Song suggestions needed for Trad nite at the pub

[kush06]

Hi folks,

I'm in Ireland for a few weeks for work and went to a traditional music night at a local pub with some friends last week. I was handed a guitar and ended up sitting in on a handful of songs with the players. It was awesome...really, really awesome! I pretty much just tried to keep up, but I guess they enjoyed having a non-local American guy sit in, and they invited me back for the next session.

It's expected that everyone brings at least one or two songs that they lead the group with. I'm completely clueless when it comes to this type of music, but I really enjoy it and want to come prepared this week. I'm wondering if anybody has some suggestions for some popular traditional Irish folks songs I could learn. Thanks in advance!

 

[Stardrake]

Some songs that most folk are likely to know:

Whiskey In The Jar
Finnegan's Wake
The Wild Rover
The Real Old Mountain Dew
Star of the County Down
Black Velvet Band
Brennan on The Moor
Rosin The Bow
A Jug Of Punch

And if the pub's up for Irish rebel songs...
Kevin Barry
Roddy McCorley
Four Green Fields
The Merry Ploughboy
The Rising of The Moon
A Nation Once Again
Patriot Game

There are hundreds more, of course.

A useful reference is SOODLUM'S IRISH BALLAD BOOK (Oak Publishing) which contains 158 songs--including all the songs on these lists.

I've sung "Finnegan's Wake" to good effect in a pub in Waterford.

I hope this helps!

 

[kush06]

That helps a bunch! Thank you!

 

[Stardrake]

Not a bit of it, me lad.

Us ballad-singers gotta stick together!