Why are nearly all traditional Irish songs about alchoholic drinks, getting drunk and pubs?

Question

Are the Irish a nation of recovering alchoholics? Lol.

Answer 1

coz we r better then u

xD

Answer 2

Eh, no they're not. A lot of them are about fighting the English. And fighting the people from the next county. And fighting off the people from the next house. And THEN going to the pub.

Answer 3

Because in Irish society the pub is the gathering place for everyone and drinking and getting drunk are what happens in pubs.

Answer 4

The people who made the songs were dispossessed and lonely, and many of the songs were made in other countries by Irish who had emigrated, with English words on an Irish tune. Sometimes English words replaced Irish words, and the originals are usually much nicer - an example of this is the song Buachaill On Eirne or The Boy from The Erne, which was replaced by Come By the Hills to the Land where Fancy is Free, or some such garbage. Buachaill On Eirne was about a young man who courts a lot of pretty women but can't forget the one who he wants to marry but doesn't have the money to impress her family, who plan on marrying her to a wealthy old farmer.

I don't think there are that many songs about drinking, not when you hear the thousands of other songs about lost loves, lost money, lost (or dreamed) lottery tickets, lost homes, horses, dogs, food, jumbo breakfast rolls, or stroppy foreigners thinking they can run the joint and how the Irish dealt with them, those are called rebel songs.

Answer 5

we have lots a udder tunes bout bateing up da missus!!

Answer 6

because we are good drinkers and have good humour

Answer 7

Most Irish songs are deep and meaningful and alot are republican songs (black and tans, fenian gun etc.) when you look at all the Irish songs there is you will realise that only a small number are about drinking.

Answer 8

The Irish know how to have fun so probably most of their songs are made to have a good time & sing along in the pub,,,Alice,Alice who the f-ck is Alice

So Emily S where do you come from? I'm British are you from another planet because it seems this earth is not to your standards

Answer 9

a lot of supposedly traditional Irish songs in English were actually written by people in the US. In America the Irish are viewed as party lovers. Funny that, because in the UK they are viewed as feckless and stupid. But nobody writes songs about people like that.

Eh, that and the fact that Irish people do go to the pub. A lot!

Answer 10

They are a great nation for drinkers, I'm a recovered alcoholic and regularly attend AA meetings, I have a lot of Irish friends there.

Most of them called Michael for some reason.

Answer 11

sorry all irish traditional songs are not about drink or getting drunk!!!!

90% of them are about either the famine, the english soldiers and the war against england. so whoever you are get your facts right first before posting stupid questions like this!!!!!!!!

Answer 12

Good Evening Mr Magic Bus Driver....I trust you are enjoying your evening?

I dont think that the Irish are recovering at all!...

Anyway....with all that fine guiness and magical music what else is there to sing about??...

Answer 13

actually - most of the songs AREN'T about drink and pubs. You've just made yourself look extremely stupid.

Answer 14

The Irish are known for their drinking, just as the British for their bad oral hygiene, the French being anorexic and rude, and Americans being fat and lazy.

Answer 15

its just what the irish do

Answer 16

It just loosens the tongue and encourages people to talk.

Sign in a Dublin pub:

"A bird is known by its song - a man by his conversation".

They're not daft, the Irish.