Best songs of the 1916 Easter Rising

During the historic events of the 1916 Easter Rising, a group of rebels stormed some of Dublin's most prominent buildings in the quest for Irish freedom from the British colonial empire.

Many a play, novel, poem, and story has been written about those events but nothing stirs the soul of rebellion quite as much as some of these songs. 

Here's a look at some of the best Irish tunes that remember the 1916 Easter Rising and those who took part: 

"James Connolly"

One of the most famous of all Irish ballads about the 1916 leader, James Connolly, who was shot while propped up against a wall because of a broken leg. The author of the lyrics is unknown.

"The Foggy Dew"

Canon Charles O’Neill wrote this famous tune after attending the sitting of the first-ever Dail (Irish Parliament). Sinead O’Connor did a wonderful version.

"Off to Dublin in the Green" / "Merry Ploughboy"

A huge hit in the 1960s for musician Dermot O’Brien. This popular tune is still played very widely.

"Who Fears to Speak of Easter Week"

Brendan Behan, Ireland’s laughing boy, and resident working-class Dublin genius sing one of the great 1916 songs.

"On Banna Strand" 

Roger Casement was executed for his part in attempting to deliver German weapons to the Irish Volunteers. Casement was arrested on Banna Strand in Kerry.

"The Soldier's Song"

(Sung in English in the GPO in Easter week)

Peadar Kearney a Dublin songwriter, 1916 fighter, and uncle of Brendan Behan, penned the English version of what became the national anthem in 1907. It was sung in the GPO. The Irish version came out in 1926.

"Grace"

Grace Gifford married Joseph Plunkett, Irish nationalist, poet, journalist, and a leader of the 1916 Easter Rising, in his death cell hours before his execution.

"The Boys of the Old Brigade"

Written by Balladeer Paddy McGuigan, this song still causes controversy because Celtic football fans regularly sing it even though it is banned at their matches.

"Mise Éire"

Composed by Seán Ó Riada, this song was based on Patrick Pearse’s Irish language poem. Ó Riada was Ireland’s greatest composer and this stirring air is often considered his greatest masterpiece.

* Originally published in April 2016. Updated in August 2024.