100 Irish Fiddle Recordings
100 Irish fiddle recordings.
In this 100 Irish fiddle recordings article I have included albums I listened to most. Albums as there were once known! There has been so many formats of music releases, recordings may be more appropriate term. A majority of this list would have been originally released on vinyl disc. Also included are links to interviews, articles and where to purchase these recordings.
Listening to music is a huge part of learning it and that is especially true with Irish music. I also tried to vary the list by including solo, duets and others. I also chose not to include too many albums by one artist for variety. I couldn’t include all my preferred choice of albums(but this is most!) so this list is limited but may be amended to include more than 100 in a later edition of this post. This list is in no particular order and of course all these recordings are recommended listening. I hope you get as much enjoyment from this list as I did compiling it.
Michael Coleman (link)1891-1945 Ireland’s most influential traditional musician of the 20th century. Released 1992
Sean Keane – Gustys Frolics. Released 1975.

Tommy Peoples– Link(with Paul Brady) – The High Part of the Road. Released 1976.
Frankie Gavin (link)- Frankie Gavin & Alec Finn. Released 1977.
Kevin Burke – Portland.(with Michael O Domhnaill)Released 1982.
Frankie Gavin – Fierce Traditional. Released 2001.
‘Maeve Donnelly’ – Maeve Donnelly(link) released 2002.
Sean Keane – Jig it in style. Released 1990.
Paul Bradley (link)-Atlantic Roar. Released 1998. Paul is also a fiddle maker.
Vincent Griffin – Traditional music from county Clare. Released 1977.
Kevin Burke (link)- Promenade. Released 1979.
Mick Queally – The Trip over the Mountain. With Cyril O Donoghue.
Hugh Gillespie – Classic recordings of Irish Traditional Music. Released 1992.
James Morrison (link)- The Pure Genius of James Morrison. Released 1991.
Michael Coleman (link)- The Enduring Magic. Released 2004
Paddy Killoran(article) – Paddy Killoran goes to town. Released 1977.
John Doherty– (link)The Floating Bow. Released 1996.
Paddy Glackin – (link) In Full Spate. Released 1991.
If the Cap Fits – Kevin Burke. Released 1978.
Sean Maguire (link)- Man of Achievement. Released 1988.
60 years of Sean Maguire, released 1988. Not original album image.
Des Donnelly -Link(Uncle of fiddler Dezi Donnelly)Remember Des Donnelly. Released 2012.
Jim McKillop – The Wind that Shakes the Barley. Released 1976
Brid Harper – Brid Harper.(link) Released 2015.
Kevin Burke Up Close. Released 1984.
Liz Carroll (Link) – A Friend Indeed. Released 1979. Reissued 1995.
Seamus Connolly(article) – Here and There. Released 1989.
Matt Crannitch,(link) Eistigh Seal. Released 2009
Sean Keane (link)- ‘Sean Keane’ (Ogham label) Released 1980.
Cathal Hayden (link)- Handed Down. Released 1988.
Frankie Gavin (link)- Frankie goes to Town. Released 1991.
James Kelly (Link)- The Ring Sessions. Released 2003.
Ciaran Tourish – ‘Down the Line‘ Released 2005.
Tommy Peoples (Link)- Waiting for a Call – Released 2013.
Andy McGann (article)& Paddy Reynolds – Traditional Music of Ireland. Released 1976 reissued 1994.
Brendan McGlinchey(article) – Music of a Champion. Released 1974.
Paddy Glackin (Link)- Glackin. Released 1977. Reissued on CD.
Liz Carroll – Lost in the Loop. Released 2000. www.lizcarroll.com
‘Across Bridges‘ (link)- Seamus Sands. Released 2015.
Martin Mullvihill (link)- The Flax in Bloom. Released in 1979.
Tommie Potts (link)(Alternative 1st name spelling of Tommy) Traditional Fiddle Music from Dublin. Released 2012 RTE.
Sean Smyth – The Blue Fiddle. Sean Smyth is a member of irish group Lunasa. Released 1993.
‘An Fhidil sraith II’ A fiddle compilation album featuring none other than, Sean Keane, Paddy Glackin, Kevin Burke & Seamus Creagh.
Martin Hayes – Martin Hayes.(link)Released 1992.
Neillidh Boyle (link)- A Feeling in the Blood. Released 2011.
Bobby Casey (link)- Taking flight, released
Brian Conway (link)- First Through The Gate. Released 2002.
