Interesting notes about some of the songs you’ll hear at the party:  

Connemara Ground:  This tells of the common occurrence during the mid-1800s when young Irish men and women left their beautiful homeland during the Great Famine in hopes of finding work (usually hard labor or menial work) in America.  There were just too many Irish immigrants, and what they often found were signs that said, “No Irish Need Apply.”

Join the British Army:  This is an Irish rebel song. The lyrics address concerns of a young man reconsidering the decisions that caused him to volunteer for the British army. From verse to verse, examples are given as to why the young man wants to leave the British Army. The song has circulated both inside and outside the army since Victorian times. Singers/Chanters would insert at appropriate points the names of those NCOs they disliked.

Weekend Irish:  A funny and cynical commentary about how everyone loves to act  like they’re related to someone Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.  “And the blood runs deep, when the booze is cheap.” The song is poking fun at all of us, but it’s so good that we love it anyway. One of many great songs performed by the group Barleyjuice.

An Irish Pub Song:  A hilarious satire on the business trend to create “Irish” pubs in countries outside of Ireland by copying stereotypical symbols to make people think they’re in an authentic Irish-style pub. The band uses a common phrase, “Whale! Oil! Beef! Hooked!” which, when spoken quickly, sounds exactly like “Well I’ll be fucked!”

Whiskey in the Jar: A centuries-old folk tale about an Irish criminal who robs an unpopular Englishman (Captain Farrell)—and then gets sent to jail after his woman, Jenny, betrays him.  This is probably the most frequently recorded of all Irish songs. The original version was more violent, but most versions of the song today end up like a lighthearted celebration of debauchery.  A fun sing-along refrain, too!

The Rocky Road to Dublin: A 19th century Irish song about a man’s adventures as he travels from his home in county Galway to Liverpool, England. Like Whiskey in the Jar, it has been recorded by many different groups over the years, including the Chieftains and The Rolling Stones. This speedy version is by The Young Dubliners, and the refrain is another fun sing-along.

Coffin Ship:  The vessels that carried Irish immigrants escaping the Great Irish Famine were nick-named Coffin ships. These ships were in poor condition, overloaded and overinsured, so they were more valuable to the owners if they were to sink! Coffin ships carrying emigrants, crowded and disease-ridden, with poor access to food and water, resulted in the deaths of many people as they crossed the Atlantic.

If you’d like a complete copy of the song list, just send an e-mail to me.