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.

Songs may fit into more than one category, but where possible are grouped uniquely to where is most appropriate.

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

[edit] Political

[edit] Anti-War and Anti-Recruiting

Arthur McBride
King's Shilling
The Recruiting Sergeant
Mrs. McGrath
The Nightingale
Saxon's Shilling
Sergeant William Bailey
Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye

[edit] 16th and 17th centuries

Alasdair MacColla (song) - song dating from the 1640s about warrior Alasdair MacColla. Still performed by Clannad.
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
The Woods of Trugh - concerning Eoin Roe O'Neill

[edit] Napoleonic Wars

Bonny Bunch of Roses
Bonny Light Horseman
Eighteenth of June
Grand Conversation on Napoleon
Granuaile
Isle of Saint Helena
Lonely Waterloo
Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon's Farewell to Paris
Napoleon's Lamentation
Plains of Waterloo
Wounded Hussar
Welcome Napoleon to Erin

[edit] 1798 Rebellion

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

Bagnel Harvey's Farewell
Ballyshannon Lane
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 Boys of Wexford
By Memory Inspired - is a tributary role-call of many of the heroes who died in the rebellion.
Come All You Warriors (Father Murphy) - song written close to the time of the rebellion upon which later songs such as Boulavogue were based.
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.
Croppies Lie Down - a Unionist or Orangeman's perspective on the rebels triumphant defeat.
Dunlavin Green - Local ballad written in response to the Massacre of Dunlavin Green which occurred on May 24th 1798.
Henry Joy - Ballad about United Irish leader Henry Joy McCracken.
The Heroes of '98 - patriotic song by Bruce Scott.
Jimmy Murphy - song of music hall origin with distinctly unusual chorus
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 Memory of the Dead Ballad recalling the rebellion's heroes by John Kells Ingram.
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.
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

A Nation Once Again - 19thcentury Irish nationalist anthem by Thomas Davis
The Bold Fenian Men - song about the nineteenth century Fenians
The Fields of Athenry - 1970s song about the Great Irish Famine
God Save Ireland- 19th century Irish nationalist anthem
The Harp that Once Through Tara's Halls - anthem of County Meath - one of Moore's Melodies
McCafferty - an Irish soldier shoots dead two of his British officers.

[edit] The Great War 1914 - 1918

Clare's Dragoons - lyrics here
The Connaght Rangers - by Charles Martin, lyrics here. Not to be confused with the song of the same name by Brian Warfield which refers to the mutiny of the First Battalion of the regiment in response to the Irish Civil War.
Gallipoli - lyrics here
The Green Fields of France - lyrics here
It's a Long Way to Tipperary
Salonica - song about the Irish serving in the British Army in the First World War.

[edit] 1916 Rising

The Foggy Dew - about the Easter Rising of 1916

[edit] War of Independence and Post-Treaty Republicanism

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 - British Army-taunting song written by Dominic Behan
Dark Horse on the Wind - poetic ballad by Liam Weldon
Kevin Barry - about young medical student and Irish revolutionary Kevin Barry controversially executed during the Irish War of Independence
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 of 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

Ashtown Road - a song about an ambush in Dublin in which an IRA Vol, Matin Savage, died

