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Post by frankthetriviaman on Sept 16, 2018 1:09:14 GMT -5
When it comes to music and history, it doesn't get much better than Irish music. A rich history of taking it's past and setting it to a musical narrative, Irish music has transcended generations and told stories that stood the test of time, resonating with us even today. In this list, we'll look back at just a sample of the best songs Irish History has to offer.
Let's get started!
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Sept 16, 2018 1:13:05 GMT -5
20) Whiskey in the Jar
Telling the story of a highwayman who was betrayed by his wife/lover after robbing an official, this classic is believed to date back to the 17th century.
It's been through various incarnations and details change in some versions, but it was the covers by various bands in the 1960s that gave us the versions we are familiar with today
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Sept 17, 2018 1:19:56 GMT -5
19) Finnegan's WakeOriginating in the 1850s or 1860s and made popular by the Dubliners, this song about a man who is supposedly killed when he falls and breaks his skull, then is resurrected at his wake when the mourners become rowdy and pour whiskey on his body has become a staple of Irish Music.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Oct 13, 2018 23:22:19 GMT -5
18) The Boston Burglar
A classic Irish ballad popularized by Johnny McEvoy, the story of a man raised by honest parents ending up on the wrong side of the law and his warning to others has become a classic even today.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Oct 13, 2018 23:37:12 GMT -5
17) The Boys of Belfast
Can't find too much on this one; but know that this great little number was best covered by the Irish Rovers
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Oct 14, 2018 0:07:47 GMT -5
16) Marie's WeddingDating back to the 1930's, this classic has become popular at Irish Weddings
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Oct 14, 2018 0:19:50 GMT -5
15) God Save Ireland
Not as well known today, this tune served as a National Anthem of sorts for Irish Nationalists from the 1870s to the 1910s. The song commemorates William Philip Allen, Michael Larkin, and Michael O'Brien- their execution for their role in the murder of a Manchester Police officer in 1867 lead them to be known as the Manchester Martyrs, and became heroic figures in Irish history.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Oct 14, 2018 0:25:08 GMT -5
14) The Soldier's Song
After God Save Ireland fell out of popularity, this song became the official National Anthem of Ireland in the early 1920s.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Nov 11, 2018 1:15:44 GMT -5
13) The Irish Volunteer
Telling the story of an Irish American who fights for the Union Army in the American Civil War for the original Fighting Irish (The 69th New York Infantry Regiment), this song was reintroduced to modern generations by Dave Kinkaid in 1998.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Nov 11, 2018 1:18:08 GMT -5
12) The Irish Jaunting Car
Sung to the same melody as The Irish Volunteer, this song tells of a carman and his life working in Dublin driving a Jaunting car.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Nov 11, 2018 1:22:15 GMT -5
11) The Town I Loved So Well
Phil Coulter wrote this song about Derry, Ireland; his childhood growing up in the town, through The Troubles, and hoping for a brighter future. By his own words, if there is any song he hopes to be remembered for, it is this one
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Nov 11, 2018 1:26:10 GMT -5
10) Rifles of the I.R.A.
This song was written about the period covered by the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War- it references several important events in Irish history; the execution of rebel Kevin Barry, the Easter Rising and the burning of Cork.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Nov 11, 2018 1:28:53 GMT -5
9) When Irish Eyes are Smiling
This lighthearted tribute to Ireland, first written in 1912, has remained a standard for generations.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Nov 11, 2018 1:33:31 GMT -5
8) Molly MaloneThis song of a female fishmonger who died young of fever, has become something of an unofficial anthem for Dublin, Ireland.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Nov 11, 2018 1:36:37 GMT -5
7) The Wild Rover
Despite having uncertain origins, when it comes to Irish pub music, it doesn't get more iconic than The Wild Rover; the most performed Irish pub song.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Nov 11, 2018 1:42:26 GMT -5
6) The UnicornThis staple of Irish pubs has nothing to do with Ireland; in fact it was a poem by Shel Silverstein. However, its popularity is undeniable and thanks to the Irish Rovers, it has become a classic of the genre.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Nov 11, 2018 1:50:47 GMT -5
5) The Galway Shawl
This song, dating back to 1936, is a popular folk song that has been covered many times, and is a popular song to dance to
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Nov 11, 2018 1:54:46 GMT -5
4) Danny Boy
Dating back to at least 1913, even a century later this song remains a popular (and unofficial) anthem of Irish Americans
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Nov 11, 2018 1:57:41 GMT -5
3) The Fields of Athenry
A popular song among Irish sports fans, this song tells the story of a man sentenced to exile from Ireland to Australia for the crime of stealing corn to feed his staving family.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Nov 11, 2018 2:01:25 GMT -5
2) Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye
dating back well over two centuries, this song was initially seen as humorous; today it is considered one of the most powerful anti-war songs around.
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