1. "Irish Wedding Song," Andy Cooney
Lyrics you'll love: "Here they stand, hand in hand they've exchanged wedding bands./Today is the day of their dreams and their plans"
Released in 2012 as part of the appropriately-titled album Irish Influence, this Irish wedding song has become increasingly popular over the past decade. It talks about finding peace of mind, being kind to one another, having happy babies, and more sweet sentiments. Not only is it from an Irish singer, but it has all of those Irish blessings that people love—so make sure to send this one to your wedding DJ, stat.
2. "Brown Eyed Girl," Van Morrison
Lyrics you'll love: "Do you remember when we used to sing?/Sha-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la tee-da"
We can safely say this might be Van Morrison's most well-known song that's often played at every celebration, including weddings. It was originally released in 1967 and stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for sixteen weeks. While we wouldn't pick this as a processional, it's a solid Irish wedding choice for your reception…but only if the bride is brown-eyed!
3. "My Wild Irish Rose," Chauncey Olcott
Lyrics you'll love: "My wild Irish Rose,/The sweetest flow'r that grows,/You may search,/But none can compare/With my wild Irish Rose"
If you're not familiar, this ballad was written by Irish artist Chauncey Olcott in 1898 — yep, more than 120 years ago! This traditional Irish wedding song is undoubtedly old and classic (ahem, just like Ireland as a country), but it's a beautiful choice for wedding musicians—especially a harp or piano performance.
4. "Galway Girl," Ed Sheeran
Lyrics you'll love: "You know, she played the fiddle in an Irish band/But she fell in love with an English man"
If you have ties to Galway or you and your partner took a romantic trip to Ireland together, you might love this 2017 Ed Sheeran song. When he co-wrote the song with the Irish band Beoga, they took inspiration from traditional Irish music. It's based on a true love story that takes place in Ireland!
5. "Have I Told You Lately," Van Morrison
Lyrics you'll love: "And have I told you lately that I love you/Have I told you there's no one else above you/You fill my heart with gladness/Take away all my sadness/Ease my troubles that's what you do"
For those who want an iconic, powerful and super-sweet ballad to begin their wedding day, look no further than this 1989 Van Morrison lead single from his nineteenth album. Though it's from an Irish performer, it has a universal message of the importance of telling your one-and-only how much you care every single day. It's been covered by many artists, but the Van Morrison classic is our top pick for an Irish first dance song.
6. "When You Say Nothing At All," Frances Black, Ronan Keating
Lyrics you'll love: "The smile on your face lets me know that you need me/There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me/The touch of your hand says you'll catch me wherever I fall/You say it best (you say it best) when you say nothing at all"
Like your love, this song has roots. American singer Keith Whitley first performed it in 1988. However, it didn't gain true popularity until 1996 when Irish artist Frances Black released it in 1996, and later, Irish pop artist Ronan Keating recorded it in 1999. Irish performer Keating managed to top the charts in Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. We love this as a first dance song.
7. "Nothing Compares 2 U," Sinead O'Connor
Lyrics you'll love: "I could put my arms around every boy I see/But they'd only remind me of you"
This song was first released in 1985 by the band The Family—and was written by Prince! But, it didn't become well-known until Irish singer Sinead O'Connor released it in her second album in 1989. The lyrics aren't the most ideal for a wedding (listen closely), so we recommend playing this one during cocktail hour or dinner.
8. "Sweetest Thing," U2
Lyrics you'll love: "Blue-eyed boy meets a brown-eyed girl/Oh oh oh, the sweetest thing"
As one of U2's biggest bangers of all time, they released it in not only 1987 but also in 1998 on their greatest hits album. For your wedding day, this will get people up on the dance floor, or it could also be your first dance song. We love the sweet lyrics and the special romantic message it sends.
9. "Lewis Bridal Song (Mairi's Wedding)," The Irish Rovers
Lyrics you'll love: "Step a gaily on we go,/Heel for heel and toe for toe./Arm and arm and row and row,/All for Mary's wedding"
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You can think of this as the Irish or Celtic version of "Here Comes the Bride". Its history is fascinating: it was written in the Irish folk tradition and dates back to the early 1900s. It was originally written in Gaelic by John Roderick Bannerman but has since been translated and recorded by a wide variety of artists, including the band The Irish Rovers in 2014. This is a romantic pick for walking down the aisle or as a recessional.
10. "All I Want Is You," U2
Lyrics you'll love: "But all the promises we make/From the cradle to the grave/When all I want is you"
When you finally find your person and you start planning your wedding day, there are many choices to make. But at the end of the day, what do you really want? Your new spouse! We love this super-loving song written by U2 that dictates what a special promise it is to choose someone as your lifelong partner.
