25 Outstanding Celtic Songs, Artists, and Music

Whether you are Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Gaelic, or an American, Celtic music is probably a part of your ancient heritage. Derived from stories passed from generations, Celtic music is based in Folklore and Poetry sung for entertainment. There are many divisions of true "Celtic Music" outside of "commercial" music by such artists as the Celtic Women.

Six Celtic nationalities constitute all that is "Celtic". The Q-Celtic nationalities are the Irish, Scottish, and Manx peoples. The P-Celtic groups are the Cornish, Bretons, and Welsh peoples. The Gaelic (Irish and Scottish) branch and the Brythonic (Breton and Welsh) group differentiate by an extended range of Irish and Scottish melodies and the closed range of Breton and Welsh melodies (often reduced to a half-octave), and by the frequent use of the pure pentatonic scale in Gaelic music.

This is a list of outstanding 25 Celtic Artists with Album and Songs.



29. Enaid & Einalem - Avalon: A Celtic Legend

The Road to Camelot is an outstanding song on this album. It has a very medieval sound to it.

28. Traditional Celtic Tune done by Gaelic Storm- Black is the Color

One of the most beautiful, serene, touching Celtic Songs you will ever here. It is rumored to be a song with origins in the Appalacian's of the USA by transplanted Celts.

Gaelic Storm is a Celtic band from California in the United States. They are one of the most beloved Celtic bands.

27. Traditional Celtic Tune done by Lark and Spur- Down by the Sally Gardens

Lark & Spur's is an Irish group made of Jeff Whiteley and Lori Decker. Their first performances were in the Metro tunnels and public squares of Paris. Their tunes are very soothing.

26. Traditional Drinking Tune done by my personal favorites the Irish Descendants- Uncle Dan

Formed in the spring of 1990, The Irish Descendants, have been rooted in Newfoundland and Canadian music for over two decades. The have remade many Celtic classics and fun drinking songs such as this tune.

25. Famous and Traditional Celtic Tune performed by the Orthodox Celts- The Star of the County Down

This outstanding Celtic Tune is an outstanding example of the Celtic Sound loved by people all over the world. The band Orthodox Celts are from Serbia. They are well known and well loved all over Europe for their Irish Tunes with a touch of rock.

24. Loreena McKennitt- The Bonny Swans

McKennitt is probably the most widely known "Celtic" artist world wide. She is actually a Canadian. Her career has spanned more than 20 years and she has won MANY awards for her music. She recently stared as the narrator in "Tinkerbell" in which she wrote the theme music. With over ten CD's of original songs, McKennitt has a large volume of enjoyable work known all over the world.

23. The Irish Rovers- Drunken Sailor from The Unicorn

This classic tune remade in 1968 from the famous "Sea Poem" is a classic Celtic/ Irish Drinking Song. The Irish Rovers a very established Irish/ Canadian band who even have an extensive music collection and have appeared on many tv shows in their 45 years together.

22. Celtic Thunder- Amazing Grace

Celtic Thunder is an all male vocalist group from Dublin, Ireland who are accompanied full time by the Celtic Concert Orchestra. They have seven albums to date and have performed privately for President Obama.

21. Enya- May It Be

Born in Ireland as Eithne Ní Bhraonáin, Enya She began her musical career in 1980, when she briefly joined her family band (she is the 6th of 9 children) Clannad before leaving to perform solo. With a slow start, she did not realize great success until 1988 when her first album Watermark took off.

Today, Enya''s music is popular world wide. She produces all aspects of her music on her own including keyboards, vocals, and composition. To achieve her hallmark sound on her own, she uses a technique called "layering" in which she places instruments on top of each other. In Ireland, she is listed as the third highest paid entertainer. She is an avid, self proclaimed cat collector.

20. The Cheiftans- The Battle of Aughrim

Founded in 1962, The Chieftains are considered to be the first established "Irish" band and are credited for making Celtic music popular worldwide. This popular band has played before Popes and Chinese dignitaries.

