Amhrán na bhFiann

Amhrán na bhFiann (A Soldier's Song) was written by Peadar Kearney and adopted as the National Anthem of Ireland in 1926 replacing the unofficial anthem "God Save Ireland". Peadar Kearney was an uncle to the famous Irish writer Brendan Behan and also penned famous Irish songs Down by the Glenside a

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The Parting Glass

Oh, all the money e'er I had, I spent it in good company. And all the harm that ever I've done, alas it was to none but me. And all I've done for want of wit to mem'ry now I can't recall; So fill to me the parting glass, Good night and joy be with you all. If I had money enough to spend, and l

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Spancil Hill

Spancil Hill

Spancil Hill was written by Michael Considine, a Clare man who emigrated to the United States in the late 19th century. Michael intended to save enough money for his swetheart Mary MacNamara (Mack the Ranger's Daughter) to follow him to America but owing to ill health could never save enough money f

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Fairytale of New York

Fairytale of New York was co-written by The Pogues lead singer Shane McGowan and banjo player Jem Finer and performed by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl on the If I Should Fall From Grace With God album. On December 18, 2000, Kirsty MacColl died in a tragic boating accident while scuba diving in Mexic

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DIRTY OLD TOWN

DIRTY OLD TOWN

I met my love by the gas works wall Dreamed a dream by the old canal Kissed a girl by the factory wall Dirty old town Dirty old town Clouds a drifting across the moon Cats a prowling on their beat Spring's a girl in the street at night Dirty old town Dirty old town Heard a siren from t

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Carrickfergus

Carrickfergus

I wished I had you in Carrickfergus, Only for nights in Ballygrand, I would swim over the deepest ocean, The deepest ocean to be by your side. But the sea is wide and I can't swim over And neither have I wings to fly. I wish I could find me a handy boatman To ferry me over to my love

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The Green Fields of France (aka No Mans Land / Willie McBride)

The Green Fields of France (aka No Mans Land / Willie McBride)

The Green Fields of France was written by the Scottish born Australian Eric Bogle ( who also penned And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda ) who laments the meaningless absurdity of World War 1 and subsequent wars. Bogle penned The Green Fields of France after visiting a World War 1 graveyard in Franc

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The Cobbler - Tommy Makem

The Cobbler – Tommy Makem

Oh, me name is Dick Darby, I'm a cobbler I served my time at ould camp Some call me an old agitator But now I'm resolved to repent Chorus: With me ing-twing of an ing-thing of an i-doe With me ing-twing of an ing-thing of an i-day With me roo-boo-boo roo-boo-boo randy And me

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Mountains of Mourne

Mountains of Mourne

The popular song has made the Mournes the best known mountains in Ireland. Distinctive and self-contained, they are tucked away in the south-east corner of Northern Ireland, with 12 shapely summits rising above 2,000 ft on the eastern side. The lyrics to the Mountains of Mourne were written by Percy

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When Irish Eyes Are Smiling

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling

When Irish eyes are smiling Sure tis like a morning spring. In the lilt of Irish laughter, You can hear the angels sing. When Irish hearts are happy, All the world seems bright and gay. And when Irish eyes are smiling, Sure, they steal your heart away. There's a tear in your eye, and I'm

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Wild Mountain Thyme

Wild Mountain Thyme

Wild Mountain Thyme (also known as "Will You Go Lassie, Go") is an Irish folk song, written by William McPeake, a native of Belfast, Northern Ireland and first recorded by McPeake in 1957. Wild Mountain Thyme has been recorded by the Clancy Brothers, Van Morrison, Rod Stewart, Ronan Keating and The

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All For Me Grog

All For Me Grog

And it's all for me grog, me jolly jolly grog All for me beer and tobacco Well I've spent all me tin with the ladies drinking gin Far across the western ocean I must wander I'm sick in the head and I haven't been to bed Since first I came ashore with me plunder I've seen centipedes and s

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Red is the Rose

Red is the Rose

Red is the Rose Red is the rose that in yonder garden grows Fair is the lily of the valley Clear is the water that flows from the Boyne But my love is fairer than any. Come over the hills, my bonnie Irish lass Come over the hills to your darling You choose the rose, love, and I'll make th

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The Wild Colonial Boy

The Wild Colonial Boy

The Wild Colonial Boy is a traditional Irish folk ballad made famous by the Clancy Brothers. The song tells the tale of an Irish Rebel, Jacl Duggan, from County Kerry who left Ireland for Australia where he became a convict and a bushranger who was eventually shot and killed by the bullet of Fitzroy

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And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda

And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda

And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda is a great ballad written by Eric Bogle ( who also penned The Green Fields of France ) in 1971 and performed by many artists, notably Liam Clancy, The Fureys, The Dubliners and Shane McGowan. The song tells the tale of a young Australian rambler who loses his

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On Raglan Road

On Raglan Road

On Raglan Road ( originally published as 'Dark Haired Miriam Ran Away' ) was a poem written by Patrick Kavanagh in 1946 about his unrequited love for Hilda Moriarty. The poem was made famous in song by Luke Kelly of the Dubliners who merged the poem to the traditional tune 'Fainne Gael an Lae' (The

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Viva la Quinta Brigada

Viva la Quinta Brigada

Viva La Quinta Brigada is a song written by Christy Moore. Inspired by the book "The Connolly Column" by Mick O'Riordan, Viva La Quinta Brigade tells the story of the Irishmen who went to Spain with the International Brigades to fight against Franco and the fascists. On the outbreak of the Spanish

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