Ireland’s top song writers

Ireland has produced a host of great songwriters who have provided us with a wealth of great music.

These are some of the most prominent names from the last 200 years.

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Ethna Carbery

Ethna Carbery was a poet, writer, editor  and Irish Nationalist. Today she is best remembered as the author of the Irish rebel song Roddy McCorley.

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Percy French

Percy French wrote some of the most popular Irish folk songs of all time including Mountains of Mourne, Phil The Fluther’s Ball and McBreen’s Heifer

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John Keegan Casey

John Keegan Casey was an Irish nationalist who wrote songs such as The Rising of the Moon and Maire My Girl before his tragic early death when he was aged just 24-25.

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Samuel Lover

Samuel Lover was a multi-talented  singer, songwriter, painter and novelist. He wrote several classic Irish songs including What Will You Do Love? and The Girl I Left Behind Me.

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PJ McCall

PJ McCall is one of Ireland’s greatest songwriters. His classic rebel songs include Follow Me up to Carlow, Kelly the Boy From Killane and Boolavogue.

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Pete St John

Pete St John is one of Ireland’s most successful and prolific songwriters. He wrote many Irish folk standards such as The Fields of Athenry, The Rare Ould Times and The Ferryman.

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James Thornton

James Thornton is an Irish emigrant who travelled to America aged just eight. He wrote the famous song When You Were Sweet Sixteen.

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