The Greatest Irish Guitar Solos
Ireland has produced some of rock's most emotional lead guitar. Rory Gallagher's battered Stratocaster, Gary Moore's long, singing notes, Eric Bell's playing on Thin Lizzy's 'Whiskey in the Jar', Henry McCullough's solo on Wings' 'My Love', and The Edge's echo-drenched textures with U2 are all here. The list covers guitarists from both sides of the border who grew up in Ireland, and every video starts at the solo.
- 1Gary Moore · solo by Gary Moore · 1990
- 2Gary Moore · solo by Gary Moore · 1978
- 3Thin Lizzy · solo by Eric Bell · 1973
- 4Thin Lizzy · solo by Eric Bell · 1972
- 5Rory Gallagher · solo by Rory Gallagher · 1978
- 6U2 · solo by The Edge · 1991
- 7Paul McCartney and Wings · solo by Henry McCullough · 1973
- 8Rory Gallagher · solo by Rory Gallagher · 1973
- 9Rory Gallagher · solo by Rory Gallagher · 1973
- 10Rory Gallagher · solo by Rory Gallagher · 1972
- 11Taste · solo by Rory Gallagher · 1970
- 12Thin Lizzy · solo by Gary Moore · 1979
- 13Gary Moore · solo by Gary Moore · 1987
- 14Gary Moore · solo by Gary Moore · 1983
- 15U2 · solo by The Edge · 1987
- 16U2 · solo by The Edge · 1991
- 17Rory Gallagher · solo by Rory Gallagher · 1976
- 18Wings · solo by Henry McCullough · 1972
Quick answers
Who is the greatest Irish guitarist?
Rory Gallagher and Gary Moore are the usual answers. Guitar.com reported Gallagher being voted Ireland's greatest musical artist. Belfast-born Moore has the highest-ranked Irish solo on the site, 'Still Got the Blues'.
Who played the solos on Thin Lizzy's 'Whiskey in the Jar' and 'Black Rose'?
Belfast-born Eric Bell played on 'Whiskey in the Jar' (1972) and 'The Rocker'. Gary Moore played lead on the 1979 album 'Black Rose'.
Is The Edge Irish?
He was born in England and moved to Ireland as a small child, growing up in Dublin, where U2 formed. We include him as an Irish-raised guitarist.