35 best Irish songs to play in honor of St. Patrick's Day
March 17 is St. Patrick's Day. Whatever your annual tradition is, whether it's attending a parade or dining on corned beef and cabbage, make sure to wear green in support of the Emerald Isle and don't forget to be on the lookout for a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
While you're probably not going to find a stash of precious coins hidden here, what you will discover is a genuine treasure in this collection of Irish songs to celebrate St. Paddy's like a true lad or lassie.
It doesn't matter if you're from Ireland, or just pretend to be on St. Patrick's Day, this collection of Irish tunes is bound to have you doing the jig, or at the very least a step-dance or two in honor of the big day.
In this list of Irish songs you'll find classics like "Danny Boy," "Molly Malone" and "Irish Eyes Are Smiling," along with other popular songs like "Zombie" by The Cranberries and "Whiskey in a Jar" by The Dubliners.
You'll also hear enduring tunes by Irish artists like The Chieftains, Bono and U2, Celtic Thunder and The Irish Tenors, as well as traditional folk songs that'll leave you yearning to travel to the Cliffs of Moher.
We've also got plenty of high-spirited tunes from The Irish Rovers, Loreena McKennitt and even a few songs from the hit show "Riverdance," to get everyone's toes tapping.
So, grab a pint of Guinness, straighten your scully cap and prepare to celebrate St. Paddy's with a song because, if we do say so ourselves, this collection of St. Patrick's Day songs is nothing short of an Irish blessing.
‘Molly Malone’ by The Dubliners
“Molly Malone” is the essential St. Patrick’s Day pub song and no self-respecting Irish songs’ playlist is complete without this time-honored folk tune. Period.
‘Danny Boy’ by the Irish Tenors
It’s not St. Patrick’s Day without a round or two of “Danny Boy.” The sorrowful song is sure to put a tear in your eye and leave an ache in your heart with its lyrics about sending a loved one off to war with hopes reuniting in the afterlife.
'Whiskey in a Jar' by The Dubliners
The fiddle and banjo are the stars of the show in this traditional folk song that despite its upbeat tempo is about a murderous criminal who gets betrayed by his lover and sent off to prison.
'When Irish Eyes Are Smiling' by Bing Crosby
No one does it quite like Bing Crosby and the legendary crooner is at his best singing the beloved classic "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling."
'The Rose of Tralee' by The Irish Tenors
Like many traditional Irish ballads, "The Rose of Tralee" is a wistful song of love lost. It tells the story of Mary, a girl as "lovely and fair as the rose of the summer," and ends as many sad songs do, with the "chill hand of death" separating her and her lover forever.
'Lanigan's Ball" by Christy Moore
Good luck staying in your seat while this toe-tapping Irish song plays. Christy Moore performs a jig-worthy version of "Lanigan's Ball," a popular folk song about a spirited party that ends in a drunken brawl.
'Tim Finnegan's Wake' by The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem
There's never been a wake as much fun as Tim Finnegan's! Finnegan, an Irishman with a love of whiskey, topples off a ladder after drinking too much and cracks his skull. His funeral guests throw such a wild bash that they wake him up with all their fighting and drinking. Because, spoiler, the Irishman isn't dead after all.
'Mountain Dew' by The Clancy Brothers
Raise a glass and whistle along to this song devoted to good ol' mountain dew. No, not the soft drink, but something a bit more potent. Oh, hi di-diddly-idle-um, diddly-doodle-idle-um, diddly-doo-ri-diddly-deh! You'll be dancing the night away with this spirited Clancy Brothers' song.
'The Parting Glass' by The High Kings
There are countless renditions of this traditional Irish song about parting ways after a night spent with good friends. This stirring High Kings' version features top-notch vocals and a band of bagpipers that will surely have you choked up by the time it reaches its epic finale.
'Drunken Sailor' by The Irish Rovers
This high-energy, swashbuckling song will instantly make you think of pirates swinging jugs o' rum and dancing atop tables, ala Jack Sparrow in "Pirates of the Caribbean."
'The Foggy Dew' by The Chieftains
Sinéad O’Connor joins The Chieftains in performing this traditional Irish folk song written about the 1916 Easter Rebellion. A marching tune and requiem for the valiant men lost to war, it's a solemn tribute to the fallen.
'The Irish Rover' by the Dubliners and The Pogues
Two of Ireland's most beloved bands, The Dubliners and The Pogues, team up for one unforgettable performance of "The Irish Rover." With a stage full of banjos, fiddles and folk singers, this is one for the ages.
'Song for Ireland' by Mary Black
A tribute to her home country, Mary Black sings this touching ballad about leaving Ireland but being pulled back by the memory of the island's beauty, summer sunsets and fiddlers who while away the days in old pubs.
'Beautiful Day' by U2
One of Ireland's most well-known imports is the iconic rock band U2. With so many hits to choose from, "Beautiful Day" seems the most fitting to honor March 17.
