The Best Irish Folk Music Radio Stations
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Here are the best Irish folk music radio stations you can listen to online, with a wide variety of music to suit any taste.
Irish Folk Music Radio Stations
Irish folk music radio stations are a great way to experience the traditional music of Ireland. There are many different stations to choose from, each with its own unique style. Some stations play only traditional music, while others mix it with modern styles. Regardless of your preference, there is an Irish folk music radio station that is perfect for you.
RTE Radio 1
RTE Radio 1 is the main news and talk radio station of Irish public-service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. The station is available on FM, DAB+ and online, and carrying a mix of new and contemporary music, arts and culture, science, business and technology programming.
BBC Radio Ulster
BBC Radio Ulster is a radio station that serves Northern Ireland. It is one of two Irish radio stations operated by the BBC, along with RTÉ Radio 1.
The station is available on FM, DAB and online. BBC Radio Ulster broadcasts a mix of music, news and current affairs programming.
The station’s presenters include John Toal, Gerry Anderson, Robbie Mcvey and Sarah Travers.
Today FM
Today FM is an Irish commercial radio station that is available nationally. The station is owned by Communicorp and plays mainly popular music and talk shows.
Today FM has been on air since 1997 and has been growing in popularity ever since. The station is known for its strong focus on Irish music and culture, and regularly features traditional Irish music as part of its programming.
Today FM is available on FM in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Donegal, Mayo, Sligo, Roscommon, Clare, Tipperary, Kerry, Louth, Meath, Kildare, Wicklow, Wexford and internationally via the internet.
Irish Folk Music Festivals
Folk music is a genre that originates from the traditional music of the people living in a particular country. In Ireland, folk music has been around for centuries and is a popular genre of music. There are many radio stations that play Irish folk music, and there are also many festivals dedicated to this genre of music.
Cork Folk Festival
The Cork Folk Festival is one of the most popular folk music festivals in Ireland. It is held annually in the city of Cork, in the south of the country. The festival usually takes place in late September or early October, and it attracts musicians from all over the world.
The Cork Folk Festival was first held in 1977, and it has been held every year since then. The festival takes place over three days, and there are usually around 30 concerts held during that time. Most of the concerts are free, and they take place in various venues around the city, including churches, pubs, and outdoor stages.
There is also a large market at the Cork Folk Festival, where you can buy traditional Irish goods, such as clothes, jewelry, and food. There are also often stalls selling traditional Irish musical instruments.
Dublin Folk Festival
The Dublin Folk Festival is one of the world’s most popular folk music festivals. It is held annually in Dublin, Ireland. The festival features a wide range of music from traditional Irish folk to contemporary folk-rock. Visitors can enjoy performances by some of the world’s most famous folk musicians, as well as traditional food and drink.
Galway Folk Festival
The Galway Folk Festival is one of the largest and most popular Irish folk music festivals. It takes place every year in the city of Galway on the west coast of Ireland. The festival features a wide range of traditional Irish music, as well as music from other Celtic cultures. There are also workshops, discussions, and other events.
Irish Folk Music Bands
Irish folk music has a wide appeal and is enjoyed by people of all ages. It is upbeat and lively, and often features traditional instruments such as the fiddle, accordion, and tin whistle. Irish folk music is also known for its storytelling and lyrics that paint a picture of Ireland’s rich history and culture. If you’re a fan of Irish folk music, here are some of the best radio stations to tune into.
The Dubliners
The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in Dublin, Ireland in 1962. The band originally consisted of Luke Kelly, Barney McKenna, Ronnie Drew, Ciaran Bourke and John Sheahan. The band’s most well-known lineup was Kelly, McKenna, Drew and Peadar Mercier. The Dubliners were one of the first Irish music bands to achieve mainstream success outside of Ireland with their signature songs “The Irish Rover” and “Whiskey in the Jar”. They were inducted into the Irish Music Hall of Fame in 2003.
The Chieftains
The Chieftains are a traditional Irish folk band formed in Dublin in November 1962, by Paddy Moloney, Sean Potts and Michael Tubridy. The band had their first rehearsals at Tubridy’s house, with Maurice Lennon joining soon after. Paddy’s cousin Sean Keane and Michael’s brother Kevin also joined the band later.
The Chieftains are probably the best known and most influential of all traditional Irish bands. They popularized Irish folk music around the world and brought it to a mainstream audience. They have won six Grammy Awards and been nominated for eighteen others, as well as numerous BBC Folk Awards. In 2012 they were honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
The Chieftains have collaborated with many notable musicians from a wide range of genres, including Sting, Bonnie Raitt, Ry Cooder, Van Morrison, The Rolling Stones, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Paul Simon, Natalie Merchant, James Galway, Sinéad O’Connor, Roger Daltrey, Mark Knopfler and The Corrs.
Planxty
Planxty is an Irish folk music band founded in the 1970s, consisting of Christy Moore (vocals, guitar, bodhrán), Dónal Lunny (bouzouki, guitar, keyboards), Andy Irvine (mandolin, bouzouki, harmonica, vocals), and Liam O’Flynn (uilleann pipes, tin whistle). The band is widely regarded as one of the most influential groups in the history of Irish traditional music.
The band was formed in October 1972 by Christy Moore and Dónal Lunny, two veteran musicians of the Irish folk scene who had both been members of popular bands of the 1960s and 1970s – Moore with Skara Brae and Lunny with Sweeney’s Men and Moving Hearts. They were joined by two more experienced musicians: Andy Irvine (a member of Sweeney’s Men) and Liam O’Flynn (a member of The Chieftains).
The foursome quickly gained a following in Ireland with their energetic and innovative style of playing. They released their self-titled debut album in 1973 to critical acclaim. over the next decade they released six more albums and toured extensively throughout Europe and North America. In 1980 they disbanded due to the pressures of touring and family commitments.
Since reuniting in 2007, Planxty have been touring regularly and released two live albums – ‘Live In Dublin’ (2009) and ‘Welcome Home’ (2013) – as well as a new studio album, ‘Time Out Of Mind’ (2017).
