The Jambar

Ireland — home to over five million Hibernians. Each year, the world celebrates Ireland’s patron St. Patrick on March 17. Ireland has produced a number of fantastic authors, artists and of course, musicians. 

Irish music is deeply rooted in the Celtic folk style, though many solo musicians and bands have broken through in unexpected ways. 

The first Irish band to make international headways was The Royal Showband, a rock ‘n’ roll band that first appeared in Waterford, in 1958. They scored five number-one hits in their homeland and paved the way for their fellow countrymen in the international music scene.

Van Morrison and Them followed shortly thereafter. Hailing from Belfast, this northern group scored a massive hit with “Gloria” in 1965 and allowed for Van Morrison’s seamless transition from frontman to solo artist. His hits, “Brown Eyed Girl,” “Into the Mystic,” “Domino” and “Wild Night,” have gained considerable airplay and acclaim from critics and fans alike. 

Guitar legend Rory Gallagher appeared in 1966 with his band Taste. The Cork natives had significant influence over the late-1960s blues rock scene, setting the stage for future guitar legends such as Brian May and Eric Clapton, who credited Gallagher as one of many blues rock revivalists. 

Three years after Taste, Thin Lizzy was founded in Dublin. Fronted by bassist and vocalist Phil Lynott, the group earned international recognition in 1976 with their hit songs “Jailbreak” and “The Boys Are Back In Town.” Despite being labeled a one-hit wonder in the U.S., a number of artists, including Robert Smith of The Cure, Guns N’ Roses and Metallica, have all praised Thin Lizzy for their blend of native Irish Celtic rock and hard-edged blues rock. 

The arrival of punk rock aligned with The Troubles in Ireland and long-fought independence from England. A number of influential bands emerged from the Irish punk scene. 

These bands include The Boomtown Rats, formed in Dublin and fronted by Live Aid founder Bob Geldof. Stiff Little Fingers appeared in 1977 in Belfast with “Alternative Ulster,” a highly influential punk track, as well as The Undertones from Derry, whose hit “Teenage Kicks” has left an impact on both punk and post-punk rock. 

Prior to their stadium-filling concerts, U2 was a Dublin punk cover band. Its debut album, “Boy,” was released in 1980 and brought the band considerable worldwide fame. U2 frontman Bono’s former neighbor and lifelong friend Gavin Friday founded Virgin Prunes. The band appeared on the gothic rock scene in 1982 with their hit tracks, “Pagan Lovesong” and “Baby Turns Blue.” 

On the Celtic rock front, the lesser-known In Tua Nua appeared in County Dublin in 1982, earning considerable airplay across the Irish front throughout the 1980s. 

By the late-‘80s, Ireland produced some of their finest artists. Dublin native Sinead O’Connor left her band Ton Ton Macoute in 1985 and released her internationally acclaimed debut album in 1987. The following year, fellow Dubliners My Bloody Valentine released their “Isn’t Anything,” followed up with the landmark shoegaze album “Loveless” in 1991. 

County Limerick’s The Cranberries broke through internationally in 1993 with their hits “Dreams,” “Linger” and “Zombie.” Following the death of vocalist Deloris O’Riordan in 2023, the band split and left a considerable mark on the ‘90s alternative rock scene.

Many fantastic musicians have emerged from Ireland, and any one of these artists would make a fantastic soundtrack for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.