Two words: Ronan Keating. Make those three words: Chris De Burgh. Let’s face it, even housewives favorite Daniel O’Donnell is no threat to Luciano Pavarotti - and he’s dead. Not every Irish man can sing a rousing rebel song on request, despite what you see every time in the movies.
Irish people can however reduce you to heaving sobs with their songs about lost love, lost land and faded hopes. Be warned: otherwise perfect social evenings can be brought to a standstill by the power of just one Irish ballad competently sung. Your guests may weep copiously or begin to think about snow falling faintly, and faintly falling, and if it does happen just go with it, it’s the Irish way.