150 Irish fiddle recordings.
In this 100 Irish fiddle recordings article I have included albums I listened to most. Albums as there were once known! There has been so many formats of music releases, recordings may be more appropriate term. A majority of the earlier recordings this list would have been originally released on vinyl disc. Also included are links to interviews, articles and where to purchase these recordings. Observe the release dates to see where irish solo fiddle recording was going commercially.
Listening to music is a huge part of learning it and that is especially true with Irish music. I also tried to vary the list by including solo, duets and others. I also chose not to include too many albums by one artist for variety. I couldn’t include all my preferred choice of albums(but this is most!) so this list is limited but may be amended to include more than 100 in a later edition of this post. This list is in no particular order and of course all these recordings are recommended listening. I hope you get as much enjoyment from this list as I did compiling it.
Michael-Coleman-1891-1945
Michael Coleman (link)1891-1945 Ireland’s most influential traditional musician of the 20th century. Released 1992 by Harry Bradshaw.
Sean Keane – Gustys Frolics. Released 1975. Link
Tommy Peoples– Link(with Paul Brady) – ‘The High Part of the Road‘. Released 1976.
Frankie Gavin (link)- Frankie Gavin & Alec Finn. Released 1977.
Kevin Burke – ‘In Concert’ Released 1999. Link
Frankie Gavin – Fierce Traditional. Released 2001. Link
Maeve Donnelly‘Maeve Donnelly’ – Maeve Donnelly(link) released 2002.
Sean Keane – Jig it in style. Released 1990. Link
The Atlantic Roar-Paul Bradley. Link
Released 1998. Paul is also a fiddle maker.
Vincent Griffin – Traditional music from county Clare. Released 1977.
Kevin Burke with Michael O Domhnaill (link)- Promenade. Released 1979.
Mick Queally – The Trip over the Mountain. With Cyril O Donoghue.(photo unavailable)
Hugh Gillespie – Classic recordings of Irish Traditional Music. Released 1992. Link.
James Morrison (link)- The Pure Genius of James Morrison. Released 1991.
Michael Coleman (link)- The Enduring Magic. Released 2004. Link.
Paddy Killoran ‘Back to town’. Released 1977.
John Doherty– (link)The Floating Bow. Released 1996. Link.
In-full-spate-paddy-glackin
Paddy Glackin – (link) In Full Spate. Released 1991.
Kevin Burke
If the Cap Fits – Kevin Burke. Released 1978.
www.kevinburke.com
Sean-Maguire-man-of-achievement
Sean Maguire (link)- Man of Achievement. Released 1988.
sean maguire
60 years of Sean Maguire, released 1988. Not original album image.
remember-Des-Donnelly
Des Donnelly -Link(Uncle of fiddler Dezi Donnelly)Remember Des Donnelly. Released 2012.
Shane Meehan ‘Twill do’
The-wind-that-shakes-the-barley-jim-mckillop
Jim McKillop – The Wind that Shakes the Barley. Released 1976
Brid Harper
Brid Harper – Brid Harper.(link) Released 2015.
Kevin-Burke-up-close
Kevin Burke Up Close. Released 1984.
Liz-Carroll-a-Friend-indeed
Liz Carroll (Link) – A Friend Indeed. Released 1979. Reissued 1995.
Seamus-connolly-here-and-there
Seamus Connolly(article) – Here and There. Released 1989.
Matt-Crannitch-Eistigh-seal
Matt Crannitch,(link) Eistigh Seal. Released 2009
Sean-Keane
Sean Keane (link)- ‘Sean Keane’ (Ogham label) Released 1980.
Cathal-hayden-handed-down
Cathal Hayden (link)- Handed Down. Released 1988.
Frankie-gavin-frankie-goes-to-town
Frankie Gavin (link)- Frankie goes to Town. Released 1991.
james-Kelly-the-ring-sessions.
James Kelly (Link)- The Ring Sessions. Released 2003.
Ciaran Tourish
Ciaran Tourish – ‘Down the Line‘ Released 2005.
