From publications such as James Joyces epic masterpiece Ulysses, Sean O' Casey's The Plough and the Stars and Juno and the Paycock in the 1920's to more modern works like Brian Friel's Philadelphia Here I Come, Irish literature has been recognised for its quality all over the world.
During the twentieth century writing in modern Irish has developed afresh with vigour. Among the most noteworthy writers are the novelist Máirtín Ó Cadhain and the poets Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill and Cathal Ó Searcaigh, all three of whom have won international recognition
Recently, poet Seamus Heaney has received the Nobel Prize for literature the fourth Irish writer to receive the honour in the 20th century. Other Irish writers recently recognised for their achievements include John Banville, short listed for the Booker Prize for Book of Evidence in 1989 and Roddy Doyle, who won the Booker Prize for his novel Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha.
Music and Dance
The native music of medieval Ireland was transmitted orally from generation to generation. The harp (cláirseach), and the small harp (cruit), were the main musical instruments. Today, traditional Irish music is played on the harp, the bodhrán, the uilleann pipes, the fiddle and the accordion.
No original records of the old bardic music survive, but the works of Turlough O'Carolan, harpist, composer and poet, have been preserved, and from the end of the eighteenth century onwards extensive and valuable collections of native Irish music have been made and published. Thanks to the efforts of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (literally, 'the fellowship of Irish musicians') and others, the regard for Irish music, both in Ireland and in many countries overseas, is higher than it ever was. The work of Seán Ó Riada in the 1960s and of the Chieftains in later decades did much to rejuvenate traditional music and introduce this genre to a wide appreciative public. At present Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann have 400 branches in Ireland and throughout the world, practising and teaching Irish music. Their archive of traditional music contains 4,000 hours of listening.
The fusions of traditional Irish music with rock, world music and popular music have also earned considerable acclaim.
Dances include jigs, reels, hornpipes and sets. In recent years there has been a great demand for shows such as Riverdance throughout the world.
Rock music and 'country' music are two main forms of popular music in Ireland today. Country music enjoys a huge following and home grown artists such as Daniel O'Donnell have has success both at home and abroad.
Irish rock and pop acts such as U2, Boyzone, The Corrs and Westlife have also gained international acclaim.
The Irish popular music scene is recognised as being one of the most vibrant in Europe, with services such as Music Base in place to assist the development of new acts entering a multi-million pound industry.
Folklore
Folklore and legend has always been an essential part of Irish culture, with the emphasis being on story telling, an oral tradition. In Gaelic and Norman-Gaelic Ireland, the poet or 'file' was the guardian of knowledge, and as such, enjoyed high status in society.
The folk-tales and legends of Irish culture have been handed down through generations of such guardians and the telling of such tales to the community was a great social tradition.
