In Ireland, Christmas is a magical time! Between traditions, decorations and local markets, spending the holidays on the green Erin is simply magical! Add to that the charm of Irish Christmas songs, and you’ll be right in the mood! So here’s a small selection of the best Christmas songs to listen to and enjoy for an unforgettable Irish holiday!
If there were only one track to discover, this would be it! This is undoubtedly Ireland’s most emblematic Christmas song! Composed by punk band The Pogues, the song “Faitytale of New York” is the antithesis of classic Christmas songs! It’s a love song that turns sour, as two Irish immigrants living in New York end up insulting each other profusely.
The song is funny and amusing. It draws on many Irish references, and has become a veritable Christmas anthem since its release in the 1980s. The song still tops the charts in Ireland and the UK. A phenomenal success that brings in nearly €450,000 in royalties for the Pogues every year!
“The Wexford Carol” is a song from Enniscorthy, County Wexford. Dating back to the 12th century, it tells the story of the nativity of Jesus. It’s one of the oldest known Christmas carols in the country. And the Irish have a particular affection for it (remember that the Irish are predominantly Catholic and very attached to their religion).
For centuries, this song was sung only by men, but since 1990 it has been recorded by many female artists, including Loreena McKennit and the group Celtic Woman. Their interpretations are sublime and well worth the detour! Take a look!
Here’s a tune that should appeal to fans of crooners and songs “à la Frank Sinatra”. This tune was written by John Redmond, James Cavanaugh and Frank Weldon in 1950. Over the years, it has been recorded by Bing Crosby on his “Merry Christmas” album, as well as by Ruby Murray in the 1950s and Dennis Day. It was also recorded by Bobby Vinton (1964), Anne Murray (1981) and the Irish Rovers.
It’s a holiday classic: a must-have for decorating the tree or for family meals. There’s something timeless and joyful about it. Perfect for a magical holiday experience!
This Christmas classic was written as a poem by Dublin’s Cecil Frances Alexander. It was first published in 1848 in “Miss Cecil Humphreys’s hymnbook, Hymns for Children”. It was an English organist, Henry John Gauntlett, who set the poem to music the following year.
The song was first recorded by the King’s College Choir in 1948. Since then, it has been recorded and sung by hundreds of people, including Mary Chapin Carpenter, The Chieftains, Daniel O’Donnell, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Petula Clark, Jethro Tull and Sufjan Stevens. That’s all there is to it!
This song was featured on the Chieftains’ Christmas album “The Bells of Dublin” and was a multi-artist collaboration. Other artists who have worked with them on their Christmas music include Elvis Costello, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, Marianne Faithfull, Nanci Griffith, Rickie Lee Jones and actor Burgess Meredith.
At the time, Paddy Moloney said, “These recording sessions hold special memories for the Chieftains and myself, and bring together all the colors of this festive season.”
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