Long post here probably. I've been a fan of Irish music for over a decade now and it actually was what first got me interested in the country. I actually got a chance to go to Ireland back in May-June of this year.
- The High Kings are my favorite group. Lots of traditional stuff in their first two albums; the third one was mostly original music with a few traditional, and their fourth one is like half traditional half other covers (like Goodnight Irene - I was actually at the first concert they performed that one at).
- Celtic Woman is pretty good, as is one of their former members, Orla Fallon. Basically they do covers of stuff, traditional and a handful of other things.
- Gaelic Storm is a group that was formed in the US by an Irishman and an American. You might also recognize them as the Irish band in the "3rd-class dance" scene in the movie Titanic; that's how they first became famous. They do traditional stuff and a lot of their own original things.
^ These three groups are my favorite and I've seen 'em all in concert. Celtic Woman was, well, a show, just sorta distant really. High Kings was great and they sounded just like they do on their CDs, incredible voices. Not really interactive with fans at the CD signing though. Gaelic Storm was a lot of fun and they had us laughing a lot, really friendly at the signing too.
Some classics:
- The Dubliners
- Makem and Clancy (or Clancy Brothers, or Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers, whatever combination)
- The Wolfe Tones
Also I guess Celtic Thunder have some good ones too. Like Celtic woman they do both folk music and just random other things.
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So here's a whole bunch of Irish songs.
These are in English, but they are indeed Irish folk songs:
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Black Velvet Band-
Boolavogue: I particularly like the singing in the High Kings' version
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Dublin in the Rare Old Times: I heard this several times during my trip so it reminds me of Ireland
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The Fields of Athenry: according to my Irish friend, they sing this in place of a national anthem sometimes at sporting events (he showed me, for instance, a major soccer/football match where the whole Irish crowd was singing it)
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Finnegan's Wake: Fun song. After you listen to it once,
Darby O'Gill's version, with comments between each line, is hilarious.
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The Foggy Dew: This one's about the Easter Rising, 100 years ago back in 1916.
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The Hills of Connemara - first Irish song I learned to play on flute
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Kelly, the Boy From Killane-
Molly Malone: Classic song. First one I learned how to play on Irish whistle 'cause it had the notes right inside the packaging. I've also seen a lot of references to it lately oddly enough. I actually saw a performance of it while in Ireland and the guitarist had a string break in the middle of the song and the rest of the band was just trying to not laugh at him the whole time.
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Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore: I love how this one sounds. The Corrs have a pretty great
instrumental version of it too.
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The Parting Glass - my favorite Irish folk song. And The High Kings do my favorite version.
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Raggle Taggle Romani-
The Rising of the Moon-
Spancil Hill: I'm trying to learn this one as one of my first songs on the guitar (I went to Ireland earlier this year and got two songbooks with 50 songs each that have lyrics, notes, and guitar tabs)
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Star of the County Down: One of the earliest Irish songs I became familiar with. I found this version on Pandora and it's my favorite.
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Town I Loved So Well: This is about Derry/Londonderry during all the conflicts and Troubles. The High Kings' version is the best song I have ever heard live at any concert. This version I linked to is a live performance; he does sound exactly like that live, no need for any editing, his voice is just so perfect and strong (you can actually hear some echo if you listen to it loud enough.) The verse starting at 3:47 gave us chills, especially when it goes silent except for his voice at the "music's gone" part. Got an absolutely huge standing ovation.
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The Wild Rover-
Whiskey in the Jar: a fun one. I can sing this one fairly well I think.
Irish-only (not necessarily traditional):
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Oro se do Bheatha Bhaile-
Buchaill on Erne (and the English version,
Come by the Hills)
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Mo Ghile Mear (Orla Fallon's version)
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Beidh Aonach Amarch by Gaelic Storm
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Dia Luain, De Mairt by Gaelic Storm
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Edubae by Enya
Mixed Irish/English (not necessarily traditional):
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Ar Éireann Ní Neosainn Cé Hí by The High Kings
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Nil S'en La by Celtic Woman
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Teir Abhaile Riu by Celtic Woman
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Bean Phaidin by Celtic Woman
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Tir na nOg by Celtic Woman