Country and Irish

One of the most popular forms of music in modern Ireland, despite often being parodied. After the decline of the showbands in the late 1960s, ‘Country and Irish’ bands filled the vacuum they left, playing in smaller venues all over the country. Some artists crossed between the two genres, most notably Big Tom and the Mainliners. The material performed by these bands consists mainly of cover versions of old sentimental Irish songs in a country style as well as some showband standards. Leading performers record some original material but most perform a repertoire of standards.

Country and Irish performers such as Daniel O'Donnell, Philomena Begley, Margo, Louise Morrissey, Declan Nerney, and Dominic Kirwin have a huge following in Ireland and amongst the Irish community abroad, but are not generally known outside these communities.