Irish Folk · Genres
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What is irish folk?

Irish folk is the traditional music from the island of Ireland. Irish folk includes anything as old as the 17th century or older and more recent trends, including jigs, reels, "drinking music", and rebel music.

About irish folk

Common instruments include fiddle, accordion/concertina, tin whistle/flute, guitar, banjo, mandolin, octave mandolin and Irish bouzouki.

From Last.fm, where 4,415 listeners have tagged music as irish folk.

Artists to start with

  1. The Dubliners
  2. Fiddler's Green
  3. The Irish Rovers
  4. The Wolfe Tones
  5. Mary O'Hara
  6. The Chieftains
  7. Gaelic Storm
  8. The Clancy Brothers
  9. Luke Kelly
  10. Shamrock

Albums to hear first

  • The High Kings by The High KingsThe High KingsThe High Kings
  • Drive me Mad! by Fiddler's GreenDrive me Mad!Fiddler's Green
  • Drunken Sailor by The Irish RoversDrunken SailorThe Irish Rovers
  • Let The People Sing by The Wolfe TonesLet The People SingThe Wolfe Tones
  • Spirit of the Irish by The DublinersSpirit of the IrishThe Dubliners
  • The Best Of The Dubliners by The DublinersThe Best Of The DublinersThe Dubliners
  • Another Round by The Irish RoversAnother RoundThe Irish Rovers
  • Solas by SolasSolasSolas

Irish Folk songs

  1. Tell Me Ma by Gaelic Storm
  2. Foggy Dew by The Young Dubliners
  3. I'll Tell Me Ma by The Young Dubliners
  4. Drink The Night Away by Gaelic Storm
  5. Come Out Ye Black And Tans by The Wolfe Tones
  6. Whiskey in the Jar by The Dubliners
  7. Up Among The Heather by The Irish Rovers
  8. Lisdoonvarna by Christy Moore
  9. Seven Drunken Nights by The Dubliners
  10. The night Pat Murphy died by Fiddler's Green

Irish Folk on Risocast

  • The Boys Are Back In Town by The High KingsThe Boys Are Back In TownThe High Kings · 2017

Neighbouring genres

In the folk & country family. All genres

countryamericanabluegrassalt-countrycountry rockcountry popchamber folkacoustic rockavant-folkdark folkapocalyptic folkcontemporary folk

Questions

What is irish folk?
Irish folk is the traditional music from the island of Ireland. Irish folk includes anything as old as the 17th century or older and more recent trends, including jigs, reels, "drinking music", and rebel music. Common instruments include fiddle, accordion/concertina, tin whistle/flute, guitar, banjo, mandolin, octave mandolin and Irish bouzouki.
Who are the best-known irish folk artists?
By Last.fm listening: The Dubliners, Fiddler's Green, The Irish Rovers, The Wolfe Tones, Mary O'Hara and The Chieftains.
What genres are similar to irish folk?
On Risocast it sits with country, americana, bluegrass, alt-country, country rock and country pop.

Risocast is free. Install it once and it logs everything you play.

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Updated 6 October 2026

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