The title is slightly misleading.

But there's no questioning the intent of this double CD packed with music -- 30 tracks in all -- dedicated to Ireland's struggle for freedom. While some songs do not deal directly with the Easter Rising of 1916, when Irish rebels seized control of the GPO in Dublin, they all share the theme of Irish liberty. Some songs are set later, focusing on the death of Michael Collins in 1922, the continuing struggle in Northern Ireland and related subjects.

The Easter Rising is of course the pinnacle of events leading to the creation of the Irish Republic. Padraig Pearse, accompanied by James Connolly, proclaimed their nation's freedom outside the General Post Office in Dublin, beginning a week-long siege during which 1,510 Irish volunteers held off 12,000 English troops. According to the CD's comprehensive liner notes, the Rising ended with 450 people dead (116 soldiers, 16 policemen, 64 republicans and 254 civilians) and more than 2,600 severely wounded. In the Rising's aftermath, 3,430 Irish men and 79 Irish women were arrested; 1,836 men and five women were deported to England and imprisoned. Sixteen leaders of the Rising were executed by English troops.

Unfortunately, while the notes provide a nice overview of historical events, they tell us very little about the songs. It would be nice to know more about them, such as which were written immediately following the events described and which were penned by later generations. For those songs not dealing directly with the Rising, a bit of historical context would be useful. It would also be nice to know more about the singers and