List of Irish ballads

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The following are often-sung Irish folk ballads. The songs are arranged by theme under two main categories of 'Political' and 'Not Political' and are not necessarily contemporary to the events to which they relate.

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

Contents

[edit] Political

[edit] 16th and 17th centuries

[edit] 1798 Rebellion

Songs relating to the Irish Rebellion of 1798(though not necessarily contemporary):

  • Father Murphy - song written close to the time of the rebellion upon which later songs such as Boulavogue were based.
  • Boolavogue - Song about Father John Murphy, one of the leaders of the Wexford rebels, written by P.J. McCall (1861-1919) for the centenary anniversary in 1898.
  • Boys of '98 - Irish-American tribute.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Henry Joy - Ballad about United Irish leader Henry Joy McCracken.
  • 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.
  • The Minstrel Boy - In remembrance of a number of friends of Thomas Moore who lost their lives in the rebellion.
  • The Rising of the Moon - This ballad invokes the hope and optimism surrounding the outbreak of the Irish rebellion of 1798.
  • Roddy McCorley - Famous ballad by Ethna Carbery lamenting the execution of the young Antrim Presbyterian rebel, Roddy McCorley. There is also a loyalist version which also mourns his death but blames it upon betrayal by Catholics.
  • 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."
  • 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.
  • The Wearing of the Green - Song about repression after the rebellion.
  • 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.

[edit] 19th century

[edit] 1916 Rising

[edit] War of Independance and Post-Treaty Republicanism


[edit] First and Second World Wars 1914 - 1945

  • The Foggy Dew - about the forgotten heroes of the great war in the wake of the Easter Rising of 1916
  • Salonica (song) - song about the Irish serving in the British Army in the First World War.


[edit] Northern Conflict 1969-98

[edit] Non-political

[edit] Miscellaneous and Uncategorised

[edit] Work and Industry

[edit] Love, Sex and Romance

[edit] Emmigration and Travel

[edit] Sport and Play

  • The Contender about 1930s Irish boxer Jack Doyle
  • The Galway Races

[edit] Murder Ballads

  • Weila Waile

[edit] Drinking



[edit] Get-togethers

[edit] References

  1. ^ SEANCHAI - Lyrics
  • Soodlum's Irish Ballad Book, Oak publications, 1982, ISBN-10: 082560284X ISBN-13: 978-0825602849.

http://martindardis.com/ Irish song lyrics chords and videos

[edit] See also
Languages