The best Irish drinking songs aren’t just tunes—they’re a raucous, heart-thumping part of the culture. They echo through dimly lit pubs, fuel late-night singalongs, and bind strangers together in a chorus that feels as old as the land itself.
Some Irish pub songs tell of lost love and hard times, others are packed with mischief, but all share that unmistakable Irish knack for storytelling.
Whether you’re raising a glass in celebration or drowning a sorrow or two, these Irish bar songs aren’t just background music—they’re the soundtrack to an unforgettable night.
The best Irish drinking songs
Now, some of these Irish drinking songs are modern so, if you’re looking for old-school trad, hop into my guide to the best Irish rebel songs!
Below, you’ll find everything from old-school tunes that tell stories of politics and battle to modern day hits that’ll get even the most boring of parties hoppin’.
1. Seven Drunken Nights
One of the more raucous Irish drinking songs made famous by The Dubliners, Seven Drunken Nights follows a gullible drunkard stumbling home to increasingly suspicious sights—each met with an absurd excuse from his wife.
Banned from Irish radio yet soaring to No. 1 in Ireland, its mix of humour, mischief, and folk tradition has kept pub crowds roaring for generations.
Related read: Check out my guide to 35 of the best Irish songs of all time
2. The Fields of Athenry
A mournful yet defiant ballad, The Fields of Athenry tells the tale of a man exiled to Australia for stealing food to feed his starving family during the Great Famine.
Written by Pete St. John in 1979, it has since become an anthem of resilience, belted out in pubs, stadiums, and solemn gatherings alike.
3. The Parting Glass
A timeless farewell ballad, The Parting Glass has long echoed through gatherings, offering a poignant toast to friendship and the passage of time.
Originally Scottish but embraced in Ireland, its wistful melody and heartfelt lyrics have made it a staple at wakes, celebrations, and the quiet moments in between.
4. On Raglan Road
A haunting ballad of love and loss, On Raglan Road began as a poem by Patrick Kavanagh, reflecting on an ill-fated romance with a younger woman.
Set to the traditional tune The Dawning of the Day and immortaliSed by Luke Kelly, its melancholic beauty has made it one of Ireland’s most cherished songs and it features plenty of traditional Irish instruments.
5. Fisherman’s Blues
A folk-rock anthem of longing and freedom, Fisherman’s Blues by The Waterboys is one of those one of those rare Irish bar songs that blends Irish traditional music with raw, poetic lyricism.
Released in 1988, its soaring fiddle and heartfelt vocals capture the restless spirit of a man yearning for a life shaped by the tides, not the clock. This one featured in two brilliant movies: ‘Good Will Hunting’ and ‘Waking Ned’ (one of the best Irish films every made!)
6. Galway Girl
A lively folk anthem with an irresistible melody, Galway Girl was penned by Steve Earle and tells the tale of a fleeting but unforgettable romance in Galway.
With its infectious energy and singalong charm, the song became a modern Irish classic, cemented by Mundy and Sharon Shannon’s chart-topping cover. This is one of several Irish pub songs that tends to get played at most Irish trad nights, for good reason!
7. N17 – The Saw Doctors
If you’ve never heard of the next of our Irish bar songs, you’re in for a treat. N17 is one of The Saw Doctors’ most iconic songs, a bittersweet anthem about Irish emigration and longing for home.
Released in 1989 and re-released in 1990, it tells the story of an emigrant reminiscing about driving along the N17, the road connecting Galway, Tuam, and Sligo.
8. Linger
Linger is one of The Cranberries’ most iconic songs, released in 1993 as the second single from their debut album Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?, the song blends alternative rock with orchestral elements, featuring a lush string arrangement.
The lyrics tell a story of regret and heartbreak, inspired by O’Riordan’s own experience with a teenage romance. If you’re in search of catchy, upbeat Irish pubs songs, look no further than this one.
9. The Auld Triangle
The Auld Triangle is another traditional Irish pub song with a good tale behind it. This tune began its life in a play called ‘The Quare Fellow’, by playwright Brendan Behan, that tells the story of life in one of Ireland’s biggest prisons – Mountjoy.
The story goes that the song’s triangle refers to the triangle in the prison that was used to wake inmates in the morning.
10. This Is
It always surprises me how few people from outside of Europe are familiar with Dublin’s Aslan. Although, it probably shouldn’t be too surprising considering that much of their success was in the UK and Ireland.
This Is is a song that’s packed with power and emotion. Aslan have been around since the early 80s and this song featured on ‘Feel No Shame’, one of six studio albums released by the band.
11. Grace
Grace is another of the best Iris drinking songs that tends to ignite a bit of singsong. Now, unlike the other Irish bar songs above, this is a sorrowful tune about heartbreak.
‘Grace’ was written by Frank and Seán O’Meara about a woman named Grace Evelyn Gifford Plunkett and her husband-to-be, Joseph Plunkett (one of the leaders of the Easter Rising). The pair wed in Kilmainham Gaol a couple of hours prior to his execution.
12. Whiskey in the Jar
‘Whiskey in the Jar‘ is one of the better known of the many Irish drinking songs that tends to make it onto the track list of many trad sessions, both in Ireland and overseas.
The story from the song is set in the Cork and Kerry mountains and it tells the tale of a highwayman who has suffered a betrayal from his lover. A fine tune to accompany your glass of Irish whiskey.
13. Zombie
Zombie, interestingly enough, has only recently hit 1 billion plays on YouTube and is only one of five (at the time of writing) songs from the 90s to do so! ‘Zombie’ was written in response to the 1993 IRA bombing in Warrington in England.
Dolores O’Riordan, the band’s lead singer, was said to have been outraged when she saw what had happened on the news. Expect plenty of drums and bass from this powerful Irish tune.
14. Crazy World
The second of the Irish pub songs from Aslan in this article is the brilliant ‘Crazy World‘. It was a hit from their widely celebrated ‘Goodby Charlie Moonhead’ album, which hit shelves in 1993.
It’s hard not to love this one and it’s an easy listen for first time listeners!
15. The Rocky Road to Dublin
The Rocky Road to Dublin is one of the more popular Irish drinking songs among those that have visited, as many tend to have heard it played at traditional Irish music sessions during their time in Ireland.
‘The Rocky Road to Dublin’ is a 19th-century song that was written by D. K. Gavan and that tells the tale of the adventures and troubles that a man travelling to Liverpool from his home in Ireland encounters on his travels.
16. The Irish Rover
From one rowdy tune to another. Next up is the Irish Rover, a powerful song that tells the story of a big aul ship with 27 masts that comes to an unfortunate end.
If you hop into YouTube and search for this one, you’ll find a never ending number of covers, both new and old. I’ve popped in one above featuring the Pogues and the Dubliners. Give it a listen!
17. I’m Shipping Up To Boston
I’m Shipping up to Boston is a lively Irish-American punk song by the Dropkick Murphys.
The original version of the song was released in 2004, but it wasn’t until 2006 that it shot to fame after it was used in the movie ‘the Departed’.
Irish pub songs playlist
If you’re looking for a playlist that’s wedged with many of the best Irish drinking songs, check out this one on Spotify or this one on YouTube.
You’ll find many of the tunes above along with plenty more new and old Irish bar songs.
What Irish bar songs have we missed?
Photos via The Crosskeys Inn on FB
I’ve no doubt that I’ve unintentionally left out some of the best Irish pub songs from the guide above.
If you have a place that you’d like to recommend, let me know in the comments below and I’ll check it out!
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent much of the last 13 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 40 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.