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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