20 Best Irish Rebel Songs Ever Written (With Spotify Playlist)

Irish rebel songs are more than just music—they’re the echoes of Ireland’s long fight for freedom. From the defiant ballads of the 1798 Rising to the songs that captured the turmoil of the 20th century, these melodies have carried the voices of rebellion through the centuries, fuelling movements, inspiring resistance, and keeping the stories of the past alive. This guide dives into the very best of Irish rebel music—songs that stir the soul, challenge authority, and preserve Ireland’s history through music. Just want the playlist? You’ll find a Spotify playlist at the end!

The best Irish rebel songs

Irish rebel music generally, but not always, falls into the folk song category. It’s in these tunes that the singer describes factual events of the many rebellions against British rule in Ireland. Right – let’s dive on in!

1. Go On Home British Soldiers

‘Go on Home British Soldiers’ is one of the most recognisable Irish republican songs. Written by Tommy Skelly, it has been recorded by The Wolfe Tones and several others, cementing its place in the rebel song tradition. There’s no subtlety to this one—it’s a direct and unfiltered expression of resistance. The opening verse lays it out plainly: “Go on home British soldiers, go on home Have you got no f*****g homes of your own For 800 years we’ve fought you without fear And we will fight you for 800 more.” With its raw lyrics and defiant tone, this is one of the most famous old Irish rebel songs. You’ll still hear it sung at some traditional Irish sessions, keeping its legacy alive.

2. Grace

‘Grace’ is one of the most hauntingly beautiful Irish songs ever written. Penned in 1985, it tells the tragic story of Grace Evelyn Gifford Plunkett, an artist and committed Irish Republican. In 1916, as the dust settled on the Easter Rising, Grace married her fiancé, Joseph Plunkett, one of its leaders. Their wedding took place inside Kilmainham Gaol, under the shadow of his impending execution. Just hours later, he was led to the yard and shot by firing squad. This song captures the heartbreak of that moment in a way few others can. It stands as one of the most powerful pieces of Irish rebel music ever recorded, and the rendition above is one that will stay with you.

3. Come Out, Ye Black and Tans

‘Come Out, Ye Black and Tans‘ is a rebel anthem that tops many ‘Best Irish Rebel Songs of All Time’ lists. Written as a scathing response to British rule in Ireland, its lyrics pull no punches in calling out the brutality of the British Army. If you’ve never heard of the Black and Tans, they were British recruits brought into the Royal Irish Constabulary during the Irish War of Independence. Their reputation for violence was notorious—they carried out reprisal attacks, burned villages, and targeted civilians, leaving a lasting mark on Irish history. This song, made famous by The Wolfe Tones, is one of the most widely recognised Irish rebel tunes. Over the years, it has also cemented itself as one of the most popular Irish drinking songs, with its fiery chorus still belted out in pubs today.

4. The Boys of the Old Brigade

‘The Boys of the Old Brigade’ became one of the most famous Irish rebel songs in recent years after its appearence in Peaky Blinders (IRA member Maguire sang it to Thomas Shelby). Written by Paddy McGuigan, the song reflects on the Irish War of Independence, told from the perspective of an Easter Rising veteran reminiscing about the men and women he fought beside. It’s a song of pride, loss, and longing for a time when the struggle for Irish freedom was in full force. Like many Irish rebellion songs, ‘The Boys of the Old Brigade’ captures the spirit of a generation shaped by conflict. Songs like this were common in the years after the Rising, offering a glimpse into life before, during, and after 1916—preserving the memories of those who fought and fell.

5. Down by the Glenside

‘Down by the Glenside’ is one of several Irish war songs penned by Peadar Kearney, a composer and staunch Irish Republican. A member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, Kearney used music to keep the memory of Ireland’s freedom fighters alive. This song is a reflective and somber tribute, looking back on those who took up arms in past generations. Unlike more defiant rebel anthems, ‘Down by the Glenside’ carries a deep sense of reverence, mourning the sacrifices made while honouring the resilience of those who fought for Ireland’s freedom.

6. Arthur McBride

‘Arthur McBride’ is one of the many Irish revolution songs that push back against British military recruitment. It’s a sharp, rebellious ballad that protests the practice of pressing Irishmen into service for the British Army—a fate many young men faced at the time. Unlike songs that glorify battle, ‘Arthur McBride’ takes a different approach. It tells the story of two Irishmen confronted by recruiters, only to turn the tables on them in a bold act of defiance.

7. The Foggy Dew

Irish rebel music doesn’t come much finer than ‘The Foggy Dew‘—a song that captures the sorrow and sacrifice of the 1916 Easter Rising like few others can. The rendition by Sinéad O’Connor and The Chieftains (one of the best Irish bands, in my opinion!) is nothing short of mighty. This song serves as both a lament and a call to arms, urging Irishmen to fight for Ireland’s freedom rather than for the British Empire—a choice many faced during the First World War.

8. The Boys of Kilmichael

If you’re in search of IRA songs, look no further than ‘The Boys of Kilmichael’—a ballad that recounts one of the most pivotal ambushes of the Irish War of Independence. The Kilmichael Ambush took place in 1920, just a week after Bloody Sunday, near the village of Kilmichael in Cork. The song tells the story of 36 IRA volunteers who took on a unit of British Auxiliaries as they left Macroom.