19. The Corrs- Joy of Life (Trout in the Bath)

A modern Irish, family band writes Irish tunes such as this one and pop classics mixed with Celtic flair such as "So Young and Breathless" The band has been taking a break since 2006.

18. Cherish the Ladies- Ballad of the Fox Hunter

This is a great song if you are looking for authentic Celtic music. This is all female Celtic band from the United States. While not as widely known or commercial as some of the other artists, they have a haunting authentic sound.

17. Seamus Egan- I Will Remember You

Once part of the Irish band Solas known for performing the soundtrack to The Brothers McMullen in 1995, Egan was born in Pennsylvania. His parents were Irish immigrants and the family returned to Ireland. Egan left Solas to pursue a solo career as a flutist. He is credited for writing the song "I Will Remember You" sung by Sarah McLachlan.

16. Altan- Harvest Storm

Altan is an authentic Celtic band from Northern Ireland. This band offers the best of everything from upbeat jigs to powerful ballads.

15. Clannad- I Will Find You (From the Last of the Mohican's Soundtrack)

This Irish band is composed of the brothers and sisters of Enya. Enya left this group in 1980 to pursue a solo career.

14. Lord of the Dance- Cry of the Celts (Michael Flatley)

Irish American Michael Flatley created this popular musical entitled "Lord of the Dance" which premiered in 1996. This music inspired an interest in Celtic music and in "Riverdance" which is a combination of Irish Step dance and other styles.

13. The Gaelic Storm- Johnny Tarr

One of the all time most loved drinking songs of all time. Alcoholics die of thirst.

12. Dougie MacLean- Caledonia

Caledonia is the Latin term for "Scotland".

MacLean is one of the most popular artists of Scotland. His moving song Caledonia and melody The Gael have been recorded by hundreds of artists and enjoyed by millions worldwide.


11. Adrian von Zielger- A Celtic Tale

Modern Celtic relaxation music with woodsy themses. This author is from Switzerland and composes songs that are Celtic and Gothic.

10. Celtic Women- Scarborough Fair

Though commericial, the Celtic Women are composed of some of Ireland's best female vocalists. They sing old traditional ballads as well as contempory pop hits.

9. Dropkick Murphy's- Cadence to Arms (Scotland The Brave)

This is a beloved Scottish Anthem. The Dropkick Murphy's add a rock twist to this ballad, and most of their other compositions.

8. "Gortoz a ran - J'attends" - Denez Prigent with Lisa Gerrard.

The lyrics are in breton, a celtic language from Brittany, in France. This song became very popular when used by Hans Zimmer in the movie Blackhawk Down. Very, very moving.

7. Tracey Hewat- The Firelands

Beautiful female vocals. This artist is featured on "The Best Celtic Music."

6. James Horner- Soundtrack to Braveheart

This entire soundtrack is amazing and contains original scores from Queen as well as traditional Celtic tunes.

5. The Skye Boat Song- The Corries

The song tells how Prince Charles Edwards escaped from the Jacobites in a small boat disguised as a serving maid. The song is a traditional legend in Scotland.

4. Traditional Irish Ballad sung by Joan McInnes- Song for Ireland

3. Traditional Irish Hymn by Frederic Weatherly- Dannyboy (or Londonderry Air)

This is the unofficial adopted hymn of Irish decendants living in the United States and Canada.

2. Celtic Legends- The Irish Washer Woman

Catchy little jig. It is a traditional song in Ireland and Scotland.

1. Traditional Celtic Drinking Song sung by Gaelic Storm- Johnny Jump Up

Oh never, oh never, oh never again..If I live to a hundred or a hundred and ten.. Cause I fell to the ground and I couldn't get up... After drinking a pint of the Johnny Jump Up!

Feel free to write about your favorite song, your heritage, or what you like about Celtic Music!