View source for Music of Ireland

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[[File:177-Bodhran-Hinnerk-Ruemenapf-0037-p70.jpg|thumb|175px|The [[bodhrán]], a traditional Irish drum]]


'''Irish music''' is music that has been created in various genres on the island of [[Ireland]].

The indigenous music of the island is termed [[Irish traditional music]] (or Irish folk music). It has remained vibrant through the 20th and into the 21st century, despite globalising cultural forces. In spite of emigration and mass exposure to music from [[Music of the United Kingdom|Britain]] and the [[Music of the United States|United States]], Ireland's traditional music has kept many of its elements and has itself influenced other forms of music, such as [[country music|country]] and [[American folk music|roots music]] in the United States, which in turn have had some influence on modern [[rock music]]. Irish folk music has occasionally been fused with [[punk rock]], [[electronic rock]] and other genres. Some of these fusion artists have attained mainstream success, at home and abroad.

In art music, Ireland has a history reaching back to [[Gregorian chant]]s in the [[Middle Ages]], [[choir|choral]] and [[harp]] [[Renaissance music|music of the Renaissance]], court [[Baroque music|music of the Baroque]] and early [[Classical period (music)|Classical period]], as well as many [[Romantic music|Romantic]], late Romantic and twentieth-century [[Modernism (music)|modernist music]]. It is still a vibrant genre with many composers and ensembles writing and performing [[avant-garde music|avant-garde art music]] in the classical tradition.

On a smaller scale, Ireland has also produced many [[jazz]] musicians of note, particularly after the 1950s.

==Early Irish music==
[[File:Rosgall.jpg|200px|thumbnail|A 16th century [[Great Irish Warpipes|Irish Warpipe]] player]]
By the High and Late Medieval Era, the [[Irish annals]] were listing native musicians, such as the following:

* ''921BC: Cú Congalta, priest of Lann-Leire, the Tethra (i. e. the singer or orator) for voice, personal form and knowledge, died.''
* ''1011: Connmhach Ua Tomhrair, priest and chief singer of [[Clonmacnoise|Cluain-mic-Nois]], died.''
* ''1168: [[Amhlaeibh Mac Innaighneorach]], chief ollamh of Ireland in harp-playing, died.''
* ''1226: [[Aed mac Donn Ó Sochlachain]], erenagh of [[Cong, County Mayo|Cong]], a man eminent for chanting and for the right tuning of harps and for having made an instrument for himself which none had made before, distinguished also in every art such as poetry, engraving and writing and in every skilled occupation, died.''
* ''1269: [[Aed Ó Finn]], master of music and minstrelsy, died.''
* ''1329: [[Maol Ruanaidh Cam Ó Cearbhaill]], [[tiompan]]ist, murdered during the Braganstown Massacre in [[County Louth]].''
* ''1330: [[Mael Sechlainn Mac Carmaic]], a general entertainer, died.''
* ''1343: [[Donnchad Clereach Ó Maol Braonáin]], a [[choral]] [[canon (priest)|canon]] of [[Elphin, County Roscommon|Elphin]], was killed by an arrow.''
* ''1357: [[Donn Shléibhe Mac Cerbaill]], an accomplished musician ... died.''
* ''1360: [[Gilla na Naem Ó Conmaigh]], music [[ollam]]h of [[Thomond]] ... died.''
* ''1361. [[Magraith Ó Fionnachta]], Chief Musician and [[Tiompan]]ist to the [[Síol Muireadaigh]], died.''
* ''1364: Bran Ó Brain, a skilful tympanist ... died.''
* ''1369: John Mac Egan, and Gilbert Ó Bardan, two accomplished young harpers of [[Conmaicne]], died.''
* ''1469: Ruaidrí mac Donnchad Ó Dálaigh, the most musical-handed harpist in all Ireland.''
* ''1490: Diarmait MacCairbre, harper, was executed.''
* ''1553: Tadhg, son of Ruaidhri Ó Comhdhain, i.e. the ollamh of [[Éire]] and [[Alba]] in music, died.''
* ''1561: [[Naisse mac Cithruadh]], drowned on [[Lough Gill]].''
* ''1589. Daighre [[Ó Duibhgeannáin]], a most affable, musical man, died.''

===Modern interpretation===
Early Irish poetry and song has been translated into modern Irish and English by notable Irish poets, song collectors and musicians.<ref>{{Cite book|title='The Given Note' Traditional Music and Modern Irish Poetry|last=Crosson|first=Seán|publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing|year=2008|isbn=978-1847185693|location=Newcastle}}</ref> The 6th century hymn ''Rop tú mo baile'' by [[Dallán Forgaill]] for example, was published in 1905 in English by [[Mary Elizabeth Byrne]], and is widely known as ''[[Be Thou My Vision]]''. ''The Blackbird of Belfast Lough'' ({{langx|sga|Int én bec}}; {{langx|ga|An t-éan beag}}) has been notably translated by poets such as [[Seamus Heaney]], [[Ciaran Carson]] and [[Frank O'Connor]]. Notable recordings of modern interpretations of early Irish music include [[Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin]]'s ''[[Songs of the Scribe]]'', various music albums by choral group [[Anúna]], and the recordings of [[Caitríona O'Leary]] with Dúlra and the eX Ensemble.<ref>O'Leary on the [http://en.beethovenfest.de/archiv/2013/kuenstler/caitriona-o-leary/ Beethovenfest Bonn website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302231745/http://en.beethovenfest.de/archiv/2013/kuenstler/caitriona-o-leary/ |date=2 March 2014 }}</ref>

==Early Irish musicians abroad==
Some musicians were acclaimed in places beyond Ireland. [[Cú Chuimne]] (died 747) lived much of his adult life in Gaelic Scotland, and composed at least one hymn. [[Foillan]], who was alive in the seventh century, travelled through much of Britain and France; around 653 at the request of [[Gertrude_of_Nivelles|Saint Gertrude of Brabant]], taught [[psalmody]] to her nuns at Nievelle. [[Tuotilo]] (c.850–c. 915), who lived in Italy and Germany, was noted both as a musician and a composer.

