Irish carols and hymns to get you in the Christmas spirit - VIDEOS

Some of IrishCentral’s favorite tunes to spread the warmth of the holiday season

Whether it’s while you’re out doing your shopping, at Church or huddling in the safety and warmth of your home Christmas carols are a wonderful, cheerful constant every Christmas. A cheering melody to get everyone singing and more importantly smiling.
 
Here are our choice of some traditional, along with some not so traditional, Irish tunes to get our readers in to the holiday mood.
 
Happy Christmas! Nollaig Shona duit!
 
The Wexford Carol
 
The Wexford Carol originated in Enniscorthy, County Wexford (hence the name). It dates back to the 12th century and tells the story of the nativity of Jesus. It is one of the oldest known Christmas carols. For centuries this song would only be sung by men but since the 1990 it has be recorded by many female artists such as Loreena McKennit and Celtic Woman.

Christmas in Killarney
 
This tune was written by John Redmond, James Cavanaugh and Frank Weldon in 1950. Over the years it’s been recorded by Bing Crosby (see featured video) on his album “Merry Christmas” as well as Ruby Murray in the 1950s and Dennis Day. It was also recorded by Bobby Vinton (1964), Anne Murray (1981) and the Irish Rovers.

 

Once In Royal David's City
 
This Christmas favorite was written as a poem by Dubliner, Cecil Frances Alexander. It was first published in 1848 in “Miss Cecil Humphreys' hymnbook Hymns for little Children”. It was an English organist, Henry John Gauntlett, who set the poem to music the next year.
 
The carol was first recorded by the King's College Choir in 1948. Since then it has been recorded and sung by hundreds Mary Chapin Carpenter, The Chieftains, Daniel O'Donnell, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Petula Clark, Jethro Tull and Sufjan Stevens.

Curoo, Curoo / The Carol of the Birds
 
Named “Curoo, Curoo” (mimicking the call of birds) or “The Carol of the Birds” this song dates back to the 1800s. The song literally celebrates the melodies of the birds. In the past it has been recorded by singers such as The Clancy Brother and Danny O’Flaherty.

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