# Recommend me some Irish folk musicians **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 18, 2002, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-irish-folk-musicians/137411 "2002-11-18T23:29:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-irish-folk-musicians/137411/21 "2002-11-19T16:16:27Z")
I like **The Irish Rovers** ; try the [Collection](http://www.towerrecords.com/product.asp?pfid=2738248&cc=USD) and [Upon a Shamrock Shore](http://www.towerrecords.com/product.asp?pfid=1816010&cc=USD) CDs. Their other CDs are fun but I’m not sure how traditional they are. I’m not even sure about the two I listed because I haven’t heard those. ---
**Author:** ![FriendRob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecc23a/32.png) [@FriendRob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriendRob)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-irish-folk-musicians/137411/22 "2002-11-19T16:17:43Z")
**Eileen Ivers** (of Riverdance fame) has a great CD of high-energy, driving fiddle music. ---
**Author:** ![manwithaplan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@manwithaplan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manwithaplan)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-irish-folk-musicians/137411/23 "2002-11-19T16:44:17Z")
For some modern takes on the genre (although they’re a bit flashy for my taste), try [Kila](http://www.kila.ie) or [Dervish](http://www.dervish.ie/). And another vote for Luke Kelly - if you can’t get him **yojimbo’s** Da does a good impression after a few pints;) ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-irish-folk-musicians/137411/24 "2002-11-19T17:14:19Z")
Go check out [www.magnetic-music.com](http://www.magnetic-music.com). It’s a small shop and record company in Doolin, Country Clare. Very nice stuff indeed. I should also recommend the [Wolfe Tones](http://www.regorecords.com/wolfetones.html), although they’re more vocal-based than instrumental. And QUITE political, which I like, though you might not. _The Rifles of the IRA_ is one of my favorite Irish trad albums. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-irish-folk-musicians/137411/25 "2002-11-20T04:11:41Z")
Wow, what a lot of replies! Thanks, everyone, for the suggestions. After consideration, I ordered CDs by **The Irish Rovers** and **The Dubliners**. I do already have one CD by **The Chieftains** , which I adore: _The Long Black Veil_, a collection of tunes which feature various famous pop and rock singers doing the vocals, such as Sinead O’Connor, Sting and Mick Jagger. Next I’ll look into an anthology by **The Chieftains**. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-irish-folk-musicians/137411/26 "2002-11-20T05:26:58Z")
My obligatory [link](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=51411&highlight=Donal+Lunny) to a previous discussion on Irish music wherein you eill find many excellent suggestions. I will re recommend Donal Lunny, Silly Wizard, Christy Moore, Kornog, Old Blind Dogs, Laurence Nugent, Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill and that is just what’s in my cd changer at the moment. But _especially_ Donal Lunny, he has a new two CD set that is IMHO a MUST HAVE for lovers of Celtic music. Remember this is the founding member if Planxty, Moving Hearts, and Coolfin, as well as his single handed INVENTION of the Irish bouzouki; an instrument which has become so ingrained and respected in Irish music that one was played in the dance scene in Titanic, some 60 years before it was invented! ---
**Author:** ![Hickory6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@Hickory6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hickory6)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-irish-folk-musicians/137411/27 "2002-11-20T06:49:08Z")
I’d start with the Bothy Band. Then follow the careers of its members, depending on your taste. Donal Lunny (although his double CD is too overproduced for my taste), Tommy Peoples (fiddle), Kevin Burke (Fiddle), Michael O’Domhnaill, Paddy Keenan (Uillean Pipes). Check out a Ft. Lauderdale band called Curfa: [http://www.eamonndillon.com/theband.htm](http://www.eamonndillon.com/theband.htm) (Fair disclosure–I play with them sometimes, for money, though I’m not on the site or the recording. Not quite on their level.) James Kelley, formerly with Planxty and Patrick Street. Either of those bands. Lunasa. Solas. Seamus Egan. John Doyle. James Keane. Natalie MacMaster and Ashley MacIsaac for the Cape Breton/Scottish thing. Alisdair Fraser for the Scottish tunes with a classical tone/technique. “Milestone at the Garden” for an anthology of old stuff from the 20s-50s. Paddy Keenan rips on the pipes. So does Eamonn Dillon. Noel Hill on the concertina. Sharon Shannon is awesome on the button accordion. Chieftains are good, but a bit floral for my taste. Overarranged. My favorite is Chieftains 7. Still yet, I’d start with a Green Linnet anthology or two, and the Bothy Band. If you’re in a major city, go to a seisun. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-irish-folk-musicians/137411/28 "2002-11-20T20:35:06Z")
Ok, here’s my list- **The Chieftains** - try _An Irish Evening_ for a sampling, plus you will get Nancy Griffith and Roger Daltrey thrown in for VERY good measure. **The Pogues** - _If I Should Fall From Grace With God_ is a great introduction to the band and Shane McGowan. **The Waterboys** - my husband considers them one of the greatest bands of all time- try _This is The Sea_. **The Fenians** - you might have to hunt for an album, though. SoCal folk can usually find them for you. Ahhhh, where’s my stereo? ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-irish-folk-musicians/137411/29 "2002-11-21T01:46:58Z")
Let me second the recommendation of **Maggie Sansone** , founder of Maggie’s Music. Her _Mist & Stone_ is the definitive hammered dulcimer Celtic CD. My favorite **Chieftains** CD is _Irish Heartbeat_. _Celtic Heartbeat_ and _Celtic Treasure_ collections on the Narada label are good. **Boston Pops** _The Celtic Album_ is another. Another group is **The Boys of the Lough** , who don’t have the hype, but many people think are much more talented than the \*\*Chieftains[b/] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-irish-folk-musicians/137411.md?page=1)