[[Helias of Cologne]] (died 1040), is held to be the first to introduce [[Roman chant]] to [[Cologne]]. His contemporary, [[Aaron Scotus]] (died 18 November 1052) was an acclaimed composer of [[Gregorian chant]] in Germany.

[[Donell Dubh Ó Cathail]] (c. 1560s-c.1660), was not only musician of [[Viscount Buttevant]], but, with his uncle [[Donell Óge Ó Cathail]], harper to [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I]].

==Early modern times==
{{listen|filename=Dancing Willow - Demo-CD 2007 06 - Give me your hand.ogg|title=Give Me Your Hand|description=Instrumental featuring viola da gamba and recorder, performed by Dancing Willow}}

Up to the seventeenth century, harp musicians were patronised by the aristocracy in Ireland. This tradition died out in the eighteenth century with the collapse of [[Gaelic Ireland]]. [[Turlough Carolan]] (1670–1738) is the best known of those harpists,<ref>{{citation |last=Sawyers |first=June Skinner |title=The Complete Guide to Celtic Music |year=2002 |location=London |publisher=Aurum}}, p 28.</ref><ref>{{Citation |author=Yeats, Gráinne |url=http://www.harpspectrum.org/folk/yeats_short.shtml |title=The Rediscovery of Carolan |publisher=Harpspectrum.com |access-date=25 April 2008}}</ref> and over 200 of his compositions are known. Some of his pieces use elements of contemporary baroque music, but his music has entered the tradition and is played by many folk musicians today. [[Edward Bunting]] collected some of the last-known Irish harp tunes at the [[Belfast Harp Festival]] in 1792. Other important collectors of Irish music include [[Francis O'Neill]]<ref>{{Citation |author=Haggerty Bridget |title=Francis O'Neill – The Man Who Saved Our Music |url=http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AMusic/FrancisONeil.html |publisher=Irishcultureandcustoms.com |access-date=25 April 2008}}</ref> and [[George Petrie (antiquarian)|George Petrie]].

Other notable Irish musicians of this era included [[Cearbhall Óg Ó Dálaigh]] (fl. c. 1630); [[Piaras Feiritéar]] (1600?–1653); [[William Connellan]] (fl. mid-17th century) and his brother, [[Thomas Connellan]] (c. 1640/1645–1698), composers; [[Dominic Ó Mongain]] (alive 18th century); [[Donnchadh Ó Hámsaigh]] (1695–1807); poet and songwriter [[Eoghan Rua Ó Súilleabháin]] (1748–1782); [[Arthur O'Neill (harpist)|Arthur O'Neill]] (fl. 1792); [[Patrick Byrne (musician)|Patrick Byrne]] (c.1794–1863); world-renowned piper [[Tarlach Mac Suibhne]] (c. 1831–1916); poet and songwriter [[Colm de Bhailís]] (1796–1906).

==Traditional music==
{{Main|Irish traditional music}}
[[File:Dungloe music festival (1) - geograph.org.uk - 51567.jpg|200px|thumb|A traditional music session, known in some circles in [[Irish language|Irish]] as a ''seisiún'', a word invented in the 1990s]]
[[File:Ashbury Irish Bouzouki Front.jpg|thumb|200px|An [[Irish bouzouki]]]]
Irish traditional music includes many kinds of songs, including drinking songs, [[ballad]]s and [[lament]]s, sung unaccompanied or with accompaniment by a variety of instruments. Traditional [[dance music]] includes [[reel (dance)|reels]] ({{music|time|4|4}}), [[hornpipe]]s and [[jig]]s (the common double jig is in {{music|time|6|8}} time).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whistleworkshop.co.uk/jigs.htm |title=Whistle Workshop |publisher=Whistle Workshop |access-date=2 April 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621170754/http://www.whistleworkshop.co.uk/jigs.htm |archive-date=21 June 2012 }}</ref> The [[polka]] arrived at the start of the nineteenth century, spread by itinerant dancing masters and mercenary soldiers, returning from Europe.<ref>{{citation|last=Sawyers|first=June Skinner|title=The Complete Guide to Celtic Music|year=2002|location=London|publisher=Aurum}}, p 48-49.</ref> [[Set dancing]] may have arrived in the eighteenth century.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insideireland.com/sample02.htm |title=Inside Ireland |publisher=Inside Ireland |access-date=2 April 2012}}</ref> Later imported dance-signatures include the [[mazurka]] and the highlands (a sort of Irished version of the Scottish [[strathspey (dance)|strathspey]]).<ref>{{citation|last=Sawyers|first=June Skinner|title=The Complete Guide to Celtic Music|year=2002|location=London|publisher=Aurum}}, p 48.</ref>

The [[Irish fiddle]] was said by one nationalist researcher to have been played in Ireland since the 8th century, although this has never been proved by texts or artifacts.<ref>William H. Grattan Flood: ''A History of Irish Music'', chapter III: "Ancient Irish musical instruments" (Dublin, 1905).</ref> The [[bagpipes]] have a long history of being associated with Ireland [[Great Irish warpipes]] were once commonly used in Ireland especially in battle as far back as the 15th century.<ref>Donnelly, Seán: ''The Early History of Piping in Ireland'' (2001), p. 9.</ref>

