Padraic Colum was an Irish poet, dramatist, playwright, novelist, children’s author and collector of folklore. He was born 8th December 1881 and passed on 11th January 1972. He was well known as one of the leaders of the Irish Literary Revival, when there was a massive increase in appreciation in for the Gaelic heritage of […]
This wonderful folk classic is about the highwayman, Willie Brennan, said to be from Kilworth just outside Fermoy in County Cork. Brennan robbed the rich and sometimes gave to the poor at the end of the 18th and start of the 19th centuries. There are numerous theories about Willie Brennan and his exploits, but it […]
Luke Kelly was a member of the globally renowned Irish folk band, The Dubliners. His strong vocals and intense passion for, and belief in, the songs he sang made him one of the foremost folk singers of his or any time. In this offering, he regales us with a ballad about a Scottish lifeboat named […]
Ireland has produced many great musicians over the years. Some are internationally recognised. Most are not. There are a lot of musical entertainers on Erin’s Green Isle who are household names in Ireland and few other places. One of these is Dessie O’Halloran, a singer and musician from the tiny island of Inisbofin (Island of […]
This magical Irish folk song is of unknown origin, but with its earliest incarnations to be found in Tír Chonaill. It has a melody said by some to have Oriental influences, but this may be coincidental. It tells of a young man who speaks of his fiance with awe as she travels through places in […]
This haunting song was composed and written by Scottish folk singer, Ian Campbell, and first released in 1963 but made famous by Simon and Garfunkel, who included it on their first album, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., one year later. It tells of the horrors of a nuclear blast and was written at a time when the […]
Carrickfergus (Gaelic for The Rock of Fergus) is a coastal town in the Occupied Six Counties of Ireland. The origins of this particular song are subject to much speculation, but the melody is believed to be from a Gaelic song titled, “Do Bhí Bean Uasal” (There was a Noble Woman) which has been attributed to the […]
Here’s a hit from the maestros of Irish music, Altan, from beautiful Tír Chonaill. This version of Maggie’s Pancakes is sure to get your feet tapping, probably enough to wear out the soles on your shoes. Altan are an Irish institution still encouraging audiences to kick up their heels after decades of success. Their longevity […]
This rockin’ band of loons hails from the Boston area and has been thrilling audiences for decades with their high octane blend of punk rock and Irish music. They followed in the footsteps of fellow Irish-American supergroup, Black 47, but stand on their own reputation which is considerable. The line-up has changed over the years […]
Altan are primarily a Tír Chonaill (Donegal) band with one of the founders, Frankie Kennedy, hailing from Béal Feirste (Belfast). They are a traditional music group but with great versatility. Although first started in 1987, Altan are still going strong. Their latest album, The Gap of Dreams was released in 2018. Rebel Voice is a […]
This is a new Dublin band with great promise. This fantastic hit of theirs has a Billy Bragg vibe to it which, in Rebel Voice‘s opinion, is no bad thing. It’s great to hear confident Irish bands emerge with no pretensions to be anything other than Irish. It’s enough. Éirinn abú! If you enjoyed this, […]
Here’s a wonderful piece of street rhyme from working class Dublin band, A Lazarus Soul, relatively new to the wider music scene. The emotive lyrics speak of life in the tenement flats of inner city Dublin before they were demolished in an ongoing program of gentrification. Rose-tinted spectacles are all-too commonplace, and its certain that […]
Rebel Voice 