'O'Sullivan's March' by The Chieftains
It doesn't get much more Irish than a song about an O'Sullivan. You'll be doing a jig to this 1977 Chieftains' instrumental drum and bagpipe song.
'The Mummers' Dance' by Loreena McKennitt
Evoking thoughts of "Outlander," this catchy, etherial song by Loreena McKennitt hit the Billboard Hot 100 in 1998, climbing all the way up to No. 19 on the charts.
'Only Time' by Enya
Irish singer and composer, Enya, is one of the best-selling solo artists to emerge from Emerald Isle. With string of hits in the '90s and 2000s, the song "Only Time" topped the charts after becoming an uplifting anthem in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in 2001.
'The Heart's Cry' by Bill Whelan
This dreamy "Riverdance" tune will take you back to the days of druids, making you think of foggy marshes and castles far off in the distance.
'Rattlin' Bog' by Carlyle Fraser
Grab your lass and swing her 'round! At least that's what you'll feel like doing listening to this up-tempo fiddle-and-banjo song that'll have you, at the very least, tapping your toes. Extra points if you can keep up with lyrics.
'Star of the County Down' by The High Kings
This Irish ballad gets spirited update in this 2009 version recorded by the High Kings. The traditional tune is about a young man who becomes infatuated with a fair colleen named Rosie, otherwise known as the "Star of the County Down."
'The Countess Cathleen/Women of the Sidhe' by Bill Whelan
Fans of "Riverdance" will recognize this iconic tune immediately. There's no more perfect song for your St. Patrick's Day playlist than "The Countess Cathleen/Women of the Sidhe" which will have you and everyone else within earshot raring to step dance in honor of the holiday.
'God Save Ireland' by The Dubliners
This spirited Dubliners' song is guaranteed to have you arm-in-arm with your pals, clinking cups and singing along to this old rebel song that was once considered Ireland's unofficial national anthem.
'Whiskey on a Sunday (The Puppet Song)' by The Irish Rovers
The Irish Rovers pay tribute to ol' Seth Davy, a sad puppeteer who makes dolls dance in an old crate on the corner of Beggars Bush, in this 1968 folk song.
'Lift the Wings' by Bill Whelan
Another song from the "Riverdance" soundtrack, "Lift the Wings" is a melancholy song that'll make you long for days gone by. With lyrics about being miles away from the one you love, it'll likely make you more than just a wee bit sad.
'Seven Drunken Nights' by Celtic Thunder
Celtic Thunder delivers a festive cover version of this Dubliners song that pokes fun at all the mishaps that can occur when you've had way too many pints at the pub.
'An Irish Pub Song' The High Kings
A wandering lad or lass need not look far to find an Irish pub, which is what this tune is all about. In fact you can wander the world over and no matter where you go, there will always be a frosty pint awaiting you.
'Look to the Rainbow' by Petula Clark
Petula Clark sings this enduring song from the musical "Finian's Rainbow." Befitting St. Patrick's Day, it's about about following rainbows in search of your dream.
'The Rocky Road to Dublin' by The Kings of Connaught
Covered by countless musicians, The Kings of Connaught give this 19th century folk song a rousing update and the result is a spirited, toe-tapping anthem.
'Sonny' by Mary Black, Emmylou Harris and Dolores Keane
Mary Black, Emmylou Harris and Dolores Keane team up with their impeccable vocals to cover this old song about a young farm boy who must stay by his mother's side after his sailing daddy is lost at sea.
‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ by U2
In 1983, the band, U2, released “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” a fiery protest song that firmly cemented the Irish rockers in the history books. Written about demonstration that turned violent in Londonderry, Ireland in 1972, the song proved to be controversial for the then-young band, but decades later it remains among their most celebrated.
'Oro Se Bheatha 'Bhaile' by The Dubliners
Yet another song by The Dubliners, this traditional fiddle-driven tune is an old Gaelic marching song that stirs the soul and calls Irish citizens to action.
'The Fields of Athenry' by Paddy Reilly
You'll swear you're walking along the Cliffs of Moher listening to this wistful tune about love, life and loss.
'The Old Ways' by Loreena McKennitt
Loreena McKennitt sings this haunting 2008 song about the sea and its thunderous waves, which remind her of a love that once was but is no longer.
‘Zombie’ by The Cranberries
One of the most popular bands to emerge from Ireland, The Cranberries took over the airwaves in the ‘90s with hits like “Linger,” “Dreams” and “Zombie.” Written in memory of two young boys killed in a Warrington, England bombing, “Zombie” remains one of the biggest singles for the band and reflects the decades-long turmoil that persisted in Northern Ireland.
‘Breathless’ The Corrs
This upbeat song by Irish band, The Corrs, landed on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2001 and remains a popular radio staple with its infectious beat and ear-worm lyrics. Comprised of four siblings, Andrea, Sharon, Caroline and Jim Corrs, it’s safe to say this Ireland-born group is nothing short of a family affair.