The Irish have always been lousy on music. German Catholics had a much better musical tradition, and were becoming very influential in musical circles. I think things would have improved enormously if VatII had not come along and nipped the liturgical reform movement in the bud (basically solving the problem by doing away with the liturgy altogether!).
Agreed. The only folks with worse music than the Irish are the Chinese, who are also the only people with worse dancing than the Irish as well.