9. The Men Behind the Wire

‘The Men Behind the Wire’ is one of the better-known Irish protest songs, written by Paddy McGuigan and released in 1971 at the height of the Troubles. The lyrics paint a stark picture of British Army raids in Ireland, describing the mass arrests of Irish nationalists. The song also highlights the internment without trial of those taken to Long Kesh and Magilligan prison camps—a policy that fuelled widespread anger and resistance.

10. Óró Sé Do Bheatha Bhaile

This is one of the more gentle Irish rebel songs, yet it has a way of making the hairs on the back of your neck stand tall. When it was first written, it wasn’t originally considered Irish rebel music. However, new verses were introduced in the early 20th century, and it’s said to have been sung during fast marches in Ireland’s War of Independence.

11. Seán South of Garryowen

This is one of the lesser-known Irish fighting songs, but its story is no less powerful. The lyrics follow a wounded IRA volunteer caught in the chaos of an attack in County Fermanagh. The event took place on New Year’s Day in 1957, when 14 IRA volunteers launched an assault on a British Army barracks. Among them was Seán, one of those fatally injured in the battle. Though not as widely recognised as other rebel ballads, this song stands as a tribute to those who fought—and fell—during Ireland’s long struggle for independence.

12. A Nation Once Again

‘A Nation Once Again’ is one of the oldest Irish war songs featured in this guide, dating back to the mid-1800s. It was written by Thomas Osborne Davis, a key figure in the Young Ireland movement, which sought Irish independence from Britain. The song’s lyrics unfold as a hopeful narrative, with the lead character dreaming of a future where Ireland is free once more.

13. Back Home in Derry

‘Back Home in Derry’ is a powerful ballad written by Bobby Sands, one of the hunger strikers, while imprisoned in HM Maze, a prison in Northern Ireland used to house paramilitary prisoners during the Troubles. Though Sands penned the lyrics in the 1980s, the song transports listeners back to 1803, recounting the fate of Irish rebels exiled to Australia after the failed Irish Rebellion. Set to the tune of ‘The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald’, its lyrics capture the despair and longing of those torn from their homeland.

14. Belfast Brigade

‘The Belfast Brigade’ is an old Irish folk song that pays tribute to the Belfast Brigade of the IRA during the Irish War of Independence. The lyrics pull no punches, calling out James Craig, the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, for allegedly sending the Ulster Special Constabulary to gun down civilians. The song also name-checks Seaforde Street, an area in East Belfast where clashes between British forces, loyalist gunmen, and the IRA were a brutal reality.

15. Kelly the Boy From Killane

A man named John Kelly, a United Irish leader, fought in the 1798 Rebellion and lived in Killane, County Wexford, in the late 1700s. He’s mentioned in several Irish rebel songs, but ‘Kelly the Boy from Killanne’ is dedicated entirely to him. The song honours his role in the Wexford Rebellion, painting him as a fearless leader who fought for Ireland’s freedom.

16. The Rising of the Moon

‘The Rising of the Moon’ is a well-known Irish rebel song that recounts a battle between the United Irishmen and the British Army during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. Believed to have been written by J.K. Casey in the mid-1800s, the ballad weaves a tale of defiance and resistance, rallying the Irish to stand against British rule. Its final verse serves as a call to action, urging listeners to remember the struggle and keep the spirit of rebellion alive.

17. The Valley of Knockanure

‘The Valley of Knockanure’ is a haunting ballad that recounts a tragic event during the Irish War of Independence. On May 12, 1921, a group of Black and Tans, moving from Kerry to Athea, unlawfully arrested four young men. The troops—intoxicated and ruthless—captured the unarmed prisoners. After the first man fell, Cornelius Dee attempted to escape but was injured. Despite his wounds, he managed to flee, but the other two men did not survive. Today, a memorial stands in their honour, ensuring their story is never forgotten.

18. The Croppy Boy

‘The Croppy Boy’ is a classic piece of Irish rebel music, set during the 1798 Rebellion, that tells the tragic tale of a young Irish rebel facing his fate. The ballad follows a doomed fighter who stops at a church to make his final confession before heading into battle. Inside, he notices a cloaked figure, unaware that it’s a British soldier hiding from the rebels. After completing his confession, the soldier reveals himself, arrests the young man, and takes him to prison to be executed.

19. God Save Ireland

‘God Save Ireland’ is an Irish rebel song that honors the Manchester Martyrs—three men executed in 1867 for their role in a daring rescue attempt. The martyrs were part of a group that ambushed a prison transport in Manchester, aiming to free two Republican prisoners. During the attempt, a police guard was fatally wounded when the group tried to shoot the lock off the carriage. Five men were sentenced to death, but after appeals, three were executed. It’s said that as they faced their fate, they responded with the words: “God Save Ireland.”

20. Four Green Fields

‘The Four Green Fields’ is a powerful ballad that symbolizes Ireland’s four provinces, with one—Ulster—still partly under British control (see the differences between Northern Ireland and Ireland). In the song, Ireland is personified as a woman, and her four provinces as her sons. It tells the story of struggle and loss, lamenting how, despite Ireland’s efforts, part of her land remains occupied. If you’ve had enough of the rebel music and fancy something a little smoother, hop into my guide to the most popular Irish love songs.

Irish rebel songs Spotify playlist

If you’re looking for a load of Irish rebel music to play away on Paddy’s Day (or any other day, for that matter) then this Spotify playlist should do the job. It’s packed with the best Irish rebel sounds from the list above that you can play away until your heart’s content.