# What is the name of this stereotypical Irish music? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 11, 2010, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-stereotypical-irish-music/556839 "2010-10-11T23:30:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-stereotypical-irish-music/556839/1 "2010-10-11T23:30:46Z")
You hear it at about 1:54 in [this cartoon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hto5wbpQVhY). ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-stereotypical-irish-music/556839/2 "2010-10-11T23:37:03Z")
“The Irish Washerwoman.” I favor Bullwinkle’s rendition (as a waiter, serving Boris Badenov): _Oh, the taters are old and the meat is a fright Everything is left over from Saturday night We sweep it all up, throw it into a pot And we say that it’s real Irish stew that we’ve got._ ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-stereotypical-irish-music/556839/3 "2010-10-11T23:39:40Z")
Thanks. I asked two different people in real life at various times and they both tried to tell me it was the same tune as the Mexican Hat Dance. I just don’t see it personally. Or maybe my sound reproduction isn’t as good as I’d like to think. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-stereotypical-irish-music/556839/4 "2010-10-11T23:41:16Z")
[Soundtrack listing.](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042681/soundtrack) I’d guess it’s _The Irish Washerwoman_ Hmm, [yup](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFxMTn6hL-Y). Edit - beaten to it. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-stereotypical-irish-music/556839/5 "2010-10-12T00:14:09Z")
There’s another really common stereotypical Irish tune that I’m wondering whether it’s actually a tune or just a motif. I alas can’t think of an example of it right now. It’s a much simpler little riff. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-stereotypical-irish-music/556839/6 "2010-10-12T00:33:00Z")
Another very common Irish tune (though with a rather different feel than “The Washer-Woman”) is [The Minstrel Boy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdA4NlJiikM). ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-stereotypical-irish-music/556839/7 "2010-10-12T00:40:59Z")
I’m pretty sure it’s Rio by O’Duran O’Duran. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-stereotypical-irish-music/556839/8 "2010-10-12T00:46:09Z")
With stereotypical Irish music, it’s always either The Irish Washerwoman, The Minstrel Boy or The Londonderry Air ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-stereotypical-irish-music/556839/9 "2010-10-12T01:02:40Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > With stereotypical Irish music, it’s always either The Irish Washerwoman, The Minstrel Boy or The Londonderry Air Nope, the air I’m thinking of is in jig time I think, CECECEGFE would be the sequence I think. Usually played on a fiddle. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-stereotypical-irish-music/556839/10 "2010-10-12T01:27:29Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > With stereotypical Irish music, it’s always either The Irish Washerwoman, The Minstrel Boy or The Londonderry Air or _When Irish Eyes are Smiling_ or _Toora Loora Loora_ ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-stereotypical-irish-music/556839/11 "2010-10-12T16:05:55Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > > [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > > > With stereotypical Irish music, it’s always either The Irish Washerwoman, The Minstrel Boy or The Londonderry Air > > or _When Irish Eyes are Smiling_ > > or _Toora Loora Loora_ Or “Danny Boy”… ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-stereotypical-irish-music/556839/12 "2010-10-12T16:21:07Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > Or “Danny Boy”… That’s the same song as “Londonderry Air.” ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-stereotypical-irish-music/556839/13 "2010-10-12T16:28:53Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > Or “Danny Boy”… Ok, wow…yeah, just realized what I did there. Sorry. Move along, folks, nothing to see here… 😃 (Or, what **Biffy The Elephant Shrew** said.) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-stereotypical-irish-music/556839/14 "2010-10-12T16:30:40Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > > [@Misnomer](#): > > > > Or “Danny Boy”… > > That’s the same song as “Londonderry Air.” Londonderry Air? I thought it was “London _derriere_.” ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-stereotypical-irish-music/556839/15 "2010-10-12T16:32:34Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > > [@Misnomer](#): > > > > Or “Danny Boy”… > > That’s the same song as “Londonderry Air.” So Danny was looking for some hot English butt? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-stereotypical-irish-music/556839/16 "2010-10-12T17:57:13Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > > [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > > > With stereotypical Irish music, it’s always either The Irish Washerwoman, The Minstrel Boy or The Londonderry Air > > or _When Irish Eyes are Smiling_ > > or _Toora Loora Loora_ You forgot the generic [Irish Ballad](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKbd_Ajkex0). ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-stereotypical-irish-music/556839/17 "2010-10-12T18:26:22Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > > > or _When Irish Eyes are Smiling_ > > > > or _Toora Loora Loora_ > > You forgot the generic [Irish Ballad](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKbd_Ajkex0). Or [Dennis Leary’s version.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTRrZcEsjFU) ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-stereotypical-irish-music/556839/18 "2010-10-13T01:29:05Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Nope, the air I’m thinking of is in jig time I think, CECECEGFE would be the sequence I think. Usually played on a fiddle. “The Rakes of Mallow”? (arrangement by Leroy Anderson): [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKfQtqNDlFA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKfQtqNDlFA) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-stereotypical-irish-music/556839/19 "2010-10-13T02:33:03Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > > [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > > > With stereotypical Irish music, it’s always either The Irish Washerwoman, The Minstrel Boy or The Londonderry Air > > or _When Irish Eyes are Smiling_ > > or _Toora Loora Loora_ Isn’t that _Tora! Tora! Tora!_ Or maybe I was thinking of _Tora Bora Bora._ ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-stereotypical-irish-music/556839/20 "2010-10-13T04:54:02Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > > [@Misnomer](#): > > > > Or “Danny Boy”… > > That’s the same song as “Londonderry Air.” Really? I thought that “Londonderry Air” was the other name for “Molly Malone” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-stereotypical-irish-music/556839.md?page=2)