The Fiddler The fiddle was especially popular with the poor and many of them learned to play by ear.
A Famine Song The Famine became the inspiration for many local poems and songs. This is an example of a contemporary farm labourer’s song.
The Harp That Once The poet, Thomas Moore, wrote hundreds of Irish ballads such as this and put them to existing times. This one was very popular.
Music at Home For the wealthy a piano was a popular item of furniture and sons and daughters were given music instruction so that they could entertain ...
Dancing the polka During the 1840s a new European dance, the Polka, became very popular among society’s upper classes. These ladies and gentlemen are ...
Dancing at a fair Fairs allowed local people to enjoy themselves. Music was often provided by a fiddle player and dancing was popular throughout Ireland.
Ballad Singers Ballad singers were to be found in most towns. They learned the popular songs of the day and provided entertainment for their neighbours.
Dancing in the Kitchen Rural dwellers were keen on ‘home entertainment’. They often visited each other’s houses to tell stories and dance to fiddle music. The ...
Funeral Hymn At many Presbyterian funerals congregations regularly sang Abide with Me. It was written in September, 1847 and quickly became very popular.
Voyage to America This Illustrated London News sketch shows emigrants dancing below deck on their voyage to America. The music was provided by the fiddle ...