Our top ten most well-known Irish rebel songs
Across most of Ireland, rebel songs for the Irish cause have been written and sung for centuries. These days, in most parts of Ireland, they are not just a part of a political viewpoint, but part of a national identity.
Here, we count down the ten most well-known Irish rebel songs. Number three will have you in tears, and there’s a bonus song at the end.
10. The Broad Black Brimmer — a hat passed from father to son
Telling the story of a young man who inherits his late father’s volunteer cap, known as a broad black brimmer.
Learning about his father’s role in the struggle for Irish independence from his mother, the song evokes strong emotions. It’s this combination of family, heritage, sacrifice, and patriotism that has made it a favourite Irish rebel song to this day.
9. Go On Home British Soldiers — a Republican anthem during the Troubles
Few songs from the turbulent Troubles era are as instantly recognisable as ‘Go On Home British Soldiers’.
Calling for the withdrawal of British troops from Northern Ireland, it became popular among republican communities during the conflict. Its simple chorus means even people who don’t know all the words can usually join in, which has helped keep it popular to this day.
8. Kevin Barry — hung at just 18 years old
A very well-known Irish ballad about an 18-year-old Irish Volunteer executed in 1920 during the War of Independence.
The song tells the story of his capture, imprisonment, and his refusal to betray his comrades under interrogation. The powerful lyrics provoke strong emotions, and it remains a widely sung Irish rebel song to this day.
7. The Men Behind the Wire — from inside the prison walls
Written during the early years of the Troubles, ‘The Men Behind the Wire’ refers to internment without trial, introduced in Northern Ireland in 1971.
The song tells the story from the perspective of those imprisoned and quickly became popular among republican communities. Its catchy chorus and strong historical connections helped it become one of the defining songs of the era.
6. Seán South of Garryowen — guaranteed to get the pub singing
Commemorating Seán South, who was killed during the Brookeborough Raid in 1957. The song follows South and his comrades as they travel north on their mission, from which South never returned.
The words reflect on South’s death, and it has become one of the most widely recognised republican songs of the twentieth century.
5. The Rising of the Moon — from the Irish Rebellion of 1798
Telling the story of the Irish Rebellion of 1798, it follows rebels gathering secretly under the cover of darkness as they prepare to rise against British rule.
The song’s vivid storytelling and stirring chorus have helped it remain one of the most popular of Irish rebel songs.
4. A Nation Once Again — the defining song of Irish nationalism
One of the defining songs of Irish nationalism. The song expresses the hope that Ireland would once more become a free and independent nation.
Hugely popular during the nineteenth century, it remains one of the best-known patriotic songs ever written in Ireland.
3. Grace — you will need tissues for this one
If there’s one song on this list that can bring a room to silence, it’s ‘Grace’. A moving, true story of revolutionary Joseph Plunkett and his wife, Grace Gifford, who married in jail just hours before Plunkett was executed.
The combination of romance, tragedy, and historical significance has made the song one of Ireland’s most moving ballads.
2. The Foggy Dew — emotional and powerful
Few Irish songs capture the emotion of the Easter Rising quite like The Foggy Dew. Its powerful lyrics honour those who took part in the uprising and reflects on their sacrifice for Irish independence.
The song carries an emotional weight that has made it one of Ireland’s most beloved songs.
1. Come Out Ye Black and Tans — impossible not to join in with
One of the most famous Irish rebel songs ever written, it takes aim at the Black and Tans, a force recruited by Britain during the Irish War of Independence between 1919 and 1921.
The defiant song has a chorus that is almost impossible not to join in with. Even those who don’t know all the words can usually belt out the chorus after a couple of pints.
Bonus Track: Kelly The Boy from Killane — County Wexford’s unofficial anthem
While this song may not be as well-known across Ireland, in County Wexford, it would rank number one on our list.
The song celebrates John Kelly, one of the leaders of the 1798 Rebellion in County Wexford. It tells of his courage and determination in the fight against British rule and can be heard in pubs across Wexford.
Whether you love them for their history, their melodies, or simply because they’re great songs to sing with friends, these rebel ballads remain an important part of Ireland’s musical heritage. Love them or hate them, they are songs that almost everybody in Ireland knows.
