A Mighty Irish Road Trip Playlist to Explore To

My Irish Road Trip playlist has been around since 2017, when I stuck this post up on Instagram and asked for submissions.

Around 750 people commented, DM’d, emailed and even sent text messages… thanks, Mam!

I asked again in 2018. Then again in 2019. Each time, more suggestions came in and the list expanded, mixing older tracks with newer releases.

I have kept adding to it over the years as tastes changed and new favourites emerged. It’s now a go-to playlist for myself and many on their trips in Ireland.

The Irish Road Trip playlist

This is a 212-track Spotify playlist built specifically for driving in Ireland. It’s been running since 2017 and gets updated whenever something earns its place.

Expect a strong Irish core. Christy Moore, Luke Kelly, Glen Hansard, The Saw Doctors, The Coronas, Hozier and some often overlooked Irish bands.

Layered on top are newer acts that actually work on the road, like Kingfishr, Amble, Darren Kiely, Brave Giant, and Hollow Coves.

The balance is deliberate. There are upbeat tracks for open roads and stretches where driving is easy.

There are slower, quieter songs for early starts, long inland sections, and days when the weather closes in.

If you can’t click through to the playlist above, here’s the direct link.

Keith O'Hara

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.