Ceol na hÉireann

BUILDING YOUR IRISH MUSIC COLLECTION
Know what you like but don't know anything about Irish music?

Ireland has a rich musical history, from the bardic tradition of the blind harpist, Turlough O'Carolan, to today's world blend by such artists as Eileen Ivers and Seamus Egan. Below is a list of the types of Irish music with some suggestions for your listening pleasure. recordings of some of these artists may be found at this site: Internet Music Jukebox

Early Music: The Works of Turlough O'Carolan
(This is the traditional haunting music of Ireland, often played on harp, timpan/dulcimer, and the uilleann pipes -- bagpipes played with the elbow [uilleann means elbow in Irish Gaelic.])
The Chieftains, Planxty, The Bothy Band

Sean Nós
Literally means "old style," these ballads of many verses paint portraits of everyday lives, class struggles (usually milk girls meeting lords), mythology (mermaids, Irish heroes and heroines) are sung unaccompanied, with the singer adding their own illumination to the melody.
Seosamh O'hÉanaí (Joe Heaney), Kathie Ryan (formerly of Cherish the Ladies), Bridget Fitzgerald, Treasa Uí Chearbhaill, Dolores Keane, Mary Black, Maighread Ní Dhomnaill

Irish tenor
These singers specialize in love songs and patriotic hymns. If you want to hear "Danny Boy" check their recordings.
John McCormack, Frank Patterson

Rebel songs/Pub tunes
If the IRA offends you, maybe this style isn't for you. But, a healthy dose of Irish history might make you understand where they're coming from. What the heck, this is my web site, read about how Cromwell slaughtered the town of Drogheda, the plantation of Ireland, the Penal Laws, how Mass was said in hedgerows because it was banned, how anyone caught speaking the Irish language was punished, how all forms of culture were banned - dance, music, and how over 1 million people were allowed to die in the Famine. Now imagine these events occurring in your homeland for 800 years. Perhaps tragic songs would be your only outlet too. I'm not spewing rhetoric here. This can all be found in history books.
Same goes for teetotalers. You see, after you read the Irish history and read about the oppression, then you'll learn the only social outlet allowed the Irish was the Pub. These songs are rowdy, often bawdy, and go much better with a creamy pint.
The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, The Wolfe Tones, Irish Rovers, The Fureys, The Dubliners,

Tin Whistle/Flute
Listen to these masters who play with lightning speed rollicking jigs and reels or lovely airs that make you drift away to the shores of Galway Bay.
Micho Russell, Mary Bergin, Joanie Madden (of Cherish the Ladies), Paddy Maloney, Tommy Makem, James Galway, Seamus Egan, Jack Coen, Frankie Kennedy, Linda Hickman, Matt Molloy

Fiddle
Ah, they make it look so easy!
Tommy Peoples, Liz Carroll, Eileen Ivers, Michael Coleman, Maighread Ní Mhaoinigh, Kevin Burke, Seamus Connolly, Tony DeMarco

Uilleann Pipes
Just a start
Paddy Maloney, Finbar Furey, Liam O'Flynn, Patrick Hutchinson, Gerry O'Sullivan

Box/Concertina/Accordion
Many styles represented here.
Joe Burke, Fr. Charlie Coen, Brian Hyland, Sharon Shannon

Traditional Groups
These groups perform traditional tunes and songs, as well as newer works done in the traditional style
De Danaan, Altan, the Chieftains, the Black Family, Bothy Band, Trian, Cherish the Ladies, Patrick Street, Celtic Thunder, Clannad, Boys of the Lough

Trad/Rock/Jazz/New Age fusions
Some are mainly rock, some more new age, but at least a hint of Irish flows through these
U-2, Black 47, Van Morrison, Kips Bay Céilí Band, the Pogues, the Waterboys, the Commitments (group that formed after the movie), Stockton's Wing, Anúna, Enya, Clannad, Elvis Costello, Cranberries, Hot House Flowers, Relativity, Sinéad O'Connor

Balladeers
If you love things Dublin, Christy Moore
Then there's his folkie brother, Luka Bloom
Robbie O'Connell, Mick Moloney, Tommy Makem

Female Vocalists
These singers blend traditional sean nós stylings with more modern songs.
Mary Black, Dolores Keane, Maura O'Connell, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, Eleanor McAvoy

Orchestral Works
Composer Shaun Davey has composed several works using piper Liam O'Flynn and singer Rita Connelly, that celebrate characters in Irish history
Granuaile, about Grace O'Malley, the pirate queen of the West
The Voyage of Brendan, about St. Brendan's crossing of the Atlantic