I'm sorry if I'm coming in on a very negative thread; I'm reacting to the responses more than to your original query. This appears to be more an Irish-American song circle than native Irish, not that I would wish to create any artificial distinctions. "The Shoals of Herring" is, as you say, a great song, however it is not Irish, it is about the traditional English herring fishing industry. "Three Score and Ten", another lovely song mentioned, is again a song about an English fishing disaster. "Dirty old Town" is a song about a run down English industrial city. It has powerful imagery which could apply to a similar situation In Ireland or the U.S.A., however it is not an Irish song. "Danny Boy" has been adopted as the quintessential Irish song by people of Irish descent but as has been discussed in detail in previous correspondence on this forum, the lyrics were written by an Englishman. Some of the above songs were popularised by the "Clancy Brothers" and so people have come to think of them as being typically Irish songs. You mention the "Wild Irish Rover"; I don't know any song of that name, but if you mean the "Wild Rover" please don't sing that song if you come to Ireland as the only place you'll here it is in tourist traps. I cannot be objective about that song, I don't know if it's Irish or not but it's definately the number one in the top ten of the more tacky side of the Irish tourist "industry". You mentioned Delores Keegen, I think that should be Dolores Keane; she is a terrific singer and has some really beautiful songs on her many recordings. Try and source some out. I apologise if I'm not more constructive in my suggestions, there is a huge selection of really strong Irish songs to select from but they are not to be found in the compilation albums "Favourite Irish Songs" etc. found in the tourist shops.