BBC Music’s list of best Irish bands ever has one glaring omission

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Making any ‘best of’ list is tough, and people often disagree with the choices. BBC Music usually does a good job with these lists, which they publish frequently, but they occasionally make mistakes. Their recent ranking of the best Irish bands is a good example – surprisingly, they left out the iconic group, The Chieftains.

Several other fantastic bands also made the list, as expected. U2 tops the chart, which is hard to dispute given their decades of hit songs and impactful social commentary. Thin Lizzy comes in at number two, a perfectly reasonable placement.

It’s unbelievable that The Chieftains aren’t being recognized! Back in the early 1960s, when rock and roll was just getting started, this Dublin-based group took traditional Irish music and turned it into something truly special, introducing the Celtic sound to the world. They were highly sought after by other musicians and are essential to the sound of Ireland – you can’t have a proper Christmas playlist without them!

BBC Music somehow leaves the Chieftains off its ranking of best Irish bands ever

The Chieftains’ legacy isn’t just about how popular they became – they’ve enjoyed considerable success – but about the impact they’ve had on music. Their musical talent is extraordinary, and their six Grammy Awards – along with a total of 21 nominations – demonstrate their influence on traditional Irish music.

This group wasn’t focused on winning awards or record sales. Their goal was simply to share the beautiful sound of the uilleann pipes and tin whistle with music fans around the world. They believed these instruments deserved to be heard, no matter where people lived – whether it was in Ireland or across the globe in a place like Beijing.

If that sounds unusual, it’s actually a significant milestone. The Chieftains were the first Western musical group to be invited to perform with the Chinese Broadcasting Art Group, and this historic event took place in 1983.

The Chieftains contributed the song “Women of Ireland” to the soundtrack of Stanley Kubrick’s 1975 film, Barry Lyndon, which went on to win an Oscar. Throughout their career, the group has performed widely and left a significant legacy.

BBC Music’s recent ranking of Ireland’s top 21 bands is decent, but its omission of The Chieftains significantly weakens it. If you ask most of the bands included – which represent a variety of genres, like Clannad at number 12 – if The Chieftains influenced their music, the answer would almost certainly be yes.

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2026-03-19 21:00