Song Clearance Sheet
4 sources citedWhen Irish Eyes Are Smiling
Tin Pan Alley1910sPictured: Original sheet music (public domain) · source
UnconfirmedBPM
D majKey
More in D major → · More “Public Domain” →
Key from published sheet music / hymnals
The verdict
Public Domain
In the public domain — but check the Rights Status below; a specific host's copy can carry its own caveat.
Used by independents?
Yes — it’s in the public domain — free for any independent artist to use, with no clearance needed.
Origin
Written for Chauncey Olcott's Broadway production 'The Isle O' Dreams,' premiered January 1912 (sources say the 22nd or 27th)
An honest note on its writers
None of the three writers were Irish immigrants — Olcott's mother emigrated from Ireland, but Graff and Ball had no Irish heritage. Written for the era's large Irish-American audience
First commercial recording
Chauncey Olcott himself, 1913 (Columbia A1310)
Rights Status
Licenses explained →Public domain is not one blanket badge — each source can carry its own caveat
The compositionPublic domain
The early recordingPublic domain
Cultural Impact
Documented covers, adaptations, and cultural echoes — each with a real, dated source
Covered across nine decades
Recorded by John McCormack during WWI, Bing Crosby (1947), Joni James (1959), Frank Zappa (1991), Perry Como (live, 1994) and The Irish Tenors (1998).
American Songwriter · read it →
Sung by two heads of government together
Performed in 1985 by US President Ronald Reagan and Canadian PM Brian Mulroney at the 'Shamrock Summit.' (Single source found — not yet cross-verified.)
Emerald Heritage · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?Yes — free to use without clearance
References
Every source cited on this page — 4 in total
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Page history · 3 updates
Jul 2026Key added from published sheet music / hymnals (documented source)
Jul 2026BPM/Key fast-follow: tempo and key are interpretation-dependent across arrangements and performances — no canonical value, so both marked Unconfirmed rather than invented
Jul 2026Page created