My Wild Irish Rose

Album: Celtic Favorites (1899)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • After "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling," which he co-wrote, "My Wild Irish Rose" is probably the most famous song Irish-American Chauncey Olcott churned out. The inspiration for this solo composition was revealed by his wife Margaret after his death. On a visit to his mother's homeland in 1898, a young boy gave her a flower. When she asked him what it was called he replied, "A wild Irish Rose." She put the flower in an album, and later when her husband asked her for suggestions for a song title she opened the album, pointed to it and said: "There's the title for your new song."

    The ballad went into A Romance Of Athlone the following year, and the sheet music was published by the New York firm Witmark. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments: 1

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 16th 1974, the new Opryland Auditorium in Nashville was dedicated by U.S. President Richard Nixon...
    After the dedication he sat down at a piano and played "Happy Birthday," "My Wild Irish Rose," and "God Bless America"...
    And less than four months later on August 8th, 1974 he announced that he would resign from the presidency the following day.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

The 10 Bands Most Like Spinal Tap

The 10 Bands Most Like Spinal TapSong Writing

Based on criteria like girlfriend tension, stage mishaps and drummer turnover, these are the 10 bands most like Spinal Tap.

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And Scandals

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And ScandalsSong Writing

Surprise exits, a catfight and some very memorable performances make our list of the most memorable Idol moments.

Band Names

Band NamesFact or Fiction

Was "Pearl" Eddie Vedder's grandmother, and did she really make a hallucinogenic jam? Did Journey have a contest to name the group? And what does KISS stand for anyway?

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & TearsSongwriter Interviews

The longtime BS&T frontman tells the "Spinning Wheel" story, including the line he got from Joni Mitchell.

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")Song Writing

Wes Edwards takes us behind the scenes of videos he shot for Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley and Chase Bryant. The train was real - the airplane was not.