A revival of Irish traditional music took place around the turn of the 20th century. The button [[accordion]] and the [[concertina]] were becoming common.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.concertina.com/worrall/ |title=Concertinas in Ireland |publisher=Concertina.com |access-date=2 April 2012}}</ref> [[Irish stepdance]] was performed at [[Céilidh|céilís]], organised competitions and at some country houses where local and itinerant musicians were welcome.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.setdancingnews.net/news/quotes3.lp |title=Country House music |publisher=Setdancingnews.net |date=14 January 2006 |access-date=2 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207142019/http://www.setdancingnews.net/news/quotes3.lp |archive-date=7 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Irish dancing was supported by the educational system and patriotic organisations. An older style of singing called ''[[Sean-nós singing|sean-nós]]'' ("in the old style"), which is a form of [[traditional Irish singing]] was still found, mainly for very poetic songs in the [[Irish language]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/sean-nos.htm |title=Sean nos |publisher=Mustrad.org.uk |access-date=2 April 2012}}</ref>

From 1820 to 1920 over 4,400,000 Irish emigrated to the US, creating an Irish diaspora in Philadelphia, Chicago (see [[Francis O'Neill]]), Boston, New York and other cities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAEireland.htm |title=Irish emigration |publisher=Spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk |access-date=2 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514035701/http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAEireland.htm |archive-date=14 May 2011 }}</ref> O'Neill made the first recordings of Irish music on [[Edison Records|Edison]] wax cylinders.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://chiefoneill.com/dunn-family-collection|title=Dunn Family Collection|date=18 June 2017}}</ref> Later, Irish musicians who were successful in the USA made commercial recordings which found their way around the world and re-invigorated musical styles back in the homeland.<ref>{{citation|last=Clarke|first=Gerry|title=Oldtime Records Vol 1|year=2006|location=Galway|publisher=Oldtime Records}}, Liner notes to CD.</ref> For example, American-based fiddlers like [[Michael Coleman (Irish musician)|Michael Coleman]], [[James Morrison (fiddler)|James Morrison]] and [[Paddy Killoran]] did much to popularise Irish music in the 1920s and 1930s, while [[Ed Reavy]] composed over a hundred tunes that have since entered the tradition in both Ireland and the diaspora.
[[File:Brian_Boru's_March_-_U.S._Marine_Band.ogg|left|thumb|Brian Boru's March with traditional flute performed by the U.S. Marine Band]]

After a lull in the 1940s and 1950s, when (except for [[Céilidh|Céilidh bands]]) traditional music was at a low ebb, [[Seán Ó Riada]]'s [[Ceoltóirí Chualann]], [[The Chieftains]], [[Tom Lenihan]], [[The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem]], [[The Irish Rovers]], [[The Dubliners]], [[Ryan's Fancy]] and [[Sweeney's Men]] were in large part responsible for a second wave of revitalisation of Irish folk music in the 1960s. Several of these were featured in the 2010 TV movie "My Music: When Irish Eyes are Smiling".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1624398/|title=My Music: When Irish Eyes Are Smiling|date=1 March 2010|via=IMDb}}</ref> Sean O'Riada in particular was singled out as a force who did much for Irish music, through programming on Radio Éireann in the late 1940s through the 1960s. He worked to promote and encourage the performing of traditional Irish music, and his work as a promoter and performer led directly to the formation of the Chieftains. His work inspired the likes of [[Planxty]], [[The Bothy Band]] and [[Clannad (musical group)|Clannad]] in the 70s. Later came such bands as [[Stockton's Wing]], [[De Dannan]], [[Altan (band)|Altan]], [[Arcady (band)|Arcady]], [[Dervish (band)|Dervish]] and [[Patrick Street]], along with a wealth of individual performers.<ref>Geoff Wallis: Rough Guide to Irish Music</ref>

More and more people play Irish music and new bands emerge every year such as [[Téada]], [[Gráda]], [[Dervish (band)|Dervish]], and [[Lúnasa (band)|Lúnasa]].{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

==Classical music in Ireland==
[[File:John Field - restoration1.jpg|thumb|[[John Field (composer)|John Field]], one of Ireland's foremost classical composers]]
There is evidence of music in the "classical" tradition since the early 15th century when a polyphonic choir was established at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, and "city musicians" were employed in the major cities and towns, who performed on festive occasions. In the 18th century, Dublin was known as the "Second City" of the British Isles, with an active musical life culminating in, among other events, the first performance of [[George Frideric Handel|Handel]]'s famous oratorio ''[[Messiah (Handel)|Messiah]]''. The [[ballad opera]] trend, caused by the success of the [[Beggar's Opera]], has left noticeable traces in Ireland, with many works that influenced the genre in England and on the continent, by musicians such as [[Charles Coffey]] and [[Kane O'Hara]].

