Irish Music Links

A selection of links, collected by the editors of The Irish Letter

Enjoy This Irish Music Video

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Instrument-based sites

  • Harpnet: Fun site, totally dedicated to harp festivals and info.
  • Irish Fiddle: Nice historical site about the fiddle in Irish music.

Irish Music Recording Companies

Irish Music Links Sites

  • Ceolas: Huge selection of links on Celtic music.
  • The Thistle & Shamrock: Website for a long-running Celtic music show on National Public Radio. Lots of great articles on Irish & other celtic musicians.

Places to Buy Irish Music CDs On The Web

  • Custy’s Traditional Music Shop: Many musicians call this shop in Ennis, Clare, the best place in Ireland for CDs of traditional Irish music.
  • eBay Irish Music: Irish Music Section of eBay – selling everything from old CD’s to piggy banks that play Irish music.

Irish Music Organizations

Irish Music Artists

  • Altan: Still among the very best Irish music practitioners, from Co. Donegal..
  • Boys of the Lough: A group that’s made great Irish music for over 30 years.
  • Black 47: Often called “New York’s house band,” these Irish rockers are still keeping it fresh
  • Peadar O Ceannabhain: Wonderful sean-nos (a capella) singer of Irish Music, from Connemara.
  • The Chieftains: The group that brought world-wide attention to traditional Irish music.
  • Clannad: A group that’s melded world influences into traditional Irish music for 22 albums.
  • The Cranberries: Gone but not forgotten, one of the best Irish rock groups ever.
  • Sinead O’Connor: Odd site about the pop singer Sinead O’Connor, with a message about her upcoming retirement from music.
  • Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill: Cutting edge Irish musicians Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill, who are now working in a jazz vein.
  • Andy Irvine: Outstanding songwriter who’s much admired by other Irish musicians.
  • Eileen Ivers: American fiddler with an amazing feel for Irish music, and other world styles.
  • Paddy Keenan: Known as the “king of the pipers” for over 30 years.
  • Lunasa: Extremely talented and highly original Irish music group. Heirs to the Chieftain’s throne.
  • Tommy Makem: Often called “The Godfather of Irish music.”
  • Van Morrison: Unofficial sites for one of Ireland’s best known musical talents.
  • Naimh Parsons: Possibly the best vocalist we’ve ever heard in Irish music.
  • Damien Rice: Slightly weird site for new pop music phenom from Ireland.
  • U2: Ireland’s best-known music group, still rocking after all these years.

Information on Irish Music

Irish Music Festivals

  • Louisburg Feile Chois Cuain: Celebration of traditional Irish music & song in a historic town, Louisburgh, County Mayo, April & May
  • Cuirt Chruitireachta: A top harp festival where players of all levels can take workshop classes
    Termonfeckin, County Meath, June & July
  • Mercy General Irish Music Festival: A fesitval with something for everyone in the family
    Muskegon, Michigan, September
  • Willie Clancy Summer School: A large summer school of Irish music, dedicated to the memory of a great piper, Miltown Malbay, County Clare, Ireland
  • Boghill Center: Center for Irish music workshops in summer, at Christmas and New Year’s
  • Dublin Irish Festival: That’s Dublin, OHIO. A festival for Irish music, dance and culture. August
  • Buffalo Irish: Very complete guide to cultural happenings, dance festivals and Irish music in Buffalo, NY
  • Buncrana Music Festival: Street entertainment, Irish music and even a fireworks display, Attended by over 40,000 people last year. Buncrana, County Donegal, July
  • Ballyshannon Folk & Traditional Music Festival: Street entertainment and musicians from Continental Europe. Some well-known Irish music stars have also played here. Ballyshannon, County Donegal, August