[edit] Northern Conflict 1969-98

The Ballad Of Aidan McAnespie - song about a young Catholic man, murdered by a grenadier at the border, while walking to a Gaelic football match.
The Ballad of Ed O'Brien - song about an IRA volunteer who died in a bus explosion in London.
Ballad Of Mairead Farrell - song by Seanchai & The Unity Squad about Mairéad Farrell and two IRA members killed in 1988 in Gibraltar by the SAS.^[1]
Gibraltar (song) - song in memory of the Gibraltar 3.
Enniskillen - At The War Memorial - song about the Enniskillen Remembrance Day bombing of 1987
Fightin' Men Of Crossmaglen - about South Armagh republicans
Give Me Your Hand (Tabhair dom do Lámh) - words of reconciliation composed by Brian Warfield of the Wolfe Tones in 1974 to a 17th century tune by Ruairí 'Dall' Ó Catháin
Go on Home British Soldiers
I.R.E.L.A.N.D
The Lambeg Drummer
My Little Armalite - early 1970s militant republican song
Loughall Martyrs - song about 7 IRA men killed at Loughgall in 1987
The Men Behind the Wire - 1970s song about internment in Northern Ireland
Rock On Rockall - also known as "You'll get F'All from Rockall" - a surprisingly witty satirical song from the Wolfe Tones, about Rockall, an Irish island disputed by Britain, Denmark and Iceland.
Roll of Honour - Republican song about the hunger strike of 1981
Rubber bullets for the ladies - 1970s song about the British Army in Northern Ireland
SAM Song - song praising the Provisional IRA and their acquisition of surface to air missiles
Say Hello To The Provos - PIRA song
There Were Roses - song by Tommy Sands that portrays a tragic story of two friends
The Town I Loved So Well - 1980s song about the impact of The Troubles in Derry (Composer: Phil Coulter)
Up the Rebels - also known as "Teddy's Head" due to a line in the chorus, song about the partition of Ireland with humour.

[edit] Non-political

[edit] Miscellaneous and Uncategorised

As I Roved Out
The Auld Triangle - by writer Brendan Behan, about his time in Mountjoy Prison
The Bard Of Armagh
Biddy Mulligan the Pride of the Coombe - about a Dublin woman, see also 'Daffodil Mulligan' about her daughter.
The Colleen Bawn
Danny Boy - famous Irish song, though written by an Englishman and only later set to an Irish tune - and most recorded?
The Dawning of the Day - 19th century song also known as Fáinne Geal an Lae
Éamonn an Chnoic
Down by the Sally Gardens - based on a poem by W.B. Yeats, which was based on a song he heard in his childhood.
The Galway Shawl
I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen
I'll Tell Me Ma
Irish Lullabye - Written in the 1890's by James Royce Shannon, and made famous by Bing Crosby
A Longford Legend
Mother Macree
Molly - also known as Nora, referring to Nora Barnacle, wife of James Joyce
Molly Durkin
The Old Bog Road
Ride On - 1980s song most identified with singer Christy Moore written by Jimmy McCarthy
The Well Below the Valley
The Whistling Gypsy

[edit] Work and Industry

Hot Asphalt - song about Irish navvies in Britain written by Ewan MacColl, also recorded by The Dubliners and Frank Harte.
McAlpine's Fusiliers - one of the gangs of London navvies written by Dominic Behan. Also made famous by The Dubliners
Molly Malone - anthem of Dublin (eighteenth century in origins)
Paddy On the Railway - a compilation of verses by Ewan MacColl from Irish work songs in the North of England

[edit] Love and Romance

These songs can be grouped as: aislings, broken token songs, night visiting songs etc. See also Hedgeschool Master songs below, many of which are love songs.

A Stór mo Chroí
Siúil A Rúin
The Banks of the Roses
The Black Velvet Band
The Blooming Flower of Grange - a love song from Wexford
Come With Me Over The Mountain also known as 'O'er the Mountain'.
Easy and Slow - a debauched song of somewhat constant innuendo.
The Flower of Magherally
The Forgetful Sailor also known as Johnny Doyle
The Galway Shawl
I Am Stretched on Your Grave
The Inside Car - a dainty song of infatuation from Wexford.
He Rolled Her To The Wall
Killyburn Brae
The Last Rose of Summer
The Love Token
The Maid from Ballygow
The Mantle So Green - also known as the Mantle of Green, a seminal broken token ballad.
Miss Brown - a murder ballad from Dublin
Monto (Take Her Up To Monto) - about the famous red light district in Dublin around Mountgomery Street
My Love's in Germany
My Lagan Love
My Love at Waterloo
My Singing Bird
Nancy Spain - by Barney Rush.
On Raglan Road - Patrick Kavanagh poem to the nineteenth century melody The Dawning of the Day
The Plains of Waterloo - a broken token ballad from the Napoleonic era.
The Rose of Tralee
Rose of Clare
She Moved Through the Fair - one of the famed nineteenth century Moore's Melodies
The Ship Carpenter's Wife
Single Again - also known as I Wish I Was Single Again.
Songs of Love - 1990s song by The Divine Comedy (theme music of Father Ted. Composer: Neil Hannon)
Star of the County Down - about a peasant falling in love with the county's most beautiful lass
The Twangman
Young Molly Bawn - tragic story about a man who shoots his young lover