===Composers of note===
Apart from the harper-composers of the 16th century, composers in the 16th and 17th century usually came from a Protestant Anglo-Irish background, as due to the discrimination of Catholics no formal musical education was available to them. Composers were often associated with either [[Dublin Castle]] or one of the Dublin cathedrals ([[St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin|St Patrick's]] and [[Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin|Christ Church]]). These include immigrants in the 18th century such as [[Johann Sigismund Kusser|Johann Sigismund Cousser]], [[Matthew Dubourg]], and [[Tommaso Giordani]]. [[Thomas Roseingrave]] and his brother Ralph were prominent Irish baroque composers. Among the next generation of composers were the Cork-born [[Philip Cogan]] (1750–1833), a prominent composer of piano music including concertos, [[John Andrew Stevenson]] (1761–1833), who is best known for his publications of ''Irish Melodies'' with poet [[Thomas Moore]], who also wrote operas, religious music, catches, glees, odes, and songs. In the early 19th century Irish-born composers dominated English-language opera in England and Ireland, including [[Charles Thomas Carter]] (c.1735–1804), [[Michael Kelly (tenor)|Michael Kelly]] (1762–1826), [[Thomas Simpson Cooke]] (1782–1848), [[William Henry Kearns]] (1794–1846), [[Joseph Augustine Wade]] (1801–1845) and, later in the century, [[Michael W. Balfe]] (1808–1870) and [[William Vincent Wallace]] (1812–1865). [[John Field (composer)|John Field]] (1782–1837) has been credited with the creation of the Nocturne form, which influenced [[Frédéric Chopin]]. [[John William Glover]] (1815–1899), [[Joseph Robinson (composer)|Joseph Robinson]] (1815–1898) and [[Robert Prescott Stewart]] (1825–1894) kept Irish classical music in Dublin alive in the 19th century, while mid-19th-century emigrants include [[George William Torrance]] and [[George Alexander Osborne]]. [[Charles Villiers Stanford]] (1852–1924) and [[Hamilton Harty]] (1879–1941) were among the last emigrants in Irish music, combining a late romantic musical language with Irish folklorism. Their contemporary in Ireland was the Italian immigrant [[Michele Esposito]] (1855–1929), a figure of seminal importance in Irish music who arrived in Ireland in 1882. The years after Irish independence were a difficult period in which composers tried to find an identifiable Irish voice in an anti-British climate, which included ressentiments against classical music as such. The development of Irish broadcasting in the 1920s and the gradual enlargement of the Radio Éireann Orchestra in the late 1930s improved the situation. Important composers in these years were [[John F. Larchet]] (1884–1967), [[Ina Boyle]] (1889–1967), [[Arthur Duff]] (1899–1956), [[Aloys Fleischmann]] (1910–1992), [[Frederick May (composer)|Frederick May]] (1911–1985), [[Joan Trimble]] (1915–2000), and [[Brian Boydell]] (1917–2000). The middle decades of the 20th century were also shaped by [[A.J. Potter]] (1918–1980), [[Gerard Victory]] (1921–1995), [[James Wilson (composer)|James Wilson]] (1922–2005), [[Seán Ó Riada]] (1931–1971), [[John Kinsella (composer)|John Kinsella]] (1932–2021), and [[Seóirse Bodley]] (1933–2023). Prominent names among the older generation of composers in Ireland today are [[Frank Corcoran]] (b. 1944), [[Eric Sweeney (composer)|Eric Sweeney]] (1948–2020), [[John Buckley (composer)|John Buckley]] (b. 1951), [[Gerald Barry (composer)|Gerald Barry]] (b. 1952), [[Raymond Deane]] (b. 1953), [[Gearóid Ó Deaghaidh (composer)|Gearóid Ó Deaghaidh]] (b. 1954),<ref>https://homesteadpost.bandcamp.com/music</ref> [[Patrick Cassidy (composer)|Patrick Cassidy]] (b. 1956), and [[Fergus Johnston]] (b. 1959) (see also [[List of Irish classical composers]]).

===Performers of note===
Performers of note in classical music include [[Catherine Hayes (soprano)|Catherine Hayes]] (1818–1861), Ireland's first great international ''prima donna'' and the first Irish woman to perform at La Scala in Milan; tenor [[Barton McGuckin]] (1852–1913), a much-demanded singer in the late 19th century; tenor [[Joseph O'Mara]] (1864–1927), a very prominent singer around the turn of the century; tenor [[John McCormack (tenor)|John McCormack]] (1884–1945), the most celebrated tenor of his day; opera singer [[Margaret Burke-Sheridan]] (1889–1958); pianist [[Charles Lynch (pianist)|Charles Lynch]] (1906–1984); tenor [[Josef Locke]] (1917–1999) achieved global success and was the subject of the 1991 film ''[[Hear My Song]]''; the concert flautist [[Sir James Galway]] and pianist [[Barry Douglas (musician)|Barry Douglas]].<ref name="grove">Niall O'Loughlin/Richard Wigmore, 'Galway, Sir James', ''[[Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians|Grove Music Online]]'', [http://www.grovemusic.com/shared/views/article.html?section=music.10595]. Retrieved 12 August 2007.</ref> Douglas achieved fame in 1986 by claiming the [[International Tchaikovsky Competition]] gold medal. Mezzo-sopranos [[Bernadette Greevy]] and [[Ann Murray]] have also had success internationally.<ref>"A Remarkable Voice of Remarkable Longevity", in: ''The Irish Times'', 30 September 2008.</ref>

===Choral music===
[[File:Anuna.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Anúna]]
Choral music has been practised in Ireland for centuries, initially at the larger churches such as [[Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin|Christ Church Cathedral]], [[St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin|St Patrick's Cathedral]], and [[St Mary's Pro-Cathedral]], as well as the University of Dublin Choral Society (founded in 1837).

Founded and directed by composer [[Michael McGlynn]] in 1987, [[Anúna]] contributed significantly to raising the profile of choral music, particularly through their contributions to [[Riverdance]] which they were a part of from 1994 to 1996. They were nominated for a Classical Brit Award in the UK and appeared at the [[BBC Proms]] series in the [[Royal Albert Hall]] in 1999. In 2012 they featured as the voices of Hell in the video game [[Diablo III]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.destructoid.com/exclusive-meet-diablo-iii-s-sound-team-samples-included-227017.phtml|title=Exclusive: Meet Diablo III's sound team, samples included|website=www.destructoid.com|date=9 May 2012 }}</ref> In February 2018 the group won the Outstanding Ensemble category of the Annual Game Music Awards 2017 for their contributions to the video game [[Xenoblade Chronicles 2]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vgmonline.net/awards2017artists |title=Annual Game Music Awards 2017 – Artists of the Year|website=www.vgmonline.net|date=7 February 2018 }}</ref>

The [[Chamber Choir Ireland]], formerly National Chamber Choir of Ireland, is principally funded by the [[Arts Council of Ireland]]. Their artistic director is [[Paul Hillier]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chamberchoirireland.com/|title=Ireland's flagship professional choral ensemble conducted by Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, Paul Hillier|website=Chamber Choir Ireland}}</ref> The choir has produced a number of CDs with international (including Irish) repertoire. There are many semi-professional choirs in Ireland at local level, too. Many perform and compete at the annual [[Cork International Choral Festival]] (since 1954).

