The History of Folk Music in Britain and Ireland
Ballads, broadsides, song collectors and the folk revival.
Folk music is the music of ordinary people – farm workers, sailors, miners and travellers. Its songs were passed down by ear for centuries, and they are still sung today in pubs, clubs and festivals across Britain and Ireland.
The Story
For centuries, most people in Britain and Ireland could not read music. They learned songs by listening and singing along. Ballads told stories of love, murder, battles and shipwrecks, and every singer changed them a little, so many songs exist in dozens of versions. From the 1500s to the 1800s, printers sold "broadside ballads" – song words printed cheaply on single sheets – in streets and at markets.
In Ireland, music was closely tied to identity. The harp became a national symbol, and harpers such as Turlough O'Carolan travelled from house to house playing their own tunes. In England, the Industrial Revolution moved people from villages into towns, and many old songs began to disappear. Around 1900, collectors such as Cecil Sharp travelled through the countryside to write them down before they were lost.
After the Second World War, a folk revival began. Folk clubs opened in pubs, singers such as Ewan MacColl and Shirley Collins brought old songs to new audiences, and Irish groups like The Dubliners and The Chieftains became famous worldwide. In the late 1960s, bands such as Fairport Convention mixed folk with rock. Today, traditional sessions and folk festivals are as popular as ever.
Timeline
The key dates at a glance.
- 1500s–1800sBroadside ballads are printed and sold cheaply in the streets.
- 1670–1738Life of Turlough O'Carolan, the blind Irish harper and composer.
- 1903Cecil Sharp begins collecting folk songs in Somerset.
- 1911Sharp founds the English Folk Dance Society.
- 1950s–60sThe folk revival: folk clubs open across Britain.
- 1962The Dubliners and The Chieftains are formed in Ireland.
- 1965The first Cambridge Folk Festival takes place.
- 1969Fairport Convention record "Liege & Lief" – the birth of English folk rock.
Key People
The musicians who shaped this story.
Turlough O'Carolan
1670–1738Blind Irish harper whose tunes are still played at sessions today.
Cecil Sharp
1859–1924Collector who wrote down thousands of English folk songs and dances.
Ewan MacColl
1915–1989Singer, songwriter and leading figure of the British folk revival.
Shirley Collins
born 1935English folk singer known for her pure, simple style.
Key Words
Ten essential words with their German meaning and an example sentence.
| English | German | Example |
|---|---|---|
| folk song | Volkslied | Nobody knows who wrote this folk song. |
| ballad | Ballade | The ballad tells the story of a shipwreck. |
| broadside ballad | Flugblattlied | Broadside ballads were sold for a penny. |
| oral tradition | mündliche Überlieferung | The song survived through oral tradition. |
| to collect (songs) | (Lieder) sammeln | Sharp collected songs from old farm workers. |
| revival | Wiederbelebung, Revival | The folk revival began in the 1950s. |
| fiddle | Fiedel, Geige | The fiddle is the heart of an Irish session. |
| tin whistle | Blechflöte, Tin Whistle | She learned the tune on the tin whistle. |
| uilleann pipes | irischer Dudelsack | Uilleann pipes are played sitting down. |
| session | Session (Musikrunde) | There's a traditional session in the pub every Thursday. |
Useful Phrases
Language for talking about music and its history.
Talking about folk history
- Folk songs were passed down from generation to generation.
- The song was collected in Somerset in 1905.
- Many old songs were in danger of being lost.
- The revival brought these songs to a new audience.
Talking about a folk song
- It tells the story of…
- There are many different versions of it.
- Everyone joins in on the chorus.
- It's usually sung unaccompanied.
Talk About It
Answer these questions aloud, write a short paragraph, or discuss them with a partner.
- Are there old folk songs that everyone knows in your region?
- Why do you think folk songs exist in so many different versions?
- Is it important to collect and protect old songs? Why?
- Have you ever been to a folk session or festival?
Test Yourself
Click a question to see the answer.
1. What was a broadside ballad?
A song printed cheaply on a single sheet and sold in the street.
2. Who began collecting English folk songs in 1903?
Cecil Sharp.
3. Which instrument is the national symbol of Ireland?
The harp.
Explore More
More from the Music History series.
Every song has a history.
Learn the story, learn the words – and share what you discover in English.
Old songs. Living tradition.