1) The Undertones: Teenage Kicks
Fergal Sharkey won't rejoing the rest of the reformed group but at least they released some classics in the first place. "here comes the summer"and "jimmy jimmy" are fantasitc but "Teenage kicks" will always stand out as one of the reasons they were adored by everyone on the island.
http://www.theundertones.com/
2) Something Happens: Petrol(hello, hello hello hello)
A couple of great albums, some fantastic tunes and one of the best live acts in the country. The video for parachute always stands out for us and petrol will forever be recognised by Irish people of a certain age. A classic. no official site functioning that I'm aware of.
3) U2: One
No explanation required - I hesitate to include them due to the rows picking only one tune will inevitably bring. To the Forums.
4) The Stunning: Everything that rises
Simply fantastic stuff from the Walls. Paradise in the picturehouse was a key album in irish rock when there seemed to be a lack of innovative guitar acts.
http://www.thewalls.ie/walls_new/
5) Chrity Moore: El Salvador
Really hard to pick an particular one but I've gone with this as it shows the immense song-writing and subtlety of this icon. Obviously Ride on and Nancy Spain are massive ones as well. Great website too.
http://www.christymoore.com/
6) Thin Lizzy: Whiskey in the Jar
Ah Phil. Great rocker. One of the "what if.." people of rock. Always gets a rise this one.
http://www.thin-lizzy.net/
7) Sineád O'Connor: Mandinka
The number one google hit for "Sinead" , who remembers the skinny bald chick on the late late show. "Ya wha Gay??.. shaved her head- what does Mammy think?" Deadly stuff Gaybo.
http://www.sinead-oconnor.com/
8) The Dubliners: Anything at all really
I must admit to being fairly glad to have seen the Dubliners live. Indeed they've been involved with everyone at the core of Irish Music for 40 odd years.
http://www.geocities.com/toeye/dubliners/ - unofficial
9) The Corrs/ The Cranberries : Forgiven Not Forgotten and Linger respectively
Surely two of the most oddly successful Irish Acts of the 90s. Both had songs called Dreams.. both have now faded from the vernacular of the Irish Scene.
http://www.thecorrswebsite.com/index2.htm http://www.cranberries.com/web/frame_discog.html
10) Rory Gallagher/Stiff Little Fingers:Tattooed Lady and Nobody's Heros.
I was running out of places so I had to do the last two together. No list would be complete without Rory and SLF.
http://www.slf.com/ http://www.rorygallagher.com/