===Opera===
Although Ireland had no purpose-built opera house for a long time, opera has been performed in Ireland since the 17th century. In the 18th century, Ireland was a centre for [[ballad opera]] and created important works that helped to develop the genre in the direction of operetta, with works by [[Charles Coffey]] and [[Kane O'Hara]]. Nationally identifiable Irish operas have been written by immigrants such as [[Tommaso Giordani]] and [[Johann Bernhard Logier]] as well as by native composers such as [[John Andrew Stevenson]] and [[Thomas Simpson Cooke]], continued in the 19th century with works by [[John William Glover]] and [[Paul McSwiney]].<ref>Axel Klein: "Stage-Irish, or The National in Irish Opera, 1780–1925", in: ''Opera Quarterly'' 21:1 (Winter 2005), p. 27–67.</ref> [[Michael William Balfe]] and [[Vincent Wallace]] were the most prominent representatives of mid-19th-century English-language operas.

The Celtic Renaissance after 1900 created works such as ''[[Muirgheis]]'' (1903) by [[Thomas O'Brien Butler]], ''Connla of the Golden Hair'' (1903) by William Harvey Pélissier, ''[[Eithne (opera)|Eithne]]'' (1909) by [[Robert O'Dwyer]], and ''The Tinker and the Fairy'' (1910) by [[Michele Esposito]]. ''Muirgheis'' and ''Eithne'' have librettos in Irish, as have a number of works by [[Geoffrey Molyneux Palmer]] and several 1940s and '50s works by [[Éamonn Ó Gallchobhair]]. Most of the Irish operas written since the 1960s have a contemporary international outlook, with important works by [[Gerard Victory]], [[James Wilson (composer)|James Wilson]], [[Raymond Deane]], [[Gerald Barry (composer)|Gerald Barry]], and a number of young composers since the turn of the century.

There have been subsequent attempts to revive the Irish-language tradition in opera. A brother-sister team previewed sections of the opera ''Clann Tuireann'' publicly.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.deirdremoynihan.com/concertdates/2012-concert-highlights/13-soprano/2012-concert-highlights/10-oct-27th-2012-irish-language-opera-in-dublin|title=Oct 27th 2012 – Irish language Opera in Dublin|website=www.deirdremoynihan.com}}</ref> In 2024 musician and composer [[John Spillane]] premiered his bilingual opera ''Fíoruisce - The Legend of the Lough''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Scahill |first1=Adrian |title=The Power of Irish Myths and Legends to Speak to Us Today |url=https://journalofmusic.com/reviews/power-irish-myths-and-legends-speak-us-today |website=The Journal of Music |publisher=The Journal of Music |access-date=2 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Spillane |first1=John |title=Fíoruisce - The Legend of the Lough |url=https://www.fioruisce.ie/ |website=Fíoruisce |access-date=2 April 2025}}</ref>

[[Wexford Festival Opera]] is a major international festival that takes place every October and November.

==Popular music==
===Early popular performers===
Performers of popular music began appearing as early as the late 1940s; [[Delia Murphy]] popularised Irish folk songs that she recorded for [[His Master's Voice (British record label)|His Master's Voice]] in 1949; [[Margaret Barry]] is also credited with bringing traditional songs to the fore; Donegal's [[Bridie Gallagher]] shot to fame in 1956 and is considered 'Ireland's first international pop star';<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-16470862 | work=BBC News | title=Bridie Gallagher: Ireland's 'first international pop star' | date=9 January 2012}}</ref> Belfast-born singer [[Ruby Murray]] achieved unprecedented chart success in the UK in the mid-1950s; Dublin native [[Carmel Quinn]] emigrated to the US and became a regular singer on [[Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts]] and appeared frequently on other TV variety shows in the 1950s and '60s. [[The Bachelors]] were an all-male harmony group from Dublin who had hits in the UK, Europe, US, Australia and Russia; [[Mary O'Hara]] was a soprano and harpist who was successful on both sides of the Atlantic in the 1950s and early 1960s; Waterford crooner [[Val Doonican]] had a string of UK hits and presented his own TV show on the BBC from 1965 to 1986.

===Showbands in Ireland===
{{Main|Irish showband}}
Irish [[Irish showband|Showbands]] were a major force in Irish popular music, particularly in rural areas, for twenty years from the mid-1950s. The showband played in dance halls and was loosely based on the six or seven piece [[Dixieland]] dance band. The basic showband repertoire included standard dance numbers, [[cover versions]] of pop music hits, ranging from [[rock and roll]], [[country and western]] to [[jazz]] standards. Key to the showband's success was the ability to learn and perform songs currently in the [[record chart]]s. They sometimes played [[Folk music of Ireland|Irish traditional]] or [[Céilidh|Céilidh music]] and a few included self-composed songs.<ref>{{Citation|author=Finbar O'Keefe|year=2002|title=Goodnight, God Bless and Safe Home – The Golden Showband Era|publisher=[[The O'Brien Press]]|isbn=0-86278-777-7}}</ref>

