Our 10 most viewed songs for St Patrick’s Day

There’s nothing like St Patrick’s Day to get singers and musicians dusting off their repertoire of Irish songs in readiness for the concerts and get-togethers held all over the world.

This year was no exception. Thousands of you visited our site in the week running up to the big day to get some background information on your favourite Irish tunes, or learn the lyrics and chords of standard Irish songs.

Others just wanted to watch the videos.

Connect with your Irish heritage

It was fascinating for us to see which songs got the most hits because it gives a good indication of which are your favourites, and which are the ones you turn to when you most want to connect to your Irish heritage.

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Time to sing the praises of Irish scientists

John Philip Holland

Ask most people what they think are Ireland’s greatest contributions to the world and they would probably come up with suggestions such as great music, great writers and, of course, great craic and hospitality.

It’s unlikely that scientists would be high on the list, which is a shame because Ireland has had more than its fair share of great inventors and innovators who have made a huge contribution to the world.

Irish men and women who have achieved greatness

We’ve decided that from time to time we’ll take a break from music and introduce features celebrating Irish men and women who’ve achieved greatness in their field.

Over the coming months we’ll look at great Irish writers, sports stars, artists and many more…but we’ll start with scientists.

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How Ralph McTell twisted my fingers

I once had a bruising encounter with the legendary folk singer Ralph McTell.

Ralph McTell

Ralph is a peaceful man but he twisted my fingers all over the place - all because of his classic song, The Streets of London.

Ralph accompanies the song by picking out the melody on the guitar.

Ralph McTell playing Streets of London

Learning to play Streets of London

When I was 16, I was really taken by the accompaniment and set myself the task of learning how to play it exactly as it sounded on the record.

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Online social forum for Irish traditional musicians

Tony Lawless is the founder of TradConnect which aims to connect musicians from all over the world who like to play Irish music.

Connection has always been at the heart of music. Be it between the musician and the tune or the listener and the music. Irish music in particular has at its very heart the idea of connection. Players coming together, the format of sessions, emigrants finding a sense of home in the music.

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Now even polar bears are claiming to be Irish

Slainte. Granny was Irish

Well, we’ve got used to American presidents claiming to have Irish ancestry, especially when there’s an election round the corner.

And, of course, everyone is Irish on St Patrick’s Day.

Dublin wouldn’t be Dublin without an army of people from all over the world sampling a taste of the old country, especially the Guinness.

Yes, everyone wants to be Irish these days, including it seems – polar bears.

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