Ireland! Emerald green isle... land of shamrocks, fairies and leprechauns. Home of St. Patrick, Yeats and James Joyce... Rolling green hills and, of course, potatoes! In this book we've gathered over 60 Irish children's songs and rhymes. Many have commentary sent to us by our correspondents who are immersed in the traditions and culture of Ireland. There's not always a sharp distinction between songs sung by children and by adults. So we've included a sampling of some of the most popular Irish traditional songs. We?ve also included examples of Ireland's heritage of very moving ballads and lullabies. Many of these songs and rhymes are in English, but we're proud to also include several that are Gaelic. In those cases we provide English translations. We hope this book will help foster a love of Irish songs and culture all over the world! This book includes: -Irish songs, rhymes, lullabies, and carols -In English, and some in Gaelic with English translations -Commentary from ordinary people about what the songs have meant to their lives -Web links to recordings and sheet music -Illustrations You'll find over 60 Irish favorites, including: -Sally Go Round The Moon -Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral -Michael Finnigan -May the Road Rise Up to Meet You -One, Two, Three O'Leary -It's a Long Way to Tipperary -How Many Miles to Dublin -Danny Boy "May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light, May good luck pursue you each morning and night."

A facsimile edition containing the original collection of 1,850 melodies consisting of airs, jigs, reels, hornpipes, marches, and more for fiddle

(Guitar Chord Songbook). Here are the basics you'll need to play 45 Irish favorites, including: Danny Boy * The Foggy Dew * Girl I Left Behind Me * Harrigan * I'll Tell Me Ma * The Irish Rover * MacNamara's Band * Molly Malone (Cockles & Mussels) * My Wild Irish Rose * The Rose of Tralee * Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That's an Irish Lullaby) * When Irish Eyes Are Smiling * and more!

Belief in the existence of a parallel world and in otherworldly phenomena has long been established in Irish tradition, and facets of such belief continue to be found in contemporary Irish society. This book, with two accompanying compact discs, examines aspects of the enduring fascination the Irish imagination has with supernatural beings, encounters, and occurrences, as represented in song and music. The material contained in this publication, which includes recorded sound, photographs, and manuscript transcriptions, is drawn from National Folklore Collection/Cnuasach Bhealoideas Eireann at University College Dublin. The book addresses a number of illuminating aspects of popular tradition, such as: the connection between the supernatural and excellence in the performance of music and song * the dangers inherent in engaging with the fairies * the fear of abduction or loss * benign supernatural encounters * the existence of otherworldly creatures * the physical landscape, as perceived in inherited oral knowledge. There are encounters that reflect the blending of Christian and non-Christian ideas. The inclusion of contemporary performers alongside older archival material is testament to the fact that the National Folklore Collection continues to grow and remains the most important repository of Irish vernacular culture. The songs, music, and lore contained here are the foundation stone upon which the book rests, and the selected examples are illustrated with numerous black-and-white photographs. There can be little doubt that the full spectrum of human experience is better comprehended with an understanding of traditional lore and belief. The Otherworld: Music & Song from Irish Tradition addresses an important aspect of that human experience and seeks to encourage just such an engagement. It is a book for both the general reader and scholars of folklore. (Series: Scribhinni Bealoidis / Folklore Studies - Vol. 21) *** "The book itself boasts an endlessly informative text and many resonant photographs of singers, musicians, collectors and -- most of all -- landscape features. The last of these record Ireland's unsettling countryside, home to fairies, banshees and ghosts, and serve to set already evocative songs and tunes in places that are of, at once, this world and the otherworld. If there is another compilation like this one, I have never heard of it, and I doubt that it could be as stimulating as this one, a unique and (almost literally) haunting excursion into mystery and melody." - Jerome Clark, Rambles.Net, May 18, 2013 *** "This remarkable book with its breathtaking old photos (and two magical CDs) offers Irish traditional music and song associated with fairies of the Otherworld... Material was gleaned from all over Ireland, and not just from professional musicians; most was collected from islanders, urbanites, farmers, students, teachers and Travellers... Most songs are sung a cappella, and most instrumentalists perform solo, offering intense listening experiences, as jigs, waltzes, laments, dirges, and recitations chronicle legends, local history, religion, and supernatural happenings." - The Celtic Connection, June 2013~

Bright Star of the West examines the life, repertoire, and influence of Ireland's greatest sean-nos (old-style) singer, Joe Heaney (1919-1984). Best known for popularing this form of Gaelic a cappella folk song in the United States, authors Sean Williams and Lillis ? Laoire reveal the ways in which Heaney's life story demonstrates the intertwining of music with political memory and cultural understanding.

From the mythological harp of the Dagda to Riverdance, this concise history of Irish traditional music and dance explores a rich spectrum of historical sources and folklore. It uncovers the contribution of the Normans to Irish dancing, the rote of the music maker in Penal Ireland, and the popularity of dance tunes and set dancing from the end of the eighteenth century to the present. It also follows the music of the Irish diaspora from the music halls of vaudeville to the musical tapestry of Irish America today.

Gaelic songs are beautiful to listen to and to sing, but until now it has been extremely difficult for anyone without knowledge of the Irish language (Gaelic) to sing the songs of that tradition. A must for anyone who has always longed to sing the old songs of Ireland, this book and CD decodes the Irish language for those who aspire to sing these songs without them having to undertake an Irish language course. The fourteen songs are presented in an accessible fashion. On the CD, the author speaks each phrase slowly, leaving a pause for the student to imitate the pronunciation. The author then sings each song in a simple, plain style, conducive to learning. The book has the sheet music, guitar chords, phonetics, Irish lyrics, and a translation and background to each song. There is an introduction which gives information on traditional singing in Irish as well as a guide to the phonetic system used. The songs are graded linguistically and musically so that the student can build up skills as she or he progresses through the book.