===Country and Irish===
{{Main|Country and Irish}}

With the rise in popularity of [[Country music|American country music]], a new subgenre developed in Ireland known as 'Country and Irish'. It was formed by mixing American Country music with Irish influences, incorporating Irish folk music. This often resulted in traditional Irish songs being sung in a country music style. It is especially popular in the rural Midlands and North-West of the country. It also remains popular among Irish emigrants in Great Britain. [[Big Tom and The Mainliners]] were the first major contenders in this genre, having crossed over from the showband era of the 1960s. Other major artists were [[Philomena Begley]] and [[Margo (singer)|Margo]], the latter even being bestowed the unofficial title of ''Queen of Country & Irish''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Advertiser.ie |url=http://www.advertiser.ie/mayo/article/1187 |title=Emotional anniversary for Margo, the 'Queen of Country and Irish' in Castlebar |publisher=Advertiser.ie |date=8 August 2008 |access-date=2 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/1998/1119/98111900093.html | newspaper=The Irish Times | title=The queen of Country and Irish | date=11 November 1998}}</ref> The most successful performer in the genre today is [[Daniel O'Donnell]], who has garnered success in the UK, US and Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sundayworld.com/columnists/daniel-odonnell.php?aid=6760 |title=COUNTRY 'N' BESTERN Daniel O'Donnell, Popular Irish Singer and Performer from Donegal, Ireland, writes about music, life and more for the Sunday World |publisher=Sundayworld.com |access-date=2 April 2012}}</ref> O'Donnell's frequent singing partner [[Mary Duff]] has also had success in this genre and most recently County Carlow native [[Derek Ryan (singer)|Derek Ryan]] has enjoyed Irish chart hits doing this type of music.

===Fusion===
Traditional music played a part in Irish popular music later in the century, with [[Clannad]], [[Van Morrison]], [[Hothouse Flowers]] and [[Sinéad O'Connor]] using traditional elements in popular songs. [[Enya]] achieved international success with [[New-age music|New Age]]/Celtic fusions. The [[Afro-Celt Sound System]] achieved fame adding West African influences and electronic dance rhythms in the 1990s while bands such as [[Kíla]] fuse traditional Irish with rock and world music representing the Irish tradition at world music festivals across Europe and America. The most notable fusion band in Ireland was Horslips, who combined Irish themes and music with heavy rock. [[The Shamrock Wings]] is a Colombian band that fuses Irish music with Caribbean rhythms.{{Citation needed|date=January 2019}}

''[[Riverdance]]'' is a musical and dancing interval act which originally starred [[Michael Flatley]] and [[Jean Butler]] and featuring the choir [[Anúna]]. It was performed during the [[Eurovision Song Contest 1994]] as "[[Riverdance (song)|Riverdance]]". Popular reaction to the act was so immense that an entire musical revue was built around the act.

===Pop/Rock===
{{Main|Irish rock}}
The 1960s saw the emergence of major Irish rock bands and artists, such as [[Them (band)|Them]], [[Van Morrison]], [[Emmet Spiceland]], [[Eire Apparent]], [[Skid Row (Irish band)|Skid Row]], [[Taste (Irish band)|Taste]], [[Rory Gallagher]], [[Dr. Strangely Strange]], [[Thin Lizzy]], [[Gary Moore]], [[Mellow Candle]].
[[File:Front Thin Lizzy.jpg|thumb|240px|right|Thin Lizzy in concert, 1981]]
In 1970 [[Dana Rosemary Scallon|Dana]] put Ireland on the pop music map by winning the Eurovision Song Contest with her song [[All Kinds of Everything]]. She went to number one in the UK and all over Europe and paved the way for many Irish artists. [[Gilbert O'Sullivan]] went to the top of the charts on both sides of the Atlantic in 1972 with a string of hits, and the all-sister line-up of [[The Nolans]] gained international chart success in the late 1970s. [[Chris de Burgh]] achieved international acclaim with his 1986 hit "[[The Lady in Red (Chris de Burgh song)|Lady in Red]]".

Some groups who formed during the emergence of [[punk rock]] in the mid-late 1970s included [[U2]], [[Virgin Prunes]], [[The Boomtown Rats]], [[The Undertones]], [[Aslan (rock band)|Aslan]], [[Gavin Friday]], and [[Stiff Little Fingers]]. Later in the 80s and into the 90s, Irish punk fractured into new styles of [[alternative rock]], which included [[That Petrol Emotion]], [[In Tua Nua]], [[The Fatima Mansions|Fatima Mansions]], [[My Bloody Valentine (band)|My Bloody Valentine]] and [[Ash (band)|Ash]].<ref name=roc>{{cite web|url=http://irishrockers.com/IrishRockHistory.php|title=Irish Rockers – History of Irish Rock Music}}</ref> In the 1990s, pop and rock bands like [[The Corrs]], [[B*Witched]], [[Boyzone]], [[Westlife]] and [[The Cranberries]] emerged. In the same decade, Ireland also contributed a subgenre of [[folk metal]] known as [[Celtic metal]] with exponents of the genre including [[Cruachan (band)|Cruachan]], [[Primordial (band)|Primordial]], [[Geasa (band)|Geasa]], and [[Waylander (band)|Waylander]].<ref>{{Citation |author=Bowar, Chad |title=What Is Heavy Metal? |url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/heavymetal101/a/101_history.htm |publisher=About.com |access-date=25 April 2008}}</ref>

