Alvin M. Keeling 
We have ballads, hymns and catchy hymns. It’s time to revisit your childhood with the ten best songs you learned if you went to school in Ireland.
Inside the walls of every Irish primary school is a teacher with a song or two up their sleeve.
When we were young, the songs we learned ranged from Irish storytelling themes to religious tunes and campfire classics.
We present to you the ultimate nostalgic playlist as we count down the ten best songs you learned at school in Ireland.
10. I’m going to call myself mom – an easy one to get us started
Chances are you sang this song in your head instead of saying it because it’s so catchy!
This well-known children’s song, also known as “The Belle of Belfast City”, takes us back to when we were Junior Infants.
The song has a simple tune that is easy to pick up if you are new to Irish music.
9. Athenry Fields – a timeless classic
The people of Galway hold this song to heart. It tells the sad and moving story of a man who is sent to a prison ship for stealing corn.
Like many Irish songs, it can be sung slowly and sadly or sung with joy and passion. The latter applies to primary school children, of course!
8. There’s a hole in my bucket – everyone’s favorite duo
The repetitive nature of this song allowed us to become singing experts in elementary school.
“There’s a Hole in My Bucket” reveals a duet between two characters, Liza and Henry, as they discuss the best way to fix the hole in Henry’s bucket.
Liza had some wacky suggestions to entertain us.
7. Spin, spin, spin! – the international tube
This 1960s hit by American folk band The Byrds remains one of the catchiest songs we learned in school.
The warm melody always made us smile. Fair play if you’ve already managed to achieve those high marks.
6. The Call of Ireland – the Irish rugby song
Fun fact: “Ireland’s Call” was written by Phil Coulter, the Irish singer-songwriter who has also written music for Luke Kelly and The Dubliners.
‘Ireland’s Call’ was a joy to sing along to in primary school. Can you remember all the words?
5. The Rattling Bog – the song that makes you feel like you’re running a marathon
Every Irishman has a friend whose party tune is to sing every verse of ‘The Rattling Bog’, one by one.
This charming song requires a strong set of lungs and a living memory, where each verse is longer than the last.
4. Ripples in rock pools – one of the ten best songs you learned if you were at school in Ireland
“Ripples in the Rock Pools” is the kind of song that comes to mind once every ten years.
It will keep you up at night and distract you from work with its eye-catching character. Only the coolest teachers have taught this song to children in Ireland.
3. Molly Malone – a song from Dublin
This song tells the fictional story of a fishmonger on the streets of Dublin.
It’s probably one of the songs you learned if you were at school in Ireland. It is also popular among tourists who admire the Dublin statue of Molly Malone.
2. Dance Lord – one of the songs you learned if you were at school in Ireland
Commonly sung in church or school, ‘Lord of the Dance’ captures the atmosphere of any old classroom in Ireland.
Picture this: the sun pours through the window as you sing a joyful song that will stay with you forever.
1. Circle of Friends – a religious education song for children
Regardless of how you identify religiously, let’s all agree that the whole Alive-O collection could have made it onto our list of the ten best songs you learned if you had gone to school in Ireland.
“Circle of Friends” takes first place as an earworm that has been with us for all these years.
