Christmas in Ireland is the largest celebration of the year although 8 December is traditionally viewed as the start of Christmas with many putting up their decorations and Christmas trees. Irish Christmas traditions are similar to those in most Western countries.

This is not such a bizarre cross-over as one might imagine for in the 18th century the great Irish musician Turlough O’Carolan, a blind harpist, met the Italian musician Geminiani in Dublin, and through him encountered the music of, yes, guess who, Antonio Vivaldi. So here we have a case of substituting Irish instruments for baroque ones, using baroque instruments to accompany Irish themes, by creating dialogues between Celtic and baroque instruments, or by letting all the musicians improvise. One moment we appear to be listening to a ‘straight’ baroque concerto, then all of a sudden the conventional string continuo/ripieno of the baroque ensemble (Le Orfanelle della Pieta) gives way to celtic musicians playing a jig or reel on anything from a Irish bouzouki to a fiddle. The baroque group consists of three each of first and second violins, one viola, two cellos, a bass and harpsichord while the Irish musicians play Irish fiddle, an Irish flute (like a baroque flute), tin and low whistles, Uileann pipes, Irish bouzouki, mandolins, bodhran, bones, and the Celtic harp (played here with metal strings to resemble its harpsichord counterpart in the other group).

Just as the title implies, 25 Years of Greatness is a career-spanning 32-track compilation covering most of the highlights of the Wolfe Tones' first quarter of a century. There is the important caveat, however, that like many folk groups, the Wolfe Tones have recorded many of their most popular songs several times, and this collection tends to favor more recent and/or more arranged versions of the Spartan originals that graced early albums like Let the People Sing. That's not as much of a problem as it would be with some groups, however, as the Wolfe Tones have wisely resisted any temptation to "update," "modernize," or otherwise ruin a traditional Irish folk style that has worked for them for so long; even the Fairport Convention-like electric track of the new "Rock On Rockall" has a bracingly traditional feel to it. This is the Wolfe Tones set to have if you're having just one, but there's plenty more where this came from.

19 tracks. Lorena Mckennitt, The Corrs, Clannad & Bono, Sarah Brightman, Kate Bush, Luar Na Lubre, Mike Oldfield, Maire Brennan, Mary Black, Christie Moore, Eliza Carthy, Caroline Lavelle, Sinéad O'Connor, Altan, Eddi Reader, Sharon Shannon & Hothouse Flowers, Eimear Quinn, Simple Minds.

At one point in the mid-'70s, Horslips seemed poised to become Ireland's answer to Steeleye Span. But they also had a shot at being the next Jethro Tull (only a better hard rock outfit), or maybe Genesis, or even Yes in their folkier moments. Those events never quite happened, but Horslips released half-a-dozen superb albums along the way, becoming Ireland's most acclaimed folk-rock and progressive band. Collection includes: Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part (1972); The Táin (1973); Drive The Cold Winter Away (1975); The Book of Invasions: A Celtic Symphony (1976).

Green Linnet 20th Anniversary Collection is a double-disc collection featuring 38 tracks from the Celtic music insitution. Every one of the label's biggest artists – including Silly Wizard, Altan, Wolfstone, the Bothy Band, John Williams, Tannahill Weavers – is on the collection, giving a good representation of not only the label, but the state of Celtic music of the '70s, '80s, and '90s. It's an excellent retrospective.

Limited three CD box set that contains all three Woman's Heart albums: A Woman's Heart, A Woman's Heart 2, A Woman's Heart - A Decade On. Listening to Ireland speak from the heart is to hear a woman's voice. A Woman's Heart is a rare collection of Ireland's top female vocalists, including Maura O'Connell, Frances Black, Dolores Keane, Sharon Shannon, Eleanor McEvoy, Sinead O'Connor, Mary Coughlan, and Mary Black… Each artist is famous in her own right and sings one of her signature pieces.

This box-set combines three of the Celtic folk-rock/new age act's albums, Sirius (1987), Anam (1990) & Banba (1994). 31 tracks. Three standard jewelcases with individual artwork housed together in a slipcase.

The Best of Clannad: In a Lifetime is a greatest hits compilation album by Irish folk group Clannad. It contains two new tracks, "Christmas Angels" and "What Will I Do", the latter of which is on the soundtrack to the Kevin Costner film Message in a Bottle. 2003 UK Limited Edition 26-track 2-CD album set comprising of 18-track CD including Theme From Harrys Game In A Lifetime - featuring Bono & duets with Paul Young & Bruce Hornsby plus BONUS 8-track CD featuring their most laid-back tracks & 3 previously unreleased chilled-out remixes & Saltwater by Chicane.

Clannad bridged the gap between traditional Celtic music and pop, and the results were an entrancing, enchanting form of pop that managed to fuse the disparate elements together rather seamlessly, creating an invigorating blend of Irish traditional folk with modern influences. Such fusions have earned the band an international cult of fans. Clannad are at their best when unleashing gargantuan choruses against Moya Brennan's hushed leads, and the inclusion of the beautiful "Newgrange," a mystical ode to one of Britain s famous stone circles, and "Caislean Oir," the leadoff track from the band's excellent 1985 release, Macalla, are prime examples. With 30 tracks on 2 CDs, The Essential Clannad touches on fan favorites, collaborations, and songs from films. The material is quite varied in scope, and the arrangements and vocals are vastly pretty and melodic. The full range of the band's styles are presented here, from gorgeous a cappella to slick pop/rock, acoustic guitar ballads, Irish folk strains, and sophisticated power pop crunch.

The new album HEATHER DOWN THE MOOR (Gael Linn) from Gatehouse is receiving rave reviews and the group features on the playlists of stations across these islands. Individually, these musicians are superb but when they combine as Gatehouse, they are outstanding! Their music ranges from the light cadence of dance music to barnstormers which remind one of The Bothy Band. A central feature of the album is the beautiful singing of Rachel Garvey whose wide repertoire of songs in Irish and in English are given sympathetic and understated accompaniment by the group. The new tune compositions from the group's fiddler John McEvoy fit seamlessly into the musical style of North Connacht.