11. "Don't Go," Hothouse Flowers
Lyrics you'll love: "Don't go/Don't leave me now, now, now/While the sun smiles, stick around and laugh a while yeah"
At first read, you might not recognize this hit 1988 single from the Irish band Hothouse Flowers. But when you turn the volume up, you'll start moving your head to the beat. We love this as a first dance song or a Celtic-inspired jam to play during your reception.
12. "I Fall Apart," Rory Gallagher
Lyrics you'll love: "I don't mind waiting for your love/For time I've got plenty of/Rain or shine - please, bring out your love/Make it shine like the stars above"
If you're more of a rock and blues fan, you'll appreciate this 1971 single from Irish singer Rory Gallagher. It was from his debut album and one of his biggest hits. You would fall apart without your new spouse, making it a great song to play after your guests have had a few beverages.
13. "The Voyage," Christy Moore
Lyrics you'll love: "Life is an ocean and love is a boat/In troubled waters that keeps us afloat"
Originally written by Irish singer Johnny Duhan he selected another Irish singer, Christy Moore, to record this jam. While it became popular in 1989, it has been remastered, recorded by several artists, and translated into several languages. As you put together your wedding day playlist, this popular Irish wedding song should make the cut.
14. "Dreams," The Cranberries
Lyrics you'll love: "And now I tell you openly/You have my heart so don't hurt me/You're what I couldn't find/A totally amazing mind"
When you fall in love and decide to join your life with another person and, maybe, start a family, your life does change every day in every possible way. This Irish rock band has many hits, but not all of them are appropriate for your wedding day. This one, however, will have everyone bopping their heads and singing along. It was originally released in 1992 as a single ahead of their album in 1993. A few years ago, in 2017, they also released an acoustic version.
15. "The Rose of Tralee," Nightnoise
Lyrics you'll love: "Yet 'twas not her beauty/Alone the won me/Oh, no! 'twas the truth/In her eye ever dawning/That made me love Mary/The rose of Tralee"
For those from Ireland who want to have some Celtic traditions during their wedding ceremony and big day, make sure to include this traditional Irish ballad that dates back to the 1800s. As the story goes, there's a knockout named Mary, who draws attention from a man. The Irish song inspired The Rose of Tralee International Festival, now held globally in Irish communities. For your special day, consider this cover, released in 1993.
16. "Love You 'Till the End," The Pogues
Lyrics you'll love: "I just want to be there/When we're caught in the rain/I just want to see you laugh, not cry"
While deciding on your wedding music, you may turn this on and wonder where you heard it. Think hard, and you'll remember it's from the tearjerker rom-com, P.S. I Love You. Anyone can choose it for their wedding day, but particularly those with roots in Ireland may appreciate the classic Celtic folk appeal.
17. "Ordinary Love," U2
Lyrics you'll love: "We can't fall any further if/We can't feel ordinary love/And we can't reach any higher,/If we can't deal with ordinary love"
This 2013 U2 hit has an important backstory since it was inspired by activist Nelson Mandela and was used in a film about his life. For your big day, we love the idea of this song as a ceremony recessional. This tune is poetic, beautiful and romantic.
18. "Shining Light," Ash
Lyrics you'll love: "You have always been a thorn in their side/But to me you're a shining light/You arrive and the night is alive"
Were you mesmerized by your partner's shining light when you fell in love? If so, make sure you send this Irish song to your wedding band. It is one of Ash's most well-known and loved songs, released in 2001. For rock lovers getting hitched, this is a must-play!
19. "Give Me Your Hand," James Galway and The Chieftains
Lyrics you'll love: "Will you give me your hand,/And the world it can see,/That we can be free,/In peace and harmony?"
While some duos like to go modern, others value traditions. For those from Ireland or with Irish roots, this is the ideal processional song. As legend has it, it dates back to the early 1600s and is thought to have been written by Irish composer Rory Dall O'Cahan as a Celtic harp tune. Since then, various artists have recorded their own versions, including James Galway and The Chieftains in 1987.
20. "Unbreakable," Westlife
Lyrics you'll love: "Swept away on a wave of emotion/Over-caught in the eye of the storm/And whenever you smile/I can hardly believe that you're mine"
Yep, that's right: we added Westlife to our list just for the millennials! This was released in 2002 by the Irish boy band, quickly becoming a number-one hit in the United Kingdom and Ireland. While it's a bit cheesy, it's your wedding day—so play what speaks to your teeny-bopper soul.
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