A Brief History of Irish Folk Music

Irish folk music is a genre of folk music that developed in Ireland. It has been influenced by the music of England and Scotland, as well as the Celtic music of Ireland itself.

Origins of Irish Folk Music

Irish folk music has its roots in the traditional music of Ireland. This music was originally passed down orally from generation to generation. It was only later that it began to be written down. Irish folk music is heavily influenced by the music of the Celtic people.

Celtic music

Ireland has a rich history of music, with traditional Irish folk music and Celtic music being some of the oldest and most well-known in the world. Irish music is known for its lively rhythms, soulful melodies, and heart-wrenching lyrics, which often tell stories of love, loss, and hope.

Celtic music is the root of much of Irish folk music, and refers to the musical traditions of the Celtic people. The Celts were a group of tribal peoples who lived in Europe during the Iron Age and Middle Ages. They were known for their expert craftsmanship, and their music was an important part of their culture.

The Celtic harp is one of the most iconic symbols of Celtic culture, and was even featured on ancient Irish coins. Harpers were highly respected members of Celtic society, and their music was used for both entertainment and ceremonial purposes.

Irish folk music began to change in the 18th century when foreign influences began to make their way into the country. This was a time of great upheaval in Ireland, as it was ruled by England and many Irish people were forced to emigrate to other parts of the world. This resulted in a mixing of cultures and musical styles, which eventually led to the development of traditional Irish folk music as we know it today.

One of the most famous pieces of traditional Irish folk music is “Danny Boy,” which was written by an Englishman named Frederic Weatherly in 1913. The song became widely popular in Ireland and around the world, cementing its place in Irish musical history.

Gaelic music

Gaelic music is the traditional music of the Celtic people, who are descendants of immigrants who arrived in Ireland from mainland Europe in the Middle Ages. Irish folk music is a genre that encompasses many different styles of music, from traditional ballads to modern pop-rock.

The oldest form of Gaelic music is known as sean-nós, which means “old style” in Irish. This style is characterized by its unaccompanied vocals, which are often improvised. Sean-nós singing is still popular today, and many modern Irish singers have been influenced by this style.

Traditional Irish folk instruments include the fiddle, tin whistle, accordion, and bodhrán (Irish drum). These days, many Irish folk bands integrate electric guitars and other instruments into their sound.

Irish folk music has been influenced by many different cultures over the centuries, including English and Scottish folk music, as well as American country and bluegrass. In recent years, Irish folk has been increasingly influenced by rock and roll, hip hop, and other genres of popular music.

The Irish Folk Music Revival

In the 1960s, a group of young people in Dublin started to rediscover the traditional music of Ireland. They began to play it in a new style, inspired by the American folk music revivals of the 1930s and 1940s. This movement became known as the Irish Folk Music Revival.

The Clancy Brothers

The Clancy Brothers were an Irish folk group, who achieved international fame in the 1960s. They are most closely associated with the American folk music revival. The brothers were born into a large family in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, in the south of Ireland. All of the brothers shared a love of music and they began performing together in their local pub when they were still teenagers. In 1955, they moved to New York City, where they became involved in the American folk music scene.

The Clancy Brothers were hugely successful in the United States and they recorded a number of albums for Columbia Records. In 1961, they returned to Ireland and started their own folk club in Dublin. They also began touring Europe and America with another Irish folk group, The Dubliners. The Clancy Brothers continued to perform and record together until Larry’s death in 1998.

The Dubliners

The Dubliners were an Irish folk band founded in Dublin in 1962. The original lineup consisted of Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly, Barney McKenna, and Ciarán Bourke. In 1967, they were joined by John Sheahan anddddd Brendan Behan. The Dubliners toured extensively throughout Europe and the United States and recorded over 30 albums.

During the 1970s, the Dubliners’ popularity began to decline due to changing musical tastes. In 1979, Luke Kelly left the group to pursue a solo career. He was replaced by Paddy Reilly, but the Dubliners never regained their former popularity. They continued to tour and record sporadically throughout the 1980s and 1990s until Barney McKenna’s death in 2012.

The Dubliners were one of the most influential Irish folk bands of the 20th century. They helped to popularize Irish folk music around the world and inspired subsequent generations of musicians.

Planxty

Irish traditional music was revived in the 1960s by a group of musicians including Christy Moore, Andy Irvine, Dónal Lunny, and Liam O’Flynn, who formed the band Planxty. The band’s name comes from a type of Irish harp music composed in honor of a patron chieftain, and their sound was based on traditional music but with a more modern sensibility. They were hugely popular in Ireland and toured internationally, releasing twelve studio albums between 1973 and 2005. Planxty’s influence can be heard in many subsequent Irish bands such as The Chieftains, The Pogues, and Flogging Molly.

Contemporary Irish Folk Music

Irish folk music has undergone a tremendous amount of change over the centuries. In the early days, it was passed down orally from one generation to the next. With the arrival of the printing press and radio, Irish folk music began to be written down and disseminated more widely. In the latter part of the 20th century, Irish folk music underwent a revival, led by such artists as the Chieftains, Planxty, and the Bothy Band. In more recent years, Irish folk music has been influenced by rock and roll, punk, and other genres.

The Pogues

arising in the early 1980s in the UK. The band reached international prominence following their 1987 album If I Should Fall from Grace with God, and are credited as having helped bring Celtic punk to mainstream attention. The Pogues reformed in late 2001 and have played occasional live shows since then.

The band were founded in Kings Cross, London, as “Pogue Mahone”—the anglicisation of the Irish Gaelic póg mo thóin, meaning “kiss my arse”. The name was chosen due to its similarity to the English translation of “pogue mahone”/”pogo mahone”, which is used by Enrico Caruso on a record of that name. The band initially met to play traditional Irish folk music for fun and quickly realised that there was a dearth of contemporary folk bands among second-generation Irish people living in England, so they decided to update folk songs and tunes with contemporary Punk rock energy and attitude, thereby helping start the subgenre known as Celtic punk.

The Corrs

The Corrs are one of the most successful Irish bands of all time, selling over 50 million records worldwide. The siblings – Andrea, Sharon, Caroline and Jim – hail from Dundalk in County Louth, and their music combines traditional Irish folk with pop and rock. The band has released seven studio albums, with hits including ‘Forgiven, Not Forgotten’, ‘What Can I Do’ and ‘Breathless’. The Corrs were inducted into the Irish Music Hall of Fame in 2013.

Flogging Molly

Flogging Molly is a seven-piece Celtic punk band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1997. The band’s name is taken from singer Dave King’s favorite pub in Dublin, Ireland. They are signed to their own record label, Borstal Beat Records.

The band has released seven studio albums, three live albums and a DVD. Flogging Molly’s music is characterised by the use of traditional Irish instruments such as the tin whistle, accordion, bouzouki and mandolin, combined with instruments more commonly associated with rock music such as electric guitar and drums. Lyrics often center on topics such as alcoholism, religion, poverty and class struggles.

The band toured extensively in support of their early albums before taking a hiatus in 2004. They returned in 2007 with Float and have since toured regularly. Floating had the highest debut for an Irish band on the Billboard 200 chart at number 15. Within months of Floats release the band went on a headlining tour of Europe and then returned to America for a series of headlining dates followed by an appearance at Lollapalooza 2008