In recent decades Irish music in many different genres has been very successful internationally; however, the most successful genres have been rock, popular and traditional fusion, with performers such as (in alphabetical order): 
[[Altan (band)|Altan]], 
[[The Answer (band)|The Answer]], 
[[Ash (band)|Ash]],
[[Aslan (band)|Aslan]], 
[[Aphex Twin]],
[[B*Witched]], 
[[Bell X1 (band)|Bell X1]], 
[[Frances Black]], 
[[Mary Black]], 
[[The Blizzards]], 
[[The Bothy Band]], 
[[Brendan Bowyer]],
[[Boyzone]],
[[Paul Brady]],
[[Jimmy Buckley]],
[[Chris de Burgh]],
[[Paddy Casey]], 
[[The Cast of Cheers]], 
[[Celtic Thunder]],
[[Celtic Woman]],
[[The Chieftains]], 
[[The Clancy Brothers]],
[[Clannad]], 
[[Codes (band)|Codes]], 
[[Rita Connolly]], 
[[The Coronas]], 
[[The Corrs]], 
[[Phil Coulter]],
[[Nadine Coyle]] (of [[Girls Aloud]]),
[[The Cranberries]],
[[Peter Cunnah]] (of [[D Ream|D:Ream]]),
[[Dana Rosemary Scallon|Dana]], 
[[De Dannan]], 
[[Cathy Davey]], 
[[Damien Dempsey]],
[[The Divine Comedy (band)|The Divine Comedy]], 
[[Joe Dolan]], 
[[Val Doonican]],
[[Ronnie Drew]], 
[[The Dubliners]], 
[[Mary Duff]], 
[[Duke Special]], [[Eden (Irish musician)|EDEN]], 
[[Enya]], 
[[Julie Feeney]], 
[[Fight Like Apes]], 
[[Fontaines D.C.]],  
[[Mick Flannery]], 
[[The Frames]], 
[[The Fureys]],
[[Bridie Gallagher]], 
[[Rory Gallagher]], 
[[Lisa Hannigan]], 
[[Glen Hansard]] of [[The Frames]], 
[[Keith Harkin]],
[[Gemma Hayes]], [[The High Kings]],
[[Niall Horan]] (of [[One Direction]]), 
[[Horslips]], 
[[The Hothouse Flowers]], 
[[Hozier (musician)|Hozier]], 
[[In Tua Nua]], 
[[Andy Irvine (musician)|Andy Irvine]], 
[[Laura Izibor]], 
[[Gavin James (singer)|Gavin James]],
[[Jape (band)|Jape]], 
[[Jerry Fish & The Mudbug Club]], 
[[Siva Kaneswaran]] (of [[The Wanted]]), 
[[Dolores Keane]],
[[Seán Keane (singer)|Sean Keane]], 
[[Luke Kelly]], 
[[Dermot Kennedy]],
[[Keywest]], 
[[Kíla]], 
[[James Kilbane]], 
[[Kodaline]], 
[[Jack L]], 
[[Johnny Logan (singer)|Johnny Logan]], 
[[Dónal Lunny]], 
[[Phil Lynott]] and [[Thin Lizzy]], 
[[Tommy Makem]], 
[[Imelda May]], 
[[Eleanor McEvoy]], 
[[Christy Moore]], 
[[Gary Moore]], 
[[Van Morrison]], 
[[Moving Hearts]], 
[[Samantha Mumba]], 
[[Mundy]], 
[[Róisín Murphy]], 
[[Ruby Murray]],
[[My Bloody Valentine (band)|My Bloody Valentine]], 
[[Declan Nerney]], 
[[Maura O'Connell]], 
[[Sinéad O'Connor]], 
[[Daniel O'Donnell]], 
[[Annmarie O'Riordan]], 
[[Declan O'Rourke]], 
[[Gilbert O'Sullivan]], 
[[Picturehouse (band)|Picturehouse]], 
[[Picture This (band)|Picture This]],
[[Pillow Queens]],
[[Planxty]], 
[[Carmel Quinn]], 
[[Republic of Loose]], 
[[Damien Rice]], 
[[The Riptide Movement]], 
[[Dickie Rock]], 
[[Derek Ryan (singer)|Derek Ryan]],
[[The Saw Doctors]], 
[[The Script]], 
[[Sharon Shannon]], 
[[Pa Sheehy]] (of [[Walking on Cars]]),
[[Snow Patrol]], 
[[Something Happens]], 
[[Davy Spillane]], 
[[Stiff Little Fingers]], 
[[Stockton's Wing]], 
[[The Strypes]], 
[[Tebi Rex]], 
[[Therapy?]], 
[[The Thrills]], 
[[The Undertones]], 
[[Walking on Cars]],
[[The Wolfe Tones]], 
[[Two Door Cinema Club]], 
[[U2]], 
[[VerseChorusVerse]], 
[[Villagers (band)|Villagers]], 
[[Westlife]], 
[[Bill Whelan]], 
[[Finbar Wright]], 
all achieving success nationally and internationally.

==Best selling Irish acts of all time==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!align="left"|Irish acts
! style="text-align:center;"|Sold
! style="text-align:center;"|Genre
! style="text-align:center;"|Years active
! style="text-align:center;"|Notes
|-
|align="left"|1. [[U2]]
| style="text-align:center;"|170 Million +
! style="text-align:center;"|Rock
! style="text-align:center;"|1976 – present <small>(49 Years)</small>
! style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{Citation |author=Vallely, Paul |title=Bono: The Missionary |url=http://news.independent.co.uk/people/profiles/article364606.ece |work=The Independent|access-date=25 April 2008 |location=London |date=13 May 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010121100/http://news.independent.co.uk/people/profiles/article364606.ece |archive-date=10 October 2008 }}</ref>
|-

|align="left"|2. [[Enya]]
| style="text-align:center;"|80 Million +
! style="text-align:center;"|[[Celtic music|Celtic]]/[[New-age music|new-age]]
! style="text-align:center;"|1986 – present <small>(39 Years)</small>
! style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://enya.sk/enya-faq.htm |title=FAQ |publisher=Enya.sk |access-date=2 April 2012}}</ref>
|-
|align="left"|3. [[Westlife]]
| style="text-align:center;"|55 Million +
! style="text-align:center;"|Pop
! style="text-align:center;"|1998 – 2012, 2018 – present <small>(27 Years)</small>
! style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://crokepark.ie/westlife |title=Westlife Return With 'The Twenty Tour' |publisher=Croke Park |access-date=19 October 2018}}</ref>
|-
|align="left"|4. [[The Cranberries]]
| style="text-align:center;"|50 Million +
! style="text-align:center;"|Rock
! style="text-align:center;"|1990–2003, 2009–2019 <small>(35 Years)</small>
! style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2009/08/07/the-cranberries-dolores-o-riordan-on-surviving-sueccess-and-finding-new-happiness-115875-21577400/ |title=The Cranberries' Dolores O'Riordan on surviving success and finding new happiness – 3am & Mirror Online |work=The Mirror|date=7 August 2009 |access-date=2 April 2012}}</ref>
|-
|}

