The genre “Celtic” folk song is now in common usage as a term describing both traditional and contemporary material usually in English with a provenance or association, with Scotland and Ireland .Strictly speaking, the style should also embrace the songs of Wales but there seems to be a limited number of lyrics in the English language, which have found their way into the general folk scene.

 Separately, both Scotland and Ireland have a wealth of music and lyrics from the Gaelic tradition and a number of folk artists have successfully included ballads from this source in their presentation to audiences who would have no knowledge of the ancient language. This is a tribute to both their artistic skill and the quality of music which has survived over the centuries. There are of course, separate movements, within Wales Scotland and Ireland, preserving songs in the Gaelic form and promoting them through the media of Eisteddfod Mod and Fleadh. Within Wales, there is also a source of contemporary song in the Welsh language, which does not generally cross the borders into the neighbouring Kingdoms.

 The Songs of Robert Burns.

In addition to his poetical works, Burns was actively involved in his later years, with the publication of two major works which sought to preserve the tunes and traditional songs of Scotland. These were Johnson’s Musical Museum and Thompson’s Original Scottish Airs both works from which he derived no monetary reward, but which he knew were important in preserving the legacy of Scottish music. He re-worked many of the original lyrics and also set new verses to tunes where none existed.

In recent years, there has been an upsurge of interest in these works which have proved a valuable source for contemporary folk musicians. Burns also collected (and wrote) bawdy folk songs first published in the year 1800, four years after his death as Merry Muses of Caledonia; This was described as a collection of “favourite Scots songs” selected for the use of the Crochallan Fencibles, an Edinburgh male only, drinking and dining club of which Burns was a popular member.

Needless to say material from this source is performed by both sexes today.