Tommy Peoples
Tommy Peoples (Link)- Waiting for a Call – Released 2013.
Andy McGann & Paddy Reynolds
Andy McGann (article)& Paddy Reynolds – Traditional Music of Ireland. Released 1976 reissued 1994.
David Doocey ‘Changing Time’
Brendan-McGlinchey-music-of-a-champion
Brendan McGlinchey(article) – Music of a Champion. Released 1974.
Glackin
Paddy Glackin (Link)- Glackin. Released 1977. Reissued on CD.
Liz Carroll
Liz Carroll – Lost in the Loop. Released 2000. www.lizcarroll.com
Seamus Sands
‘Across Bridges‘ (link)- Seamus Sands. Released 2015.
Martin-Mulvihill-The-Flax-in-bloom
Martin Mullvihill (link)- The Flax in Bloom. Released in 1979.
Tommie-Potts
Tommie Potts (link)(Alternative 1st name spelling of Tommy) Traditional Fiddle Music from Dublin. Released 2012 RTE.
Sean-Smyth-The-Blue-Fiddle
Sean Smyth – The Blue Fiddle. Sean Smyth is a member of irish group Lunasa. Released 1993.
An Fidil
‘An Fhidil sraith II’ A fiddle compilation album featuring none other than, Sean Keane, Paddy Glackin, Kevin Burke & Seamus Creagh.
Martin-Hayes
Martin Hayes – Martin Hayes.(link)Released 1992.
Emma O Leary ‘Mo Cheantar Fein’ Link
Neillidh Boyle
Neillidh Boyle – A Feeling in the Blood. Released 2011.
Purchase Link on 3 CD’s.
Bobby-Casey-Taking-flight
Bobby Casey (link)- Taking flight, released
Brian-Conway-‘First through the gate’ Purchase Link Released 2002.
Capel Street
James Kelly-(link) Capel street. Photo not album cover. Released possibly 1986
Ceol An Clair – Released purchase link
Ceol An Clair – The Music of Clare. Bobby Casey, Junior Crehan, John Kelly. Patrick Kelly, Joe Ryan.
John-Carty-and-Brian-rooney-at-complete-ease
John Carty & Brian Rooney
Dezi Donnelly – Familiar Footsteps. Released 1999
Brian Rooney(cd Link) – From Leitrim to London. Released 2002
Jesse Smith – ‘Jigs & Reels’ Released 2002.
Liz and Yvonne Kane – The Well Tempered Bow. Released 2002.
Purchase Link
Tommy Peoples
Tommy Peoples (link)- An Exciting with One of Ireland Leading Traditional Fiddlers. Released C.C.E. 1976.
Last-Nights-Fun
John Carty – Last Nights Fun.
Martin & P.J.Hayes (link)- The Shores of Lough Graney. Released 1990. Reissued 2011.
Liz Carroll – Liz Carroll(Green Linnett) Released 1993. Link.
Diarmuid O Brien – ‘Cairde Cairdin’. Released 2007. Link.
McDara O Raghallaigh -(link) Ego Trip. Released 2011 Link.
It’s a Hard Road to Travel
Andy McGann(with Paul Brady) – ‘It’s a Hard Road to Travel’. Released 1977.
The-Green-Branch
Oisin mc Diarmada (link)- The Green Branch. Released 2015. Link.
Setting-Free
Tola Custy & Cyril O Donoghue Setting free. Released 1994 Link.
Clare-egan-Turing-tides
Claire Egan (link)- Turning Tides. Released 2015.
Martin-Byrnes-Masters-of-irish-music
Martin Byrnes (link)- Released in 1969. Reissued on CD.
Paddy Cronin
Paddy Cronin (link)- Kerry’s Own. Released 1977.
With-A-Lot-Of-Help-From-Their-Friends
Mary Custy & Eoin O Neill – ‘With a Lot of Help from Their Friends.’
Martin Byrnes – ‘The Inimitable Martin Byrnes’ – Released 2022 Link
Charlie Lennnon (link) – The Emigrants Suite. (Featuring Frankie Gavin Released 1985. Link.
