The song tradition
The term "folk song" is correctly used to describe an anonymous songs passed on orally from generation to generation. In the Irish tradition, many of these songs are also played as instrumentals (slow airs)However it can be confusing as nowadays people refer to new or recently composed songs as folk songs. ·
Love songs – She moved through the fair. There are more love songs than any other class of song in the Irish tradition. Many of these songs grief at the loss of a lover or the bitter realisation of betrayal, e.g. Úna Bhán or Dónall Óg recorded by Karen Casey.
Laments (Goltraí) – An Mhaighdean Mhara (recorded by Altan) A lament is a sad song, often sung as part of a wake, or often recalls a local tragedy such as Anach Chuain which tells of a boating tragedy off the coast of Connemara.
Working songs – Amhrán na Cuiginne. These songs are not that plentiful but some spinning songs and churning songs do exist.
Religious songs and Carols –Don oíche úd I mBeithil. These are strongly associated with female singers. The ritual of keening or wailing lamentations for the dead were usually carried out by women.
Patriotic songs – The bold Fenian Men. Old traditional patriotic songs are rare, being more of a 20th century phenomenon, performed by groups like the Dubliners or the Wolfe Tones.
Aisling – Táimse im Chodladh, (sung by Zoe Conway on youtube) In a dream or vision the poet wandering alone spies a Spéirbhan, literally a skywoman. He describes her appearence being particularly lavish in the description of her hair. She is Ireland, grieving under the oppression of foreigners who shortly shall be driven from the land. These poems were wedded to already known airs (tunes).
Other song types include;
Lullabies (Suantraí) – Deirín Dé
Humorous Songs – An Poc ar Buile
Dandling Songs – Beidh Aonach Amárach
Drinking Songs – Preab San Ól
Love songs – She moved through the fair. There are more love songs than any other class of song in the Irish tradition. Many of these songs grief at the loss of a lover or the bitter realisation of betrayal, e.g. Úna Bhán or Dónall Óg recorded by Karen Casey.
Laments (Goltraí) – An Mhaighdean Mhara (recorded by Altan) A lament is a sad song, often sung as part of a wake, or often recalls a local tragedy such as Anach Chuain which tells of a boating tragedy off the coast of Connemara.
Working songs – Amhrán na Cuiginne. These songs are not that plentiful but some spinning songs and churning songs do exist.
Religious songs and Carols –Don oíche úd I mBeithil. These are strongly associated with female singers. The ritual of keening or wailing lamentations for the dead were usually carried out by women.
Patriotic songs – The bold Fenian Men. Old traditional patriotic songs are rare, being more of a 20th century phenomenon, performed by groups like the Dubliners or the Wolfe Tones.
Aisling – Táimse im Chodladh, (sung by Zoe Conway on youtube) In a dream or vision the poet wandering alone spies a Spéirbhan, literally a skywoman. He describes her appearence being particularly lavish in the description of her hair. She is Ireland, grieving under the oppression of foreigners who shortly shall be driven from the land. These poems were wedded to already known airs (tunes).
Other song types include;
Lullabies (Suantraí) – Deirín Dé
Humorous Songs – An Poc ar Buile
Dandling Songs – Beidh Aonach Amárach
Drinking Songs – Preab San Ól
An Mhaighdean Mhara (recorded by Altan)
Táimse im Chodladh, (sung by Zoe Conway on youtube)
Deirín Dé
Dónall Óg
The Patriot game by The Dubliners
In an essay about the song tradition, use some info on Sean Nós characteristics here.
At a time when the changeover form Irish to english took place, a type of song known as a macaronic song emerged. These were songs half in english and in Irish.
A ballad is a song that tells a story. Many traditional songs were ballads as are newly composed songs of recent times like the famine ballad The Fields of Athenry, written by Pete St John in1970.
Thomas Moore and Percy French put lyrics to familiar tunes in the 19th and early 20th century respectively.
Emigration songs like those on the TV series Bringing it all back home are plentiful in the tradition.
In modern times groups like Altan and Danu with their singer Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh include as part of their repertoire old tradtional songs and newly composed songs arranged in a contemporary way. "Molly Na Gcuach Ní Chuilleanain" and "An Seanduine" are examples of such ancient songs, while"County Down" is an example of a contemporary folk song written by Tommy Sands.
A ballad is a song that tells a story. Many traditional songs were ballads as are newly composed songs of recent times like the famine ballad The Fields of Athenry, written by Pete St John in1970.
Thomas Moore and Percy French put lyrics to familiar tunes in the 19th and early 20th century respectively.
Emigration songs like those on the TV series Bringing it all back home are plentiful in the tradition.
In modern times groups like Altan and Danu with their singer Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh include as part of their repertoire old tradtional songs and newly composed songs arranged in a contemporary way. "Molly Na Gcuach Ní Chuilleanain" and "An Seanduine" are examples of such ancient songs, while"County Down" is an example of a contemporary folk song written by Tommy Sands.