Traditional Irish Music - The Dubliners, The Pogues, The Clancy Brothers, and more!

I love Ireland. Eight years ago this Spring, my wife Maureen and I spent our honeymoon driving the narrow roads (and stopping at the occasional pub) from Ennis to Galway to Dingle to Kenmare. The scenery was beautiful, the people were gracious and fun, the Guinness was creamy, the food was surprisingly delicious, and the music was pretty good too. In anticipation of St. Patrick's Day, this post celebrates my favorite traditional Irish music.

I'll start with seven songs that go well with a delicious Guinness down at the local pub:

The Dubliners – Black Velvet Band (buy album)
The Dubliners are one of the two great Irish drinking-music bands. This song is a staple of the Irish-drinking genre.

The Dubliners – Whiskey In The Jar (buy album)
This is one of the best Irish drinking songs. You may know the Metallica version.

The Dubliners With The Pogues – The Irish Rover (buy album)
This has always been my favorite Irish drinking song. Maybe I like the idea of a boat with seven million barrels of porter. Anyway, it's great to hear The Pogues paired with The Dubliners.

The Pogues - A Pair Of Brown Eyes (buy album)
I love the Pogues and this tune, especially, is sublime. Peter Case does a decent cover too.

Liam Clancy - Dirty Old Town (buy album)
The Clancy Brothers are the other great Irish drinking-music band. They also do some nice traditional Irish folk music. Here's a solo effort from youngest brother Liam. You probably know the Pogues version of this song, which is also excellent.

Liam Clancy - Rocky Road To Dublin (buy album)
Liam Clancy's solo album, Irish Troubadour, is a simple classic. I've previoulsy blogged about the song Patriot Game.

The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem – The Parting Glass (buy album)
Wow. This one gets me every time...

The next six songs were all purchased on the Dingle Peninsula and remind me of that special place:

Catherine Merrigan - The Water Is Wide

I bought this album from the singer herself at the pub in Dingle located next to Doyle's Seafood Restaurant (a great place to eat, by the way). It's become a favorite of mine, but I don't know if its available anywhere. Probably the best CD I ever bought at a pub.

Catherine Merrigan – The Lakes Of Poncha Train

This is an old American folk tune from the Civil War era. Hank Williams recorded his own version called On The Banks Of The Old Pontchartrain.

Davy Spillane - Atlantic Bridge (buy album)
Davy Spillane, master of the Uilleann Pipes, combined traditional Irish music with bluegrass on this album (other players include Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, and Albert Lee). It's kind of a countrified River Dance.

Donal Lunny – The Mouseskin Shoe & Dancing In The Allihies (buy album)
Donal Lunny is one of the great traditional Irish guitar players. I really enjoy his solo album called Coolfin.

Kila - The Compledgegationist (out of print)
Kila combines traditional Irish music with Middle Eastern and African elements for an interesting effect on the album Lemonade & Buns. This particular track, however, is fairly traditional.

Geantrai – St. Mary's Abbey (out of print?)
Great example of the pipes here. It really gets my blood moving.


Here is the definitive version of Danny Boy from a great Irish tenor plus a couple of movie clips:

Frank Patterson - Danny Boy (buy album)
You might remember this tune from the film Miller's Crossing.

Now go enjoy a "black beer" with John Wayne...
The Quiet Man Soundtrack - Galway Bay (buy album)

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY! (I know I'm early, but I want to get you all in the mood.)