# Recommendations for good Irish music? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 17, 2000, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-good-irish-music/46002 "2000-12-17T08:20:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-good-irish-music/46002/21 "2000-12-18T16:43:16Z")
You want softer stuff then Mary Black is a good choice. You want some rockin stuff then Gary Moore’s Wild Frontier is GREAT and has a real Irish feel to it. One of my all time favorite albums. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-good-irish-music/46002/22 "2000-12-19T05:27:42Z")
Hey, thanks for all the suggestions, gang! This should keep me busy for some time. I’ve been taking my laptop with me to work and playing some of the mp3s I got before I started this thread. My coworkers looked at me like I was insane. Yesterday I was listening to Rush and Dream Theater. Today, The Dubliners and The Chieftans. > [@](#): > > Tell me where you are- I probably can steer you towards some local live stuff if you’re in the US. I’m in Lafayette, LA, which is within driving distance of Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and to a lesser extent, Houston, TX. I’d love to hear some of this stuff live. I guess I might as well list a couple of my favorite songs that I found at random before I started this thread: Double Indemnity - Will Ye Go Lassie Go Dubliners - Last of the Great Whales Also, a song I found with the artist’s name missing, which is entitled “Flogging Molly.” This song has so much energy that it makes me want to go jump up and down and bang my head against the wall! I have to say, however, that my absolute favorites so far are from a group not mentioned in this thread. They’re called _Spirit of the West._ They’re from Canada, but their music has a distinct Irish feel mixed with a little bit of rock 'n roll attitude. I’ve never heard anything like it. Apparently they aren’t too well-known; they’re not listed at all in Yahoo’s directory of over 42,000 artists. _Home for a Rest_ is a positively brilliant song and I recommend you all go download it and then go buy the CD immediately. Great, great stuff! ---
**Author:** ![Carina42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Carina42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carina42)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-good-irish-music/46002/23 "2000-12-19T12:16:12Z")
In addition to all the wonderful suggestions you’ve received here, I’ll just add two more: Runrig, Scottish band. Beautiful melding of traditional and modern. Sometimes they sound like U2 only way better. “Play Gaelic” is a more traditional CD. May be a little difficult to find here in the U.S., but possible. Peatbog Faeries. Wild celtic punk! Absolutely fabulous. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-good-irish-music/46002/24 "2000-12-19T16:05:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by neutron star \* > I’m in Lafayette, LA, which is within driving distance of Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and to a lesser extent, Houston, TX. I’d love to hear some of this stuff live. One of the best places for live traditional music is a Renaissance Faire. You’re within fairly easy driving distance for two fall Faires–there’s one in [Hammond](http://www.la-renfest.com/) that just ended, and the [Texas Renaissance Festival](http://www.texasrenfestival.com/) near Houston, which ended in November. TRF is a large, long-established Faire while the Hammond faire just started this year. Of course, none of this helps _now_, but it gives you something to look forward to. ---
**Author:** ![CommonMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@CommonMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CommonMan)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-good-irish-music/46002/25 "2000-12-19T16:35:55Z")
I’d just like to add another Canadian band to those already mentioned: [Great Big Sea](http://www.greatbigsea.com/). They do a nice mix of traditional tunes and their own stuff, which still has a strong Maritimes sound. If you get a chance to see them live, go! They put on a great show. ---
**Author:** ![Gravity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gravity/32/14322_2.png) [@Gravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gravity)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-good-irish-music/46002/26 "2000-12-19T16:54:05Z")
Well, one group that I like is called (of all things) **Mediaeval Baebes**. They sing in middle english,and it’s a haunting effect. Some of their songs have a really creepy cultish feel. I love it. You might want to check them out for your gramma or yourself. One particularly good album is called **Worldes Blysse**. I haven’t heard their new one yet, though. K. ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-good-irish-music/46002/27 "2000-12-19T17:01:34Z")
Why not crank Granny up a few notches with the [Undertones?](http://home.swipnet.se/~w-11132/) (sort of the Irish Ramones) ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-good-irish-music/46002/28 "2000-12-19T20:15:22Z")
Everyone’s already mentioned the Chieftains so I’ll metion a specific album: _Irish Heartbeat_ by Van Morrison and the Chieftains. Fantastic Collaboration. Cheers, Hodge ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-good-irish-music/46002/29 "2000-12-19T21:31:32Z")
Altan Dervish Connie Dover Cathy Ryan Goats Dont Shave Great Big Sea Loreena McKennett Shooglenifty Rankin family (Canadian Irish) Boys of the Lough Deanta check out the Ceolas web site [Ceolas celtic music archive](http://ceolas.org/ceolas.html) or the Thistle & Shamrock web site [http://www.npr.org/programs/thistle/](http://www.npr.org/programs/thistle/) ---
