Irish Characters – Song Description
Ireland has always been a land of unforgettable characters. The storyteller at the end of the bar, the neighbour who knows everyone’s business, the joker who can raise a laugh in the darkest moment, the dreamer with a grand plan, the chancer looking for an angle, and the quiet, honest soul who would help a stranger without ever seeking thanks.
This song is a celebration of those people—the personalities that bring colour, humour and humanity to everyday life. It affectionately captures the wit, charm, resilience and warmth that have become part of Ireland’s identity, from bustling city streets to remote country villages.
The song does not pretend that everyone is a saint. It embraces the full spectrum of Irish character: the crafty and the clever, the mischievous and the trustworthy, the talkers, the schemers, the poets, the workers, and the countless ordinary people whose kindness often goes unnoticed. They are the people who can turn a simple conversation into an evening’s entertainment, who find humour in hardship, and who somehow make every gathering feel like home.
Filled with affection, laughter and a touch of nostalgia, the song paints a portrait of a nation where stories are treasured, friendships are valued, and personality is never in short supply. It is a tribute to the men and women who make Ireland such a memorable and much-loved place—not because they are perfect, but because they are wonderfully, uniquely human.
A warm-hearted celebration of Irish humour, Irish resilience, Irish wit, and above all, the remarkable characters who have always been the heart and soul of Ireland. 🍀🇮🇪
Verse 1
Across the fields of Kerry
And the streets of Dublin town
You’ll meet a hundred storytellers
Before the sun goes down
A fellow swears he’s wealthy
With a pocket full of air
And somehow by the evening
He’s the richest man in there
Chorus
Oh Ireland, Ireland
Land of laughter in the rain
Where every road has memories
And every loss a gain
The dreamers and the rogues alike
The honest and the sly
A thousand different characters
Beneath the emerald sky
Verse 2
There’s the man who knows the answers
To questions never asked
The woman keeping families strong
Through futures and through pasts
The joker in the corner
With another tale to tell
And the neighbour who’ll arrive at once
The moment things aren’t well
Chorus
Oh Ireland, Ireland
Land of laughter in the rain
Where every road has memories
And every loss a gain
The dreamers and the rogues alike
The honest and the sly
A thousand different characters
Beneath the emerald sky
Bridge
Some will promise fortunes
Some will stretch the truth a mile
Some will lend a helping hand
With neither fuss nor style
But when the night grows darkest
And the hard times come to call
You’ll find the heart of Ireland
Still beating through it all
Final Chorus
Oh Ireland, Ireland
Land of music, wit and grace
Where kindness wears no uniform
And welcomes every face
The chancers and the saints alike
The fools and wise old men
A thousand different stories
And I’d gladly hear them all again
Michael Forty