The top ten worst moments in Irish entertainment video (VIDEO)
Given the opportunity we’d really rather not have watched these
By
IrishCentral Staff Writers,
Published Sunday, October 6, 2013, 7:09 AM
Updated Sunday, October 6, 2013, 7:09 AM

The Irish Tenors (top) and The Pogues.
Photo by Google Images
The Irish are famous for their artistic talents. Many of the world’s finest singers, playwrights, musicians, actors, filmmakers and designers were either born in, or can trace their roots to the Emerald Isle.
But even the best of the best can have a bad day. For most of us, that means yelling at the kids or bcc-ing your boss on that email about your drunken weekend. But artists inhabit a different sphere – and sometimes their grand gestures and inspirational flourishes come across as hokey, silly or just downright embarrassing.
We’ve counted down the ten most cringe-inducing moments in Irish pop culture. But don’t let the number
fool you, there are probably way more moments out their that are equally likely to give you an uncomfortable flush.
1. Celtic Thunder: Rocky Road to Dublin
The earth will move when you hit play – it’s the body of every departed Irish folk singer rolling over in unison at this sanitized, choreographed take on an Irish classic.
Performing it on a giant Celtic Cross just adds insult to injury. And why do they keep changing positions?
2. The Irish Tenors vs Ronan Keating / Fairytale of New York
These covers of the iconic Pogues song would bring a tear to Shane MacGowan’s eye, but for all the wrong reasons. The tenors’ schmaltzy version is just plain weird, but Ronan and duet
partner Moya Brennan (of Clannad!) look uncomfortable calling one another “slut” and “punk.”
3. The Wolfe Tones / Boston Rose
The Wolfe Tones are an iconic folk group – but occasionally they didn’t pay attention to their song lyrics. Tommy Byrne should have rethought the line: “I’ll wait for you, I’ll think of you – no threat to you I’ll pose.” Sounds like the lyrics to a restraining order.
4. Bono Honors Sinatra / 1994 Grammy Awards
The U2 singer’s prose poem to Sinatra is filled with memorable lines, all of which should have signaled the Grammy organizers to play the “wrap it up music” after a minute. Top prize has to go to “Frank walks like America – cocksure,” though calling him the “big bang of pop” has to rank a close second.