The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #152718   Message #3572352
Posted By: 4ADiva
02-Nov-13 - 11:06 PM
Thread Name: Need input from Irish on Christmas songs
Subject: Need input from Irish on Christmas songs
I'm singing at an Irish Christmas event here in Canada (I'm not Irish or of Irish background). I've been trying to find some Irish Christmas songs to perform and am finding that many "Irish" or "Celtic" Christmas CDs feature the standard carols. I'm happy to sing those, but the event is geared toward Irish ex-pats and I'd really like to present music that would remind them of Christmas back home. So this is less of a scholarly debate about "real" Irish music than a question about what people in Ireland listen to at Christmas.
What I'd like is input from Mudcatters in Ireland or those from Ireland as to what they like to hear at Christmas.

I have the Wexford Carol.

Some of the others I'm considering are:

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
I Saw Three Ships
Silent Night
The First Noel
What Child is This?
Deck the Halls
Angels We Have Heard on High
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
The Coventry Carol (Lullee, Lullay) (I know--Coventry is in England!)

Would any of these be offensive or just not suitable?

Christmas in Killarney makes me cringe a bit (it seems a bit stereotypical) but I'm willing to consider it if it's actually a popular song.

Also, I sing Danny Boy and How are Things in Glocca Morra?
Neither of which are Christmas songs but wondering if they would be appropriate for an ex-pat audience.
Is Danny Boy really close to Irish hearts or considered too schmaltzy? Would Irish people be offended if someone non-Irish sang it?
Is Glocca Morra pooh-poohed as an American song?

I'll be the only ballad singer at the event, though there will be an band doing up-tempo Irish songs and tunes.

Thank you so much for your input and suggestions!