So today is St. Patrick's day and thought I would have a listen to some Irish music. I never realised just how much I have got. For such a small island the Emerald Isle has produced some wonderful sounds, from the traditional folk to the power house rock of Thin Lizzy & U2.

There was a great programme on BBC4 the other night about the blues scene in Ireland, starting with Them and Van Morrison and moving onto the mighty Rory Gallagher & Taste.

Along the way there has been the influence of the Show bands and of course Ireland huge influence on the Eurovision song contest, with winners like Dana & Johnny Logan. Thanks to the song contest the world was introduced to The River dance, that became a worldwide phenomenon that is still filling concert halls.

The troubles in Northern Ireland brought us the punk bands Stiff Little Fingers & The Undertones. Also on a punk influenced tip came the Pogues with their folk influenced sound and their unforgettable front man Shane McGowan. McGowan has become one of Ireland's top song writers and interpreter of other peoples songs. Influenced by the likes of Christy Moore who also has written some great songs and added his own influence to many many cover versions. Starting out in the folk clubs, and bars Christy was a member of the band Moving Hearts who mixed traditional Irish tunes with a soulful beat.

Also a mention has to go to Sinead O'Connor who has ploughed her own furrow through Irish music, mixing again traditional music with a more rock based sound. She has covered many well known Irish songs and sung with lots of top bands amongst which are the Chieftains. The Chieftains have been playing their brand of mostly instrumental folk for decades and have played with just about every kind of musical act you can think of.

My first love of Irish music came way back in the sixties after hearing The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem and The Dubliners. Both bringing over to the UK a wide range of Irish songs, backed with the sound of banjos and fiddles.

So as you can see there is a huge amount of Irish music around, and I have not even mentioned, The Boomtown Rats & Bob Geldof, Horslips, Paul Brady, The Corrs, Sean Tyrell, The Saw Doctors and many others.

Time to have a listen to a few tunes and relax with a pint of the Black Stuff !!

 The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem "Holy Ground"



The Dubliners "Irish Rover"  

   Christy Moore "Viva La Quinta Brigada"


Horslips "Trouble with a capitol T"  




  Paul Brady "Crazy dreams"



Sean Tyrrell "Mattie"   



  Sinead O'Connor "Raglan Road"



The Saw Doctors "I used to love her"   



  Van Morrison  "Tupelo Honey"



The Pogues "The band played Waltzing Matilda" 



  Thin Lizzy "Emerald"



The Undertones "Teenage kicks"  



  Stiff Little Fingers "Alternative Ulster"



U2 "New year's day"  


Hope you enjoy the selection as much as I have had listening and compiling them.