30 Irish Wedding Songs, from The Voyage to Galway Girl

What is the most popular Irish wedding song?

"The Voyage", written by Johnny Duhan and made famous by Christy Moore, is the classic Irish wedding song, a gentle comparison of marriage to a journey at sea. For the first dance, Irish couples love Van Morrison's "Have I Told You Lately" and "Crazy Love", and for the party, "Galway Girl" and "The Irish Rover" fill the floor.

Irish wedding classics

1. "The Voyage", Christy Moore: the Irish wedding classic.
2. "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling": the old standard, perfect for the parents' dance.
3. "The Irish Blessing": the traditional blessing set to music.
4. "Be Thou My Vision": the ancient Irish hymn, lovely for the ceremony.
5. "Danny Boy": for remembering loved ones who cannot be there.

Love songs by Irish artists

6. "Have I Told You Lately", Van Morrison: the Belfast-born singer's wedding classic.
7. "Crazy Love", Van Morrison: warm and grateful.
8. "Someone Like You", Van Morrison: a gentle first dance.
9. "Moondance", Van Morrison: a jazzy swing for the floor.
10. "All I Want Is You", U2: a sweeping love song.
11. "Dreams", The Cranberries: a joyful love song.
12. "Breathless", The Corrs: bright and romantic.
13. "When You Say Nothing at All", Ronan Keating: from Notting Hill.
14. "Flying Without Wings", Westlife: a favorite for Irish couples.
15. "You Raise Me Up", Westlife: a soaring ballad for parents.
16. "Only Time", Enya: a dreamy, ethereal moment.
17. "Like Real People Do", Hozier: a quiet modern love song.

Irish party and singalong songs

18. "Galway Girl", Ed Sheeran: the modern party favorite, with the Irish band Beoga.
19. "Galway Girl", Steve Earle: the original, with Sharon Shannon on accordion.
20. "The Irish Rover", The Pogues and The Dubliners: the rowdy singalong.
21. "Whiskey in the Jar", The Dubliners: everyone joins the chorus.
22. "The Wild Rover": the pub singalong with the clapping.
23. "Rocky Road to Dublin": fast and fiery.
24. "I'm Shipping Up to Boston", Dropkick Murphys: Irish American punk energy.
25. "The Boys Are Back in Town", Thin Lizzy: for the groomsmen's entrance.
26. "Beautiful Day", U2: a joyful grand entrance.
27. "Brown Eyed Girl", Van Morrison: the dance-floor filler.
28. "Come On Eileen", Dexys Midnight Runners: the fiddle-driven floor filler.

Céilí dances for the reception

29. "The Siege of Ennis": the céilí dance everyone joins.
30. "The Walls of Limerick": a simple céilí dance for beginners.

A céilí band or a caller who walks guests through the steps turns the reception into a party nobody forgets, even guests who have never danced a step.

Irish wedding traditions and their music

• The Claddagh ring: hands for friendship, a heart for love and a crown for loyalty, often used as a wedding ring.
• Handfasting: an old Celtic ritual of tying the couple's hands with ribbon, the origin of "tying the knot".
• The Irish blessing: read or sung at the end of the ceremony.
• Wedding bells: a small bell rung to keep away bad luck, often given as a gift.
• Uilleann pipes or a harp: traditional instruments for the processional.

Planning Irish wedding songs through the day

• Drinks reception: a trad session with fiddle, tin whistle, bodhrán and guitar playing jigs and reels while guests mingle.
• Ceremony: a harp or uilleann pipes with "Be Thou My Vision" or "The Voyage".
• First dance: "Have I Told You Lately", "Crazy Love" or "All I Want Is You".
• After dinner: a céilí set with a caller.
• Late night: "The Wild Rover", "The Irish Rover" and "Galway Girl".
• Last song: many Irish nights end with "The Parting Glass", the traditional farewell song.

Irish songs for the ceremony

For the processional, an uilleann piper or harpist playing "Be Thou My Vision" or "The Voyage" sets the tone. During the signing, "Only Time" or "You Raise Me Up" works well, and the recessional can be as lively as "Beautiful Day". For more ceremony ideas, see our processional songs.

Irish songs for the father-daughter and mother-son dances

"When Irish Eyes Are Smiling", "You Raise Me Up" and "Danny Boy" are favorites for the parent dances, especially with an Irish grandparent watching. See our father-daughter dance songs and mother-son dance songs.

Irish wedding songs for the toasts

Irish weddings are known for long, funny and heartfelt speeches. Between them, a short burst of "Whiskey in the Jar" or "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" keeps the energy up, and an Irish blessing makes a lovely final toast before the dancing begins.

Irish American wedding songs

Irish American couples often mix traditional songs with Boston and Chicago favorites: "I'm Shipping Up to Boston", "The Irish Rover" and "Whiskey in the Jar" alongside the first dance classics. Add "Sweet Caroline" and the whole room will be singing.

A song written for your Irish wedding

A personalized song can tell your story with a Celtic or folk sound: how you met, the family on both sides and the toast you want everyone to remember. Couples play it for the first dance or as a surprise during the speeches.

How to create a wedding song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: folk, acoustic, pop and more.
2. Add both your names.
3. Share three moments from your story together.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give your wedding a song of its own: create a song and hear four previews for free.