“Be Thou My Vision” is one of the most beloved and enduring Irish hymns, with roots dating back to ancient Celtic Christianity. The text originated as an Old Irish poem called “Rop tú mo Baile” (Be Thou my Vision), attributed to the 6th-century Irish Christian poet Dallán Forgaill, though some scholars debate this attribution. For centuries...
“I’ll Tell My Ma” is a traditional Irish children’s street song that has been passed down through generations, with its origins likely dating back to the mid-19th century. Also known as “The Belle of Belfast City,” this lively, upbeat tune began as a skipping and playground rhyme for young girls in Ireland’s urban...
“The Black Velvet Band” is a traditional Irish ballad dating back to the 19th century that tells the cautionary tale of a young man led astray by a beautiful woman wearing a black velvet band in her hair. The song originated in Ireland but gained widespread popularity through oral tradition and printed broadsides throughout the British Isles and later in...
“Green Grow the Lilacs” has a fascinating, somewhat misunderstood history. Though often considered an Irish folk song, it actually originated as an English or Scottish folk song that later spread to Ireland and America during periods of migration. The song gained significant popularity among American cowboys and settlers in the 19th century, where it...
“The Water is Wide,” while often associated with Irish musical tradition, actually has its earliest documented roots in Scotland and England. The song dates back to the 1600s and appears in various forms under titles like “O Waly, Waly” and “When Cockleshells Turn Silver Bells.” The haunting melody and poignant lyrics about love...
“Carrickfergus” is a haunting Irish folk ballad whose origins remain somewhat mysterious despite its widespread popularity. The song takes its name from the town of Carrickfergus in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, and is believed to date back to the 19th century, though some musical historians suggest it may have roots in an older Scottish melody. The...
“The Lark In The Clear Air” is a cherished traditional Irish folk song whose origins can be traced to the mid-19th century. The hauntingly beautiful melody comes from County Derry in Northern Ireland, while the poignant lyrics were penned by Sir Samuel Ferguson (1810-1886), an influential Irish poet and antiquarian who dedicated much of his work to...
“Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms” is a beloved Irish ballad with origins dating back to the early 19th century. The melody, known as “My Lodging Is On the Cold Ground,” predates the lyrics and was popular in Ireland since at least the late 17th century. The poignant lyrics were written by Irish poet Thomas Moore (1779-1852) and...
“Father O’Flynn,” also known as “Top of Cork Road,” is a cheerful Irish folk song celebrating a beloved parish priest. The melody originated as a traditional slip jig, but gained widespread popularity when Alfred Perceval Graves wrote lyrics to it in the late 19th century and published it in 1880. Graves, an Irish poet and songwriter who...
“Star of the County Down” is a beloved Irish ballad that originated in Northern Ireland, specifically from County Down, in the late 19th century. The song is set to the traditional Irish melody known as “Kingsfold,” which has been used for numerous folk songs and hymns across the British Isles. Its lyrics tell the romantic story of a young man...