonshiner
The Galway Races
Weila Waile
Whiskey You're The Devil
I'll Tell Me Ma