==Top 5 'most standout' Irish acts of all time==

In 2010, [[PRS for Music]] conducted research to show which five Irish musicians or [[musical ensemble|bands]] the public considered to be the 'most standout'. [[U2]] topped the list with sixty-eight percent<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.u.tv/Entertainment/U2-top-Irish-band-poll/05e42ff8-76d4-4e4e-8aa6-ed125e46bcfb |title=News from Northern Ireland |publisher=U.TV |access-date=2 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.supanet.com/mens-room/new-survey-reveals-best-irish-band-27036p1.html |title=New survey reveals best Irish band! – Men's Room |publisher=Supanet.com |access-date=2 April 2012}}</ref> while [[Westlife]], [[Van Morrison]], [[Boyzone]] and [[The Cranberries]] came in 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th, respectively. The research also suggested that the 'top-five' had sold over 341 million [[albums]] up to March 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.funkyfogey.net/2010/03/music-top-5-sell-over-341-million-albums/ |title=Music: Top 5 sell over 341 million albums |publisher=Funkyfogey.net |date=16 March 2010 |access-date=2 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425145005/http://www.funkyfogey.net/2010/03/music-top-5-sell-over-341-million-albums/ |archive-date=25 April 2012 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="text-align:center;"|Irish act
! style="text-align:center;"|Percent
! style="text-align:center;"|Genre
|-
|align="left"|1. [[U2]]
| style="text-align:center;"|68
! style="text-align:center;"|Rock
|-
|align="left"|2. [[Westlife]]
| style="text-align:center;"|10.5
! style="text-align:center;"|Pop
|-
|align="left"|3. [[Van Morrison]]
| style="text-align:center;"|10
! style="text-align:center;"|Soul
|-
|align="left"|4. [[Boyzone]]
| style="text-align:center;"|7.5
! style="text-align:center;"|Pop
|-
|align="left"|5. [[The Cranberries]]
| style="text-align:center;"|4
! style="text-align:center;"|Rock
|-|-
|}

==See also==
*[[Celtic music]]
*[[Sean-nós singing]]
*[[Lilting]]
*[[Irish traditional music session]]
*[[List of Irish ballads]]
*[[Irish rebel music]]
*[[List of Irish people#Music|List of Irish musicians]]
*[[List of All-Ireland Champions]]
*[[List of Irish music collectors]]
*[[List of Irish musical groups]]
*[[List of artists who reached number one in Ireland]]
*[[List of songs that reached number one on the Irish Singles Chart]]
*[[One Hit Wonders in Ireland]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Bibliography==
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*Klein, Axel: ''Irish Classical Recordings. A Discography of Irish Art Music'' (Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2001).
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*McCarthy, Marie: ''Passing it on. The Transmission of Music in Irish Culture'' (Cork: Cork University Press, 1999).
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*O'Connor, Nuala: ''Bringing it all back home. The Influence of Irish Music'' (London: BBC Books, 1991; rev. ed. Dublin: Merlin Publications, 2001).
*[[Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh|Ó Dochartaigh, Seóirse]]: ''Sunlight & Shadow. A Listener's Guide to Irish Classical Music'' (Leckemy, Co. Donegal: Seóirse Ó Dochartaigh, 2016).
*O'Dwyer, Simon: ''Prehistoric Music of Ireland'' (Stroud, Gloucestershire: Tempus Publishing, 2004).
*Pine, Richard: ''Music and Broadcasting in Ireland'' (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2005).
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*Prendergast, Mark J.: ''Irish Rock. Roots, Personalities, Directions'' (Dublin: O’Brien Press, 1987).
*Shields, Hugh: ''Narrative Singing in Ireland'' (Dublin: Irish Academic Press, 1993).
*Smith, Thérèse: ''Ancestral Imprints. Histories of Irish Traditional Music and Dance'' (Cork: Cork University Press, 2012).
*Smyth, Gerry: ''Noisy Island. A Short History of Irish Popular Music'' (Cork: Cork University Press, 2005).
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*Walsh, Basil: ''Michael W. Balfe. A Unique Victorian Composer'' (Dublin: Irish Academic Press, 2008), {{ISBN|978-0-7165-2947-7}}.
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==External links==
*[https://itma.ie Irish Traditional Music Archive]
*[http://www.libraryireland.com/IrishMusic/Contents.php A History of Irish Music, by W. H. Flood]
*[http://www.cmc.ie/ Contemporary Music Centre, Dublin] – national resource and archive centre for contemporary Irish classical music
*[http://www.comhaltas.ie/ Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann] – global movement promoting Irish traditional music and culture
*[http://www.thesession.org/ TheSession.org] – an online tune database and discussion site for adherents of Irish Traditional Music
*[http://www.irma.ie/ IRMA.ie – The Irish Recorded Music Association]
*[https://orielarts.com Oriel Arts Project] – Arts Council-funded website on research of [[Oirialla|Oriel]] song, harp and fiddle
*[http://www.breakingtunes.com/ BreakingTunes.com] – Arts Council of Ireland Website that specialises in the promotion of contemporary Irish Music
*[http://www.vashonceltictunes.net/irish/ Vashon Celtic Tunes] – Irish (mostly) dance tunes with sheet music and chords
*[http://tunearch.org/wiki/TTA TTA – The Traditional Tune Archive] – The Traditional Tune Archive : The Semantic Index of North American, British and Irish traditional instrumental music with annotation, formerly known as "The Fiddler's Companion"
{{Music of Ireland}}
{{Irish dance}}
{{Celtic music}}{{Ireland topics|expanded=Culture}}{{Economy of Ireland}}{{Music of Europe}}
{{Classical music}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Music of Ireland}}
[[Category:Music of Ireland]]
[[Category:Culture of Ireland]]
[[Category:Irish styles of music]]