Irish folk music

Irish folk music, like other folk music, originated as the music of peasants, commoners. Irish folk music relieved their boredom and brought some variety into their hard life. The songs usually accompanied different rituals that came from ancient times.

Irish folk music is a great part of Emerald Islands legacy. Irish folk music has dozens of various topics and thousands of melodies. Lullabies, drinking, wedding songs… not to mention the songs and music that were played during the dances. Irish folk music can be any kind – from quiet, sad melodies to cheerful, precise rhythms.

Irish folk music is very charming and quite original. This originality mostly comes from music instruments that are used in the performance. Irish folk music instruments are flutes, violins, whistles, harps and local species of bagpipes and bodrans (Irish tambourines). Composers create wonderful melodies with the help of these music instruments; melodies that have such fast and inspiring rhythms that your whole body starts swaying to the beat all by itself.

Irish folk music is also a reminder. Not just about the way of life of common people, but also about difficulties that Irish had to overcome in order to preserve their culture. During the time of the British colonization the persecution of Irish culture was greater than ever before. Teaching and studying Irish music and dances was strictly forbidden, but so people studied it secretly, teaching one another the steps and tunes. Thanks to that kind of behavior of Emerald Island inhabitants, Irish folk music was saved, and nowadays nobody can prevent us to enjoy these breathtaking tunes that take us away into the mystic maelstrom of Celtic melodies.

 If you are interested in Irish folk music, then you should visit these sites: