Video: Real Irish

posted at 5:45 pm on March 17, 2008 by Ed Morrissey

Can’t make it out to your favorite Irish pub and looking for some real Irish atmosphere? Here’s a YouTube of the great Irish-music band The Chieftains performing in a Westport pub owned by one of the band members. The clip comes from a DVD the band made for its Water from the Well album, one of their best:

As a bonus, here’s Lunasa performing Morning Nightcap in 2004:

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, and if you like what you hear, try picking up a couple of albums; for Lunasa, I’d recommend The Merry Sisters of Fate. There’s nothing more healing and calming than good, authentic Irish music.

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Celtic Music is the best.

Indy Conservative on March 17, 2008 at 5:53 PM

Yeah, that is spam, that first comment, I think.

Nice music, too….

Vanceone on March 17, 2008 at 5:54 PM

Erin Go Bragh!

Seven Percent Solution on March 17, 2008 at 5:54 PM

Check out Patric Street for some good Celtic beats.

pseudonominus on March 17, 2008 at 5:57 PM

I can’t find my tin whistle.

Of all days, today I can’t find my tin whistle.

how can I go and make an eejit of myself tonight without my tin whistle?

TC@LeatherPenguin on March 17, 2008 at 5:57 PM

I’m of Scottish descent, and I love both Irish and Scottish music. Tonight, my husband and I will snuggle up to watch “The Quiet Man” (only one of the best movies of all time), and drink a toast to our Irish friends. Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

DrMagnolias on March 17, 2008 at 5:59 PM

Being third generation Irish, I’m going to relax with my Swedish bride from MN with some homemade Irish soda bread, lamb stew and a glass of Michael Collins Irish whiskey. Oh, and that site in the first post? It’s a crappy left wing piece of garbage….

MNDavenotPC on March 17, 2008 at 6:04 PM

Gaelic Storm’s worth a look, too, particularly if you can catch them live.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOdJbXATPl8&feature=related

Blacklake on March 17, 2008 at 6:12 PM

I just discovered these guys on a PBS special from a couple of nights ago. They’re awesome.

Celtic Thunder

2Brave2Bscared on March 17, 2008 at 6:13 PM

With dinner tonight, I’m having a half and half to wash it down.

Wipe ye feet!

Kini on March 17, 2008 at 6:13 PM

This takes me back to the Little Bridge pub in Dingle, Ireland. Celtic music and Irish craic all washed down with pints of Guinness. As we say here in the South, “it don’t get no better than that”.
Happy St. Patricks Day

d1carter on March 17, 2008 at 6:24 PM

Silante Ya’ll Up The Republic!
Another in a long line of great in Irish singers, here is a Link to The Clancy Brothers and their version of Finnegans Wake:

Tonight, my husband and I will snuggle up to watch “The Quiet Man” (only one of the best movies of all time), and drink a toast to our Irish friends. Happy St. Patrick’s Day.
DrMagnolias on March 17, 2008 at 5:59 PM

Thanks and a mighty “Cheers” to you and The Duke!

Branch Rickey on March 17, 2008 at 6:30 PM

First comment is now gone. I’m celebrating quietly with some corned beef (no cabbage) and some scones. Mmmmmmm.

I may try to find my copy of The Secret of Roan Inish. It’s a wonderful film, and it has actual Irish. (The Quiet Man has a brief eruption of it, which I translated at the IMDB forum for the movie.)

Ed Morrissey on March 17, 2008 at 6:30 PM

I was at that table, I was playing the Guinness.

BL@KBIRD on March 17, 2008 at 6:34 PM

Family legend has it that my great-grandaddy shot his Irish landlord in an argument over a horse, sometime in late 1880′s in County Mayo. Himself didna wait ’round to see if the landlord died, but instead rode the disputed horse straight to the nearest boat headed for Boston. His descendants have thrived across the country since then.

Caide Mile Failte!

Mike D. on March 17, 2008 at 6:35 PM

Via The Corner, here’s my favorite tribute to St. Paddy’s Day. Warning: contains Swedish, so might not be authentic Irish musicians.

Splashman on March 17, 2008 at 6:37 PM

See if this links to The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. Best Finnegans Wake ever.

Branch Rickey on March 17, 2008 at 6:39 PM

Family legend has it that my great-grandaddy shot his Irish landlord in an argument over a horse, sometime in late 1880’s in County Mayo. Mike D. on March 17, 2008 at 6:35 PM

reminds me of The Quiet Man {paraphrase}, “Your grandfather died in a penal colony. And your father was a good man too.” ;D My grandfather used to say that my grandmother’s family was a bunch of sheep thieves and that’s why they left. lol

Branch Rickey on March 17, 2008 at 6:43 PM

Great stuff. When you hear that, then listen to a traditional Bluegrass tune like “St. Anne’s Reel”, you know where Bluegrass came from.

flipflop on March 17, 2008 at 6:46 PM

The Black Rose in Boston has got to be rocking tonight. I remember growing up listening the pipes and lyrics of old Irish ballads wafting through the house on Sunday afternoons. What we needs is a good Irish drinking song.

I hope someone remembers the Moonshiner.

I’m a rambler, I’m a gambler,
I’m a long way from home
And if you don’t like me,
Well, leave me alone
I’ll eat when I’m hungry,
I’ll drink when I’m dry
And if moonshine don’t kill me,
I’ll live til I die

I’ve been a moonshiner for many a year
I’ve spent all me money on whiskey and beer
I’ll go to some hollow, I’ll set up my still
And I’ll make you a gallon for a ten shilling bill

I’ll go to some hollow in this count-er-y
Ten gallons of wash I can go on a spree
No women to follow, the world is all mine
I love none so well as I love the moonshine

Oh, moonshine, dear moonshine, oh, how I love thee
You killed me old father, but ah you try me
Now bless all moonshiners and bless all moonshine
Their breath smells as sweet as the dew on the vine

Kini on March 17, 2008 at 6:47 PM

Oh, and for a real sad Irish song, check out “Fields of Athenry”. It’s not that old (maybe 30-35 years old or so), but it’s a nice song.

