The folk revival of the 60s saw an extremely brief yet powerful ignition of influence from Ireland which put an impression on the international map. It was previously mentioned that there was never a cultural revolution or renaissance as a result of constant turmoil in the country, but the events in 1916 helped to inspire a plethora of folk music which endured through the decades and acted as a cultural pillar. But what does all this historic bloodshed have to do with the music of Erin? Simply put, everything! Ireland was in a continued state of guerilla warfare between paramilitary groups until 1998, when the Good Friday Agreement allowed for a truce between the sides. This atmosphere would pervade the entire century during a period referred to as “the Troubles”, where Republicans attempted to liberate Northern Ireland and loyalists backed by the British retaliated to the attacks. Between the constant fighting, a divide formed between the different cultural groups of Ireland, with Catholic Republicans and Protestant Loyalists constantly at ends with one another. Even when peace finally followed after a decade of bloodshed, tensions were still present. The failed Easter Sunday rebellion would also result in continued skirmishes over the next 3 years across Ireland, ultimately leading up to the Irish-Anglo war of independence (1919-1921) and the Irish Civil War (1922-1923). Though the attempts to liberate the country were crushed by British forces, the soldiers who were executed for their actions would live on as focal points for years to come in song and story, as seen through Yeats’ poem. This all changed at the inception of the 21st century during World War I, when around 1,200 rebels took a stand to take the country for their own at the General Post Office in Dublin.Ī storm brewing for some time, the attempt for independence in 1916 was the culmination of Irish republicanism which had been steadily building for generations, through spoken word, story, and music. The reason Irish music seems so antiquated and folky is because of a history which has never really had any point of cultural enlightenment or renaissance.įor most of its existence, Ireland was a cultural and social backwater on the fringes of Europe, a war-torn country volatile with corruption, famine, and rebellion. “Now and in time to be, wherever green is worn, are changed, changed utterly: A terrible beauty is born.” The legendary closing lines of William Butler Yeats’ final stanza from his poignant memorial poem, Easter, 1916, captured a glimpse of the Emerald Isle’s turning point between a tortured history and an imminent cloudy future. But what Irish music is out there, aside from U2 (I know, yuck) and the Cranberries, and why does it sound so hokey for the most part?

Maybe if you’re feeling dicey you may even want to have your hand at listening to some Irish music. It helps that the major qualifications to celebrate the day are pretty menial – to adorn something green, prepare some bad traditional Irish food, and enjoy some Irish Whiskey or Guinness (that is if you are of age). This is, of course, Saint Patrick’s Day, or more colloquially referred to as “St. Whether you’re Irish-Catholic or not, chances are that you’re probably familiar with or have celebrated the feast day of the patron saint of Ireland, Patrick, on March 17th. The ground is covered in white, but the rapidly approaching holiday seems to be universally known as a time for green.

Dublin Natives “Villagers” (Pictured Above)

Irish no words rock