Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Indoors With These Classic Irish Tunes
Have a safe and happy holiday, everyone.
Your local pub may be closed, and you may be self-quarantining, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. I’ve compiled some Irish music videos below to get us started.
Let’s begin with the Chieftains. They are widely credited with popularizing traditional Irish music. This video was shot at a pub which is owned by the band’s flute player, Matt Molloy.
Here’s a classic recording of Finnegan’s Wake by the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. The story told in the song is that Finnegan was mistaken for dead and wakes up at his wake when some whiskey lands in his mouth after being flung at a wall when a fight breaks out.
Here’s Liam Clancy singing ‘I’m A Free Born Man Of The Travelling People.’ The Irish Travellers, as they’re known, are a nomadic society in Ireland with their own language, called ‘Shelta.’
This is an old classic called ‘The Orange and the Green’ performed by the Grehan Sisters.
In ‘Streams of Whiskey’ by The Pogues, lead singer Shane MacGowan describes meeting the Irish writer (and heavy drinker) Brendan Behan in a dream.
This is another piece by the Chieftains called Casadh An Tsúgáin. It is sung in Irish Gaelic.
If you’ve ever been in an Irish pub on St. Patrick’s Day, there’s a good chance you sang along with everyone else to ‘The Wild Rover.’ This version is by The Dubliners and includes lyrics so you can sing along today.
Finally, here is a traditional song called ‘An Páistín Fionn’ sung in Irish and English by Niamh Parsons.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everyone. If you have suggestions for other songs, you can always leave a comment.
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Comments
Whale oil
Beef
Hooked
A tear to me eye
Happy St. Patrick’s Day
I heard that a couple weeks ago on a radio show. Some kind of Hollywood accent coach was explaining an Irish accent.
Erin go Bragh!!!
Planning on Jameson tonight!!
Relive these great Irish Drinking Songs, such as,
Face Down in the Heather
Nobody Gets Drunker than the Irish
They Never Named a Whiskey After England
The Drinking/Fighting Song
and others,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPhckJEyU7U
My favorite St. Patrick’s Tradition at Legal Insurrection is Mike’s annual music post.
My Contribution: Johnny Jump Up by Gaelic Storm.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u56R_qHTLVI
Maybe this was mentioned in prior years…
My favorite version was done by the famous tenor, Frank Patterson, The Fields of Athenry
https://youtu.be/Ntl9RngZvEE
It’s hard to believe that he has been gone almost 20 years.
When a Man’s in Love, from the Chieftains Boil the Breakfast Early CD.
Patrick Ball’s recordings are relaxing (Celtic harp).
For those who like a bit more modern take on Celtic music, the Corrs Toss the Feathers is fun.
Glad I have some home-brewed Irish stout left for today 🙂
Can’t go wrong with the Corrs
Agreed. Easy to get distracted by the rock style “power chord” additions … but their skill on traditional instruments is impressive. The three sisters have incredible voices as well.
My governor has urged all non-essential businesses to close. Whew, at least bars and the liquor stores will remain on duty.
Great music, Prof. Another great cd is Irish Heartbeat by the Chieftains and other greats. Sinead O’Conner does a great Foggy Foggy Dew on it.
Irish Heartbeat is a great album, but Sinead is not on it. Strictly Van Morrison and the Chieftains.
You’re thinking of The Long Black Veil I believe. And The Foggy Dew by her gives me chills every time I hear it, especially the lyrics “it is better to die under an Irish sky than at Suvla or Sud al Bar.”
The same chills I felt when I stood against the wall where the heroes of the Rising were executed.
Danny Boy
Galway Bay
The Foggy Dew
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU3WoQkjQjQ
Star of the County Down
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GbdB7PlGtc
Oro Se Do Bheatha ‘bhaile
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwM8pCAynbM
“Whiskey in the Jar”, by a real Irish band…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyQ-tScuzwM