Oisin McAuley – ‘Far from the Hills of Donegal’. Released 2007. Fiddler player with Irish group – Danu.
Tommy Potts (link)- ‘The Liffey Banks’. Released 1972. Link.
Patrick Mangan (link)- Farewell to Ireland. Released 2003
Josephine Keegan (link)- ‘Reels, Jigs, Hornpipes & Airs’. Released 1980. A formidable fiddle player and tune composer. Accompanied Sean McGuire on a number of his recordings.
Bits n’Pieces.
Donal McCague – ‘Bits & Pieces’. Released 2012
Gerry-O-Connor-Journeyman
Gerry O Connor -(link) Journeyman. Released 2007
Martin-hayes-live-in-seattle
Martin Hayes (link)- Live in Seattle. Released 1999
Aidan Connolly The Portland Bow. Released 2021 Link.
Kathleen Collins
Kathleen Collins – ‘Traditional Music of Ireland’. Released 1976
Michelle-O-Brien-The-Wishing-Well
Michelle O Brien (& Laoise Kelly) – (link)The Wishing Well. Released 2015.
John Dwyer -‘ The Dursey Sound’ Link
Maurice -Lennon-The-little-ones
Maurice Lennon – The Little Ones. released 2013. www.mauricelennon.com
Maire O Keeffe
Maire O Keefe (link)- House Party. Released 1998.
Padraid-O-Keefe-the-sliabh-luachra-fiddle-master
Padraig O Keeffe (link)- Sliabh Luachra Fiddle Master.
Milestone-at-the-garden
Milestone at the Garden buy(link) – Various including Michael Coleman & James Morrison.
An Fhidil Sraith I
‘An Fhidil sraith I’. Various young fiddlers including performances by Seamus Glackin, Martin Hayes, Maurice Lennon, Sean Montgomery and Seamus Thompson.
The-Godfather
Brian Rooney (link)- The Godfather. Released 1999
kevin-and-seamus-glackin-nothern-lights
Kevin & Seamus Glackin – Northern Lights, released 1988.
Fergal Scahill
Fergal Scahill – ‘The Dusty Bridge’(link), released 2008.
Declan Folan Skin & Bow
Declan Folan – ‘Skin & Bow’. Released 1996 Link
The Road to Glenlough
James Byrne – The Road to Glenlough. Released 1995. Link.
Traditional Fiddle Music from Donegal
The Brass Fiddle(fiddle music from Donegal) Francis Byrne, James Byrne, Vincent Campbell, Con Cassidy. Link.
Kevin Burke
Kevin Burke (link)- In Concert. Released 1999.
Seamus & Manus McGuire
Seamus & Manus Maguire – The Humours of Lissadell(Released 1980) Link.
The Apple in Winter
Brian Conway (link)& Tony DeMarco(link) – The Apple in Winter. Released 1980. Link.
Within-a-mile-of-kitty
Within A Mile of Kitty (link)- Brian Rooney, Charlie Lennon, Ben Lennon. Released 2005.
Denis-murphy-the-star-above-the-garter
Denis Murphy (link)- The Star Above the Garter
Ciaran O Maonigh – Ceol A Ghleanna
Ciaran O Maonigh (link)- Ceol A Ghleanna (Music of the Glen) Released 2004. Link.
mick-Connelly-Selkie
Mick Conneely (link)- Selkie. Released 2001. Link.
Carousel-Seamus-and-manus-mcguire
Carousel – Seamus & Manus McGuire. Released 1984. Link.
Randal-Bays-the-Salmons-leap
Randal Bays (link)- The Salmon’s Leap. Released 2000.
ben-lennon-and-friends-the-natural-bridge
Ben Lennon (link)& Friends – ‘The Natural Bridge’.Released 1999.
My Love is in America
‘My Love is In America‘(link) Various Artists. Released 1991. Featuring performances from Seamus Connolly, Andy McGann, Liz Carroll, Kevin Burke etc.