What are the ten greatest Irish ballads?
Surely it's open for interpretation, but we here at IrishCentral think we did a pretty good job of narrowing the list down to the top ten greatest Irish ballads.
Check out our choices here on Spotify:
Song for Ireland
Written by folk singer Phil Colclough in 1982 -- beautifully rendered by Mary Black, it has become a classic.
Scorn Not His Simplicity
Phil Coulter’s beautiful paean to his son with Down Syndrome. Wonderfully rendered by Luke Kelly of the Dubliners.
The Time Has Come
This heartbreaking 1981 hunger strike song commemorated the death of Patsy O’Hara. Christy Moore co-wrote with Donal Lunny and does a magnificent version.
Christy Moore.
Arthur MacBride
An anti-British army recruiting song from the 1840s, beautifully rendered by Paul Brady.
I Dreamt I Dwelt
Written by Irish composer Michael Balfe from his opera “Bohemian Girl. “ A heartrending and lonely song. Enya does a stellar version of it.
The Fields of Athenry
Written by Pete St. John, it has become the unofficial Irish national anthem thanks to Celtic Football Club and the Irish soccer team. A wonderful haunting ballad of the Irish famine. Paddy Reilly does a magnificent version.
The Bold Fenian Men’ (Down by the Glenside)
This ballad of the 19th century commemorates the Fenian uprising. Arcady featuring Frances Black does a haunting version.
Grace
This song is about Grace Gifford, who married her husband hours before he was executed for his part in the 1916 Rising. Written by Frank O’Meara in 1985. The Dubliners, featuring Jim McCann, do a powerful version.
The Dubliners.
Only Her Rivers Run Free
Written by Mickie McConnell, brother of our blogger, Cormac McConnell, in 1965. Christy Moore and Planxty do a magnificent version.
Raglan Road
This poignant song about love and loss was written by poet Patrick Kavanagh. Luke Kelly hits it out of the park.
* Originally published in 2011. Last updated in August 2024.
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