[edit] Places, Emigration and Travel

Are Ye Right There Michael - comic nineteenth century song about a slow train on a West Clare Railway that left the composer late for a concert (Composer: Percy French)
Carraigfergus - about Carraigfergus in County Antrim (more usually spelled Carrickfergus in modern fashion)
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
The Flight of Earls - song about the Irish diaspora leaving in the 1950s and 60's to search for work.
Galway Bay
Ireland's Call - Official anthem for the Ireland national rugby union team, written by Phil Coulter
The Irish Rover - humorous song about a seafaring disaster on a vessel sailing from Ireland to the new Americas
Leaving of Liverpool
Limerick Is Beautiful
The Mountains of Mourne - about Irish emigrants in London (Composer: Percy French)
Muirsheen Durkin
The Rocky Road to Dublin
Song for Ireland - anthemic song by Englishman Phil MacCullough
Spancill Hill - an emigrant's dream of returning home to his native Clare

[edit] Songs of the Travelling People

The Blue Tar Road - song by Liam Weldon
Danny Farrell
Goodbye to the Thirty Foot Trailer - also known as 'Farewell to the Life of the Rover'
Last of the Travelling People - song by Pecker Dunne
The Tinker's Lullaby - song by Pecker Dunne

[edit] Sport, Play and Fighting

Bold Thady Quill
The Bold Christy Ring - song about Cork hurler Christy Ring to the tune of Bold Thady Quill
The Contender - about 1930s Irish boxer Jack Doyle
The Fight on the Hill
The Galway Races
Morrissey and the Russian Sailor
Nicky Rackard (song) - biographic song about Nicky Rackard the famous Wexford hurler
Nicky Rackard 'The Golden Sun' - another biographic song about Nicky Rackard
A Song For Christy Ring - another song about Cork hurler Christy Ring by Brian McNamara to the air of Dear Old Skibbereen

[edit] Murder Ballads

[edit] Drinking

Dicey Riley - about drinking
The Moonshiner
Mursheen Durkin
The Rare Auld Mountain Dew - drinking song dedicated to poitin, or illegally distilled whiskey
Seven Drunken Nights
Whiskey in the Jar
Whiskey You're The Devil
The Wild Rover
The Juice of the Barley

[edit] Hedge Schoolmaster Songs

The Boys of Mullaghbawn
Cloghamon Mill
The Colleen Rue
The Cottage Maid
The Cuckoo's Nest - by John Sheils
The Curracloe Boat Crew - a song from Wexford
Easter Snow - an aisling set in a town in Roscommon
Flower of Gortade
The Limerick Rake - a very popular song
Lough Erne Shore
Old Arboe - a song in praise of a spot near Lough Neagh in Co Tyrone
Sheila Nee Iyer - parody of an aisling

[edit] Get-togethers

The Charladies' Ball
Johnny MacAldoo
The Night Before Larry Was Stretched
Phil the Fluters Ball - (Composer: Percy French)
The Ragman's Ball
The Ragman's Wake
Tim Finigan's Wake - also known as Finnegan's Wake
The Tipperary Christening
Waxies' Dargle

[edit] References

^ SEANCHAI - Lyrics

Soodlum's Irish Ballad Book, Oak publications, 1982, ISBN 082560284X ISBN 978-0825602849.

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

[edit] See also

[0] SEANCHAI - Lyrics

[1]