When my wife and I were in Ireland last Fall we had an opportunity to hear some sessions and on one occasion a group performing in a Restaurant/Pub atmosphere in Dublin. The group included some of the songs included in this thread without identifying those that were, or those that were not written in Ireland by Irish composers. I suspect the reason for this is the group plays to tourists who expect to hear those songs. Another reason is, many of them are good songs!

I don't think for a minute Kevin started this thread because any bias against the Irish. Why would he, he's Irish?

I question, though, if it is important whether or not the song was actually composed by a Irish composer born and bred in Ireland. The subject matter of the songs is Ireland or the Irish way of life, and that, it seems to me, is the most important consideration.

Some of you perform regularly, and I'm sure you tire of performing certain songs, even grow to hate them, as demonstrated by several posters who put the Unicorn Song in this category. That begs the question, though, whether the role of the performer is to perform what the paying public wants to hear, or perform only those songs the performer wants to sing or play.

Thread creep, I know, and Kevin I apologize. I cannot offer any songs for the thread.

DougR