**Author:** ![SoMoMom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@SoMoMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoMoMom)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-good-irish-music/46002/30 "2000-12-20T19:23:04Z")
I’m sorry, I’m not that familiar with Irish music except U2 and the Boomtown Rats. I have another site to add for you to check out: [http://www.allirishmusic.com](http://www.allirishmusic.com) (I was there watching a film short featuring Bono.) They have some music samples. ---
**Author:** ![panzermanpanzerman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9bcb4/32.png) [@panzermanpanzerman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panzermanpanzerman)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2000, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-good-irish-music/46002/31 "2000-12-21T04:25:01Z")
Ooops…I meant to say Donal Lunny! Good stuff. Also, the Tannahill Weavers are great. Got one from Eileen Ivers…the chick with the blue fiddle from Riverdance, which is interesting. Most of the soundtrack sucked, but I liked her, and she’s a winning raffle ticket holder, along with Natalie MacMaster and Alison Krauss in the “Have Panzerman’s Baby” contest! ---
**Author:** ![Pergau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7c8e57/32.png) [@Pergau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pergau)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2000, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-good-irish-music/46002/32 "2000-12-21T13:56:20Z")
I scanned through this thread and didn’t see Paul Brady’s name or Kate Bush or the Boomtown Rats or as K-Tel used to say “and many many more”. ---
**Author:** ![Scarred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/54ee81/32.png) [@Scarred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarred)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2000, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-good-irish-music/46002/33 "2000-12-21T14:37:47Z")
Quite a few of the aforementioned women singers can be found on a couple of compilation CDs on the Putamayo label. I believe they are called “Women Of The World - Celtic”. Volume 1 is great. A little bit of the modern influence. Volume 2 is more traditional celtic, kind of dull. ---
**Author:** ![Phobos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Phobos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phobos)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2000, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-good-irish-music/46002/34 "2000-12-21T21:26:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MikeG \* > > **Cherish The Ladies** An American group amazing tunes and Joanie Madden is amazing on the whistle That’s what I was going to recommend too. I’m not sure, but I think they broke up recently. ---
**Author:** ![bagkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ab992/32.png) [@bagkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bagkitty)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2000, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-good-irish-music/46002/35 "2000-12-22T07:10:10Z")
Frankie Kennedy and Morain naMehaina on the Green Linnet label. Also, an excellent Canadian group called “Scatter the Mud” – if you like Spirit of the West you will love STM ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2000, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-good-irish-music/46002/36 "2000-12-22T07:32:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Pergau \* > \*\*I scanned through this thread and didn’t see Paul Brady’s name or Kate Bush or the Boomtown Rats or as K-Tel used to say “and many many more”. \*\* Why do people here consider Kate Bush Irish? She was born and raised in England and I don’t even hear anything Irish in her music. Just curious. ---
**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:** [December 22, 2000, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-good-irish-music/46002/37 "2000-12-22T14:49:50Z")
Cherish The Ladies are alive and well, check out their website for details and itinerary. Re: Kate Bush, Check out _The Sensual World_. It has some Uilleann pipes and whistle on it and has a bit of Celtic sensibility. Oh **scarred** , traditional-dull!!?!?! I’ll let it pass this once as you obviously haven’t had the time to fully appreciate it;) **ruadh** , I was not thinking of “pop” Irish music in this instance but Paul Brady’s _The Island_ is one of my favourite songs of all time. ---
**Author:** ![AuntPam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@AuntPam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntPam)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2000, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-good-irish-music/46002/38 "2000-12-22T15:22:39Z")
Endorsement number 3 for Cherish the Ladies!! Also, there’s nobody more authentic than the inimitable Tommy Makem. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2000, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-good-irish-music/46002/39 "2000-12-22T15:43:06Z")
I can’t believe nobody’s mentioned **Solas** , or its members (present and past, respectively) **Seamus Egan** and **Karan Casey**. ---
**Author:** ![Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bottle_of_Smoke)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2000, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-good-irish-music/46002/40 "2000-12-22T16:42:08Z")
I’ll second the vote for The Chieftains. Or third or fourth or whatever we are on now. Fantastic musicians (seen 'em in concert a couple times and they were great) with a great selection of Irish traditionals. Of course I would wholeheartedly endorse any and all songs by The Pogues, but it really depends how um…open minded Grandma is. Like **Jonny L.A.** said, I can just picture her listening to some of their more “earthy” tunes, like _The Old Main Drag_ for example… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-good-irish-music/46002.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-good-irish-music/46002.md?page=3)