For more popular mainstream.

BellX1 - http://www.bellx1.com/

Damien Rice

Declan O'Rourke (check out his song Gallileo) http://www.declanorourke.com/intro.php

Afro Celt SOund system is good

This post is already old but it's a fun one! I love love love The Chieftains. You can rent the DVDs of their concerts and it's really fun! Nobody is better than the Chieftains!

I also enjoy the McKrells with Kevin McKrell...it is Celtic bluegrass with some traditional Irish.

Enjoy!

The Dublin tv and radio website www.rte.ie has lots of Irish music. A lot of the traditional Irish music of earlier years makes its appearnce on the one of the local Irish stations at www.radiokerry.ie

Has anyone mentioned Anúna?

www.anuna.ie

Any Phil Coulter fans out there?
www.philcoulter.com

If you can find it...I really enjoy a group called Cran (look for them in Ireland...would also recommend picking up local artist when there). Some of my favorites are Planxty, Danu, Prodigals and Altan.

I will also give a shameless plug for my group, Vinegar Hill. We have 2 CD's that you can get by emailing us at our sight. We cover traditional tunes as well as classic Irish folk songs as well as cover tunes from groups such as Gaelic Storm, Great Big Sea, Christy Moore, and the Pogues...even cover a U2 song at gigs. We are based out of Columbus, Ohio and usually play at the Dublin (Ohio) Irish Festival in August which is one of the larger festivals in the US. They draw several national acts as well as local groups. There are lots of dancers also because there is a feis during the festival.

Wow! I am shocked at all the people who love Irish music! I really like all of the groups listed. I'd add Robbie O'Connell and his "Kilkelly" as one of my all time favorite songs.

I first heard it at the Milwaukee Irish Fest years ago -- thought it was the most poignant and beautiful song I ever heard and still do.

kswl, Cherish the Ladies is one of my favorites too. Quite a few years ago, my daughter dances with them too -- just once. What dance school do your children attend?

The best in Irish folk music was The Clancy Brothers with Tommy Makem. Wonderful music, they were a big part of the New York folk scene in the early 60s and Bob Dylan was a fan. Makem died of cancer yesterday at his home in New Hampshire.

I'm so sorry to hear that! Thanks for letting us know, GeorgeW.

Irish Fest in Milwaukee is in two weeks, and all fans are so sad that Tommny Makem won't be here. There will be many tributes, with his family and friends singing his songs. His sons, who sing as, "The Makem Brothers" are wonderful.

Such sad news. I feel I've lost a friend. Apparently, I'm not alone as so many people have posted similar feelings on makem.com.

He will not be forgotten.

I've always loved Flogging Molly's music - they're sort of a Celtic Punk hybrid. They're Irish-American, but I know they are popular around the world. Their energy is so contagious! I hear they are going on tour very soon. I also hear their music will be in an upcoming movie "Red Roses and Petrol" - which will be coming to Dublin, I hear. I think I heard one of their songs in the movie "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" as well.

Since somebody went ahead and resusscitated this, how about the movie and soundtrack to "ONCE"???

Also, the new (or older) Nial Connolly ...

All worth a purchase.

Bob

If you love Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys then Shane Macgowan and the Pogues is for you.

Paul Grogan - he's wonderful!! you can google him and get all kinds of info, where to buy his CD's, etc. A new up and coming Irishman!

Glen Hansard. He was in the film "Once". He also has sung with the "Frames". Really soulful heart-wrenching lyrics and vocals. Listen to "Falling Slowly".

He was also the guitarist in "The Commitments".

Bob

I got a strange mail from my brother last week asking if I knew bruxelles pub..I could not figure out how he knew it as he has not been to Dublin since he was 11. I told him I walk by it most days in Dublin...strange to him. They rented the film once not knowing what it was about and loved it. I may pop over and see it during the Film fest in the next two weeks here in Dublin.

He has been with the frames for years and yes was in the committments. Its nice to see a film made about Dublin nd a modern one thqat reflects how the culture is changing here (Can't remember the co star's name).

One of the best Clancy Brothers w/Tommy Makem albums is a double CD live on from a concert around Christmas of 1966. The small talk is kept in the album and the group makes a little fun of a certain actor who had just on political office in 1966- Ronald Reegan.

For trad - Michael Coleman, the Hank Williams of Irish fiddling