In this special Christmas Eve edition of ‘Listening In’ I will offer that without a doubt my favourite Christmas song is “Christmas in Killarney,” a song written in 1950 and performed by many artists over the years, though the best IMO is unquestionably The Irish Rovers version, recorded in 2002 (a video we posted a couple of years ago).

The Rovers rendition is also the one chosen by four blokes calling themselves the Brothers Charles, whose video here has become a Christmas tradition in its own right for many – no doubt for the lads’ unbridled enthusiasm demonstrated while raising a cup of cheer or two as they mime and dance along with the song, even if the setting lacks the usual Christmas trimmings.

But the song is great, the antics amusing, so it seems perfectly fitting to suit the Christmas Eve spirit. As the song says, “Our hearts are light, our spirits bright… so celebrate our joy tonight, with all of the folks at home.”

Lyrics

[Chorus:] The holly green, the ivy green
The prettiest picture you’ve ever seen
Is Christmas in Killarney
With all of the folks at home
It’s nice you know, to kiss your beau
while cuddling under the mistletoe
And Santa Claus, you know of course
Is one of the boys from home

The door is always open
The neighbours pay a call
And Father John, before he’s gone
Will bless the house and all
Our Hearts are light, our spirits bright
We’ll celebrate our joy tonight
It’s Christmas in Killarney
With all of the folks at home

[Chorus]

We’ll decorate the Christmas tree
While all the family’s here
Around a roaring fire
We will raise a cup of cheer
There’s gifts to bring and songs to sing
And laughs to make the rafters ring
It’s Christmas in Killarney
With all of the folks at home

[Chorus]

We’ll take the Horse and Sleigh
All across the fields of snow
Listening to the jingle bells
And everywhere we go
How grand it feels to click your heels
And dance away to the jigs and reels
It’s Christmas in Killarney
With all of the folks at home

[Chorus]

The holly green, the ivy green
The prettiest picture you’ve ever seen
I’m handing you no blarney
No matter where you roam
It’s Christmas in Killarney
With all of the folks at home

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