The Halliard – It's The Irish In Me

The Halliard – It's The Irish In Me

The Halliard – It's The Irish In Me is a lively collection of traditional and popular Irish folk songs, performed by the British folk group The Halliard. Drawing on the rich tradition of Irish ballads, drinking songs, rebel songs and singalong favourites, the album is packed with familiar melodies and spirited performances.

The album opens with the much-loved "Seven Drunken Nights", followed by "Courtin' In The Kitchen" and the lively "Liverpool Lou". Traditional favourites such as "The Zoological Gardens", "The Merry Ploughboy" and "The Spanish Lady" capture the communal, storytelling character that lies at the heart of Irish folk music.

"The Wild Mountain Thyme" provides a more reflective close to the first side, while side two returns to the rousing folk tradition with "The Black Velvet Band", "The Minstrel Boy" and "The Kerry Recruit".

The second half continues with the familiar "The Mountain Dew", "The Wild Rover" and "The Lowlands Low", before concluding with "The Croppy Boy", bringing together the album's themes of Irish history, emigration, romance and traditional storytelling.

The Halliard were part of the vibrant British folk revival, and the group became particularly notable for its members John Renbourn, Peter Bellamy and Royston Wood, all of whom would go on to make significant contributions to the folk scene. Their performances combine traditional material with the direct, accessible style that made folk revival recordings so popular.

For collectors of Irish folk music, traditional folk, Celtic music, British folk revival and classic singalong records, It's The Irish In Me is an enjoyable collection of well-known Irish songs and traditional favourites.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Seven Drunken Nights – 3:40
2. Courtin' In The Kitchen – 3:06
3. Liverpool Lou – 3:37
4. The Zoological Gardens – 3:45
5. The Merry Ploughboy – 3:52
6. The Spanish Lady – 3:24
7. The Wild Mountain Thyme – 3:36

Side B

1. The Black Velvet Band – 4:34
2. The Minstrel Boy – 1:17
3. The Kerry Recruit – 2:59
4. The Mountain Dew – 2:28
5. The Wild Rover – 3:34
6. The Lowlands Low – 3:56
7. The Croppy Boy – 3:21