The Irish culture is one of the most liveliest and famous cultures in the world. It is famous because many of our ancestors left to avoid starvation during the famine years, the troubles during the Civil Rights War in the North of Ireland and to find work abroad during times of economic depressions. Even though our history has seen many troubles and turbulence we have always been associated with a love of music, dancing and storytelling. Perhaps it was a way to keep our spirits up during the hard times or simply because our ancestors passed this down from generation to generation. We would now like to share with you some of the aspects of our unique culture which are famous world-wide and those that we are very proud of. ..
Music
I honestly don’t know how we became so good at music and singing, maybe it is there was nothing else to do on the dark rainy nights, but it certainly is something the Irish are renowned for all over the world.
Many famous rock and pop bands and singers have come from Ireland – U2, Sinead O’Connor, The Corrs, Westlife, Boyzone, Ronan Keating, Van Morrison, Clannad, Enya and many more Internationally famous stars.
Traditional Irish Music
Traditional Irish Music is what sets us apart from many other cultures across the world. Many famous bands have had international hits such as The Dubliners, The Pogues, The Chieftans and the Fureys.
The unique sound of the harps, fiddles and bodhráns (traditional Irish drums), can be recognised world over as being music from Ireland. You will hear it most in our local bars and pubs and many ‘Irish’ pubs overseas. From the rebel songs to the lilting ballads, they are unmistakably Irish. The only challenge is to try to keep still when the music starts!
Dancing
As I said above, the challenge is to try to keep still when Irish music is being played! Just as there are many types of Traditional Irish Music, we have as many dances to go with them. Dances such as the Hornpipe, the Reel, the Jig etc will get your heart pumping – and that is just watching them being performed!
There are hundreds of Irish Dancing Schools around the world and most dancers start at the age of 3 or 4. Competitions are held throughout the year and each hopeful dancer wants to be the one to win the medal or the cup after all the very hard work, integrate costume making and design, hair patiently curled into tight ringlets and hours and years of practise. The Irish World Championships are the most coveted awards.
Irish Dancing became world famous with the highly acclaimed show ‘Riverdance’. If you have never see this show – book it as soon as it comes to your town – you will not regret it!
Story Telling
A long time ago, long before our Celtic ancestors even knew what reading and writing was, all stories were passed on orally from generation to generation. Some truths, some myths, but many of them still exist today. It has been a way of life for Irish people from the beginning of time. Perhaps this is why we are also famous for our many actors poets and book writers today.
International actors such as Pierce Brosnan, Colin Farrell and Richard Harris (‘Dumbledore’ in Harry Potter) have made many movies – but did you know they were all Irish?
Did you also know that the poets/writers William Butler Yeats, Oscar Wild, Jonathan Swift, James Joyce and Samuel Beckett all came from Ireland?
AND… the most famous vampire of all…Count Dracula…was first invented and written by Bram Stoker…in the heart of Dublin, Ireland.
Music, Dance and Story Telling is very much part of our Irish Culture. We have many more things to tell you…visit us again over the next few months for more stories and ‘craic’ !