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The most requested Irish pub songs of all time – VIDEOS

Cracking Irish tunes from "Whiskey in the Jar" to "Lanigan’s Ball"

By: BERNIE MALONE | Published Monday, April 23, 2012, 7:25 AM | Updated Monday, April 23, 2012, 10:53 AM

Top Irish tunes - songs to get the party going down the Irish pub

VIDEOS - Top Irish pub Songs of all time

The Irish everywhere love a singalong, especially in a warm Irish pub as night draws on.

Its a poor performer that can’t handle a tune or two!

Here is our list of great songs, with great stories, sung by great musicians –

"Whiskey In the Jar"

Set in the mountains of Cork and Kerry and Fenit, County Kerry this song tells the tale of a highway man who is betrayed by his wife or lover. This tune has have been recorded by various artists since the 1950s including The Dubliners and probably most famously Thin Lizzy. In 1998 it was recorded by heavy metal band Metallica.

"The Wild Rover"

The origin of the song is contested. Professor T.M Devine has said the song is about temperance. He believes it was adopted in Scotland by the Americans who used it in the Temperance movement. Although nowadays  it has far more connection to Irish pubs and drinking.

Another theory is that it’s was part of a collection of ballads from between 1813 and 1838 that were held in the Bodleian Library.

"Rocky Road To Dublin"

This song tells the tale of a man travelling from him home in Tuam, County Galway to Liverpool. The song was partially recited several times in James Joyce’s “Ulysses” by Mr Deasey.

"Mursheen Durkin"

Mursheen Durkin is the story of an emigrant from Ireland travelling to mine for gold in California during the Gold Rush.

"Finnegans Wake"

Dated from the 1850s and the music-hall tradition of comical songs it is one of The Dubliners better know songs. The Clancy Brothers have also recorded it as well as the more recent Dropkick Murphys.

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"Molly Malone"

Molly Malone is the official anthem of Dublin City. So much so that there is a statue of Molly at the end of Grafton Street in the city center and June 13 is Molly Malone Day.

It tells the story of a fishmonger named Molly and her admirer. She later dies of a fever but her ghost still wheels the barrow through Dublin

"Mountain Dew"

This song was printed in a collection of songs called “Irish Street Ballads” in 1916. It is about the intoxicating properties of Irish moonshine, Poitín. It was first recorded in New York in 1927.

Most famously it is referenced in The Pogues “Fairytale of New York”:

“And then he sang a song
“The Rare Auld Mountain Dew”

"The Gypsy Rover"

This tune, sometimes called “The Whistling Gypsy” has a blurred history but was eventually copyrighted by Dublin songwriter, Leo Maguire in around 1950. In the past  it has been recorded by The Clancy Brothers, The Kingston Trio, The Highwaymen (who had a Top 40 hit with the song), Elton Hayes, The Seekers, The Wiggles, Carmel Quinn and Glenn Yarbrough.

"Lannigan's Ball"

"Lanigan's Ball" is often used as a metaphor to describe a situation that has gone horribly awry. The song tells the story of a party that is thrown for a specific young man’s recently passed father. There is a suggestion in the song that the party is being thrown so that the  young man can show off his dancing skills. There is drinking at the party and someone steps out of line causing one of the guests to be insulted. A “ruckus” breaks out and a musician and instrument are injured.

What songs would be on your top Irish songs list?

Originally published 2011.

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