Saint Patrick’s Day is a religious and national holiday in Ireland in honour of its patron saint. It takes place on the 17th March, the traditional date given for this saint. It is not only a major event in Ireland, it is also celebrated by many other countries across the world, including the United States and Australia.
In Ireland, events are held over several days in different cities and include parades, festivals and dances. One of the most important elements of the day is Irish music. Ireland is known for traditional Celtic and Gaelic music plus there are many traditional songs performed on Saint Patrick’s Day. Popular instruments include the fiddle (violin), tin whistle and accordion.
An important part of the musical celebrations is a cèilithe, a traditional Irish gathering where people dance and play traditional music. Green clothing and shamrocks are part of the symbols worn on this day.
There are also a number of Irish folk songs that are commonly performed on Saint Patrick’s Day. For example, Oh Danny Boy, a stunning ballad written in the 19th century. Plus there are pop and rock tunes, like Zombie by The Cranberries, that are common hits played on the day.
Explore our Saint Patrick’s Day sheet music for your instrument. We have a selection of traditional songs plus modern pop and rock hits to celebrate this wonderful occasion.