James Kelly-(link) Capel street. Photo not album cover. Released possibly 1986
Ceol An Clair – The Music of Clare. Bobby Casey, Junior Crehan, John Kelly. Patrick Kelly, Joe Ryan.
Dezi Donnelly – Familiar Footsteps. Released 1999
Brian Rooney(cd Link) – From Leitrim to London. Released 2002
Jesse Smith – ‘Jigs & Reels’ Released 2004.
Liz and Yvonne Kane – The Well Tempered Bow. Released 2002.
Tommy Peoples (link)- An Exciting with One of Ireland Leading Traditional Fiddlers. Released C.C.E. 1976.
John Carty – Last Nights Fun.
Martin & P.J.Hayes (link)- The Shores of Lough Graney. Released 1990. Reissued 2011.
Liz Carroll – Liz Carroll(Green Linnett) Released 1993.
Seamus O Brien – ‘Cairde Cairdin’. Released 2007.
McDara O Raghallaigh -(link) Ego Trip. Released 2011
Andy McGann(with Paul Brady) – ‘It’s a Hard Road to Travel’. Released 1977.
Oisin mc Diarmada (link)- The Green Branch. Released 2015.
Tola Custy & Cyril O Donoghue Setting free. Released 1994
Claire Egan (link)- Turning Tides. Released 2015.
Martin Byrnes (link)- Released in 1969. Reissued on CD.
Paddy Cronin (link)- Kerry’s Own. Released 1977.
Mary Custy & Eoin O Neill – ‘With a Lot of Help from Their Friends.’
Charlie Lennnon (link) – The Emigrants Suite. Released(no Album cover available)
Oisin McAuley – ‘Far from the Hills of Donegal’. Released 2007. Fiddler player with Irish group – Danu.
Tommy Potts (link)- ‘The Liffey Banks’. Released 1972.
Patrick Mangan (link)- Farewell to Ireland. Released 2003
Josephine Keegan (link)- ‘Reels, Jigs, Hornpipes & Airs’. Released 1980. A formidable fiddle player and tune composer. Accompanied Sean McGuire on a number of his recordings.
Donal McCague – ‘Bits & Pieces’. Released 2012
Gerry O Connor -(link) Journeyman. Released 2007
Martin Hayes (link)- Live in Seattle. Released 1999
Kathleen Collins – ‘Traditional Music of Ireland’. Released 1976
Michelle O Brien (& Laoise Kelly) – (link)The Wishing Well. Released 2015.
Maurice Lennon – The Little Ones. released 2013. www.mauricelennon.com
Maire O Keefe (link)- House Party. Released 1998.
Padraig O Keeffe (link)- Sliabh Luachra Fiddle Master.
Milestone at the Garden buy(link) – Various including Michael Coleman & James Morrison.
‘An Fhidil sraith I’. Various fiddlers including performances by Seamus Glackin, Martin Hayes, Maurice Lennon, Sean Montgomery and Seamus Thompson.
Brian Rooney (link)- The Godfather. Released 1999
Kevin & Seamus Glackin – Northern Lights, released 1988.
Fergal Scahill – ‘The Dusty Bridge’(link), released 2008.
Declan Folan – ‘Skin & Bow’. Released 1996
James Byrne – The Road to Glenlough. Released 1995.
The Brass Fiddle(fiddle music from Donegal) Francis Byrne, James Byrne, Vincent Campbell, Con Cassidy. Released
Kevin Burke (link)- In Concert. Released 1999.
Seamus & Manus Maguire – The Humours of Lissadell(Released 1980)
Brian Conway (link)& Tony DeMarco(link) – The Apple in Winter. Released 1980.
Within A Mile of Kitty (link)- Brian Rooney, Charlie Lennon, Ben Lennon. Released 2005.
Denis Murphy (link)- The Star Above the Garter
Ciaran O Maonigh (link)- Ceol A Ghleanna (Music of the Glen) Released 2004.
Mick Conneely (link)- Selkie. Released 2001.
Carousel – Seamus & Manus McGuire. Released 1984.
Randal Bays (link)- The Salmon’s Leap. Released 2000.
Ben Lennon (link)& Friends – ‘The Natural Bridge’.Released 1999.
‘My Love is In America‘(link) Various Artists. Released 1991. Featuring performances from Seamus Connolly, Andy McGann, Liz Carroll, Kevin Burke etc.