Here’s Paddy Reilly’s rendition.

flipflop on March 17, 2008 at 6:49 PM

I cannot get the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem to link. sorry, still new at posting. Check them out with some whiskey. You’ll thank me. Also try a bad out of Los Angeles with a mix of Irish Celtic and Scottish Celtic: Bad Haggis is the name of the band. Plenty of bag pipes if want.

The definition of a gentleman in Irish Celtic is someone who knows how play the bagpipes but does not. old joke; could not resist…..

Branch Rickey on March 17, 2008 at 6:50 PM

Also try a band out of Los Angeles

Branch Rickey on March 17, 2008 at 6:51 PM

Ed:
Even though we’re Jews (me and my late father), we loved Irish music. His faves, which became mine, are The Chieftains, Irish Rovers, Clancy Brothers w/Tommy Makem, and Leahy. My fave is this joint performance of Leahy and The Chieftains. Here are a few good albums and vids of their work(s).

Then there are the hilarious news reports of the leprechaun sightings, last year, in Mobile, Alabama, which are too funny.

But don’t forget that Ireland is slowly becoming Muslim. Thousands of Muslims among only 5 million Irish.

Debbie Schlussel on March 17, 2008 at 7:05 PM

The Moonshiner video as sung by Maureen Carroll

Kini on March 17, 2008 at 7:10 PM

Sorry, I prefer Mackeson Stout. It’s English, but it’s better.

robblefarian on March 17, 2008 at 7:19 PM

Murphy’s Irish Stout will give ya the run for the money.

Kini on March 17, 2008 at 7:21 PM

My contriburtion. Sweet baby boy grew up to me singing “Whistling Gypsy Rover” as one of his lullabies.

tree hugging sister on March 17, 2008 at 7:27 PM

Being part Irish and Scottish means we have the ability to laugh at ourselves from time to time. Even if we poke fun at others and each other too. This little gem if a ditty is really funny, but somewhat saucy.
So, fair warning to ye here.

Kini on March 17, 2008 at 7:46 PM

One should have thought our Hibernian candidate would have had something grand to say upon the day and occasion.

Whither be ye, O’Bama?

Scribbler on March 17, 2008 at 7:48 PM

Erm… The Pogues?

spmat on March 17, 2008 at 7:52 PM

Oh. Em. Gee.

Joe Strummer + The Pogues + London Calling == Teh Awesome.

spmat on March 17, 2008 at 7:55 PM

I hope someone remembers the Moonshiner.

Kini on March 17, 2008 at 6:47 PM

I much prefer this version of Moonshiner by Uncle Tupelo (ignore the video… it’s only one I could find that had the album version on it).

spmat on March 17, 2008 at 8:05 PM

Debbie Schlussel on March 17, 2008 at 7:05 PM

Sad but true. I wrote to a senior Minister of the Irish Government about this issue but received no response. There is a refusal to think through the implications of Muslim immigration. They, the Muslims, will have to leave at some point.

On a lighter note, The Saw Doctors.

aengus on March 17, 2008 at 8:08 PM

Well done Ed. Not only have you posted my fave Irish band (Lunasa), but also my favorite Lunasa tune.

JohnO on March 17, 2008 at 8:15 PM

Okay. This Italian-American will on this day recognize that his mom is a Mulligan. I’m off to home for corn beef, cabbage and a six pack of Harps. I’m too old to fight the crowds at Molly Malone’s and Tom Bergin’s.

tommylotto on March 17, 2008 at 8:22 PM

The Pogues, Gaelic Storm, The Barley Boys, even Darby O’Gill, Flogging Molly and Drop Kick Murphy – all are on my iTunes year ’round.

I am as Irish as Vikings (I’m a Swede) can be, but when I visited the Emerald Isle last year I can say that it is the only country I would consider living outside the US.

“I am an educated business-owner, a believer in the Bible, a man who believes in old-school justice, a drinker of Guinness, a smoker of fine cigars and a connoisseur of life…” (My Grandfather) Of course, as one who follows that model, makes me the most hated in the eyes of a liberal.

Pog Mo Thoin…

And then I thought… Ach, feck it! I’m in Ireland…

Signalfire_WI on March 17, 2008 at 8:56 PM

What? No video from the Oscars with “It’s hard out here for a pimp!”? /s

Nice video, nice music.

BowHuntingTexas on March 17, 2008 at 9:07 PM

And then there’s Christy Moore…

cthulhu on March 17, 2008 at 10:24 PM

I love St. Patrick’s! Thanks for the vids, I love the Chieftens and have actually seen them live (along with Great Big Sea, who are Canadian, but can do a mean reel when they’ve a mind). St. Patrick is ALSO the patron saint of Engineers, one of which I was in the Corps and one of which I am currently studying to be. Double whammy!

Militant Bibliophile on March 18, 2008 at 12:17 AM

Thank God for Ed Morrissey brightening me day!

Dread Pirate Roberts VI on March 18, 2008 at 8:49 AM

Try seeing comedian, Brett the Irish Com’Mc. Very good Irish humor.

Sensei Ern on March 18, 2008 at 9:09 AM

Debbie Schlussel on March 17, 2008 at 7:05 PM

Fie music, but The Irish Rovers and Leahy are actually Canadian (the Rovers were all born in Ireland, but didn’t get together until they had moved and were living in Calgary); Leahy is a family band from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.

Frozen Tex on March 18, 2008 at 9:29 AM