Hymns for a Catholic funeral
If you're planning a Catholic funeral, here you'll find a list of the most popular Catholic hymns.
Irish songs for funerals
Celebrate your loved one's Irish heritage with a popular hymn or song from Ireland at their funeral
Music is an important aspect of Irish culture, and features heavily in Irish funerals. Below are a list of popular Irish ballads, normally performed by a singer or choir, and a list of well-known hymns for the whole congregation to sing together with the organ.
Ballads
Beautiful City (My home by the Lee)
The River Lee encircles the city of Cork.
The Banks of My Own Lovely Lee
The official song of Cork.
Danny Boy
To the old Irish tune ‘Londonderry Air’. Can also be sung to the lyrics ‘Go Silent Friend’. Hear it performed by one of our singers on our Listen page.
Down By The Salley Gardens
An old Irish tune set to words by the Irish poet WB Yeats.
Fields of Athenry
Athenry is in County Galway.
Gaelic Blessing (John Rutter)
Rutter is an English composer, but he based this piece on the structures of Gaelic poetry.
Irish Blessing (Bob Chilcott)
An alternative setting of the hymn ‘May The Road Rise To Meet You’
Lady of Knock
Knock is in County Mayo. Hear one of our singers performing this on our Listen page.
The Parting Glass
Actually a Scottish song, but very popular in Ireland.
The Rose of Tralee
Tralee is the county town of County Kelly.
Hymns
Be Thou my vision
Based on an old Irish text, and set to the Irish folk-tune ‘Slane’, you might also recognise this as Lord Of All Hopefulness. One of the most popular choices for Irish Catholic funerals.
Christ be beside me
Set to the Irish ‘Bunessan’ tune, also recognisable as Morning Has Broken.
I bind unto myself today
From the prayer St Patrick’s Breastplate, also known as the Lorica prayer. Most famously arranged by Charles Villiers Stanford.
Bring flowers of the rarest
Also known as Queen of the May. Its composer was English, but nonetheless a very popular hymn in the Irish community.
May the road rise to meet you
Arranged by Lori True, also well known as the Irish Blessing.
Book a professional singer or choir
Planning a Catholic funeral Mass? See our list of popular Catholic hymns
Need more inspiration?
Check out our articles to find more funeral music inspiration
