MUSIC & MUSICIANS
Unsurpringly we expect this list to be extensive but here's a taster of perhaps lesser know music and musicians to get us started.  If you have anything we should add here please go to our CONTACT page to let us know.

MUSIC/DANCE

ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL
Was written by Irish poet Cecil Francis Humphreys Alexander who also wrote 'Once in Royal David's City'

FORTY SHADES OF GREEN
The song 'Forty Shades of Green' was written by Johnny Cash, inspired by the view from his plane as he flew into Ireland

HANDEL'S 'MESSIAH'
Handel's 'Messiah' was played publically for the first time in Dublin in 1742 on the organ in St. Michan's Church, Dublin

NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL ANTHEM
In 1878 an Irish poet, Thomas Bracken, who became a citizen of New Zealand wrote the New Zealand national anthem, God Save New Zealand

ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID'S CITY
This was written by the Irish poet Cecil Francis Humphreys Alexander who also wrote 'All Things Bright and Beautiful'.

RIVERDANCE
Michael Flately, one of the original founders of Riverdance was reputed to have been earning STG£1,000,000 per week at the height of his fame with Riverdance.

TEDDY BEARS PICNIC
This was written by Jimmy Kennedy of Omagh in County Tyrone.  He also wrote 'Red Sails in the Sunset'.

WALTZING MATILADA
Waltzing Matilda was written by Robert Barton of Fermanagh

WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS BY NIGHT
The Christmas hymn 'While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night' was written by Dublin born Nahum Tate, who was also a poet-laureate of England

On the 16th of November, 1991, Donegal singer, Daniel O'Donnell, occupied a record six of the top seven places in the UK country album charts.

The bugle blown to launch the Charge of the Light Brigade was sold by McNeill's music shop on Caple Street, Dublin

'Do They Know It's Christmas' was written by Bob Geldof

MUSICIANS 

LOCKE, Joseph (1917-99)
The tenor Joseph Lock was born in Derry on St. Patrick's Day 1917

THE BEATLES
~ John Lennon's father, James Lennon, was born in Dublin and his mother, Mary Polly Maguire was also born in Ireland
~ Paul McCartney's father, James McCartney, was born in Ireland and his maternal grandfather, Owen Mohin, was born in Monaghan
~ George Harrison's maternal grandfather, John French, was born in County Wexford