Music Monday: Back to My Irish Roots

Blogging, family, happiness, lessons learned, music 1 Minute

I have to give credit to a blogging friend for making me aware of one of the best songs I have heard this year. Mind you, it’s not s new song, but this was the first time I heard it.

Clive is from England, and every Tuesday he posts Tuesday Tunes, and for me, it’s been a weekly music lesson. Clive and I are about the same age, but he was way ahead of me getting into music, and he is a walking encyclopedia of music. I highly recommend his web site.

Anyway, one of the songs he posted that really caught my attention was Galway Girl. The video shown below is performed by Irish musicians Sharon Shannon and Mundy. The song was written and originally performed by Steve Earle (who also has an outstanding version of the song on YouTube).

But it’s hard not to have a smile on your face while watching this version, performed live in Galway:

That song made me want to include one more Irish song, and after much searching, I came across a cover of the great U2 song, With or Without You, performed by the Irish band, Celtic Crossroads. The singer/harp player is Lisa Canny, and she has an incredible voice…

Listening to this music makes me proud of my Irish roots…

*image from Celtic Life International

Published by Jim Borden

A 60-something guy trying to figure out the world, and his place in it. Happily married for 40-plus years, three wonderful sons. Accounting teacher, fitness enthusiast, blogger, reader.

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43 thoughts on “Music Monday: Back to My Irish Roots”

  4. That is a fantastic street celebration in the first video. Ah, those pre-pandemic days. You are right to be proud of Irish music and your heritage. But here’s the real test – If you can dance to Irish music I’ll be really impressed. 😄

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  5. I’m a big fan of Clive’s Tuesday Tunes. He puts a lot of thought into his selections, and he always seems to come up with those little known facts that are fun to learn.

    My mom’s side is Irish (Haggerty), so I like that connection too. Great post, Jim!

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  8. I love Irish music too. Friends of mine are in an Irish band. They sing The Galway Girl, and many others of course. But Van Morrison is my favourite, though he’s from Belfast, as is my Hub.

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  9. Many thanks for the plug, Jim – that probably explains the 25 visits from the US that hit my blog while I was asleep! I’d not heard that version of the U2 song, and you’re right: it’s lovely and she has a wonderful voice. Great song too, from the days before Bono began believing his own hype 😉

    If you’re exploring Irish roots, do you know of Paul Brady or Christy Moore – both well worth a look. I’m assuming you’ve already come across the likes of Van Morrison, Clannad and Enya. So much good music has come out of Ireland. A favourite of mine is the version of Man Of Constant Sorrow that Sharon Shannon did with Jackson Browne: it’s beautiful.

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      1. They are both singer-songwriters who have had long careers, but two very different voices though! I saw Paul Brady when he was just beginning: part of a band called The Johnstons who were the support act for the English folk-rock band Steeleye Span, early 1972 I think.

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      3. I guess you know me well. I’d bought their debut album, which was a nice folkie thing, a bit like Peter, Paul and Mary. It was a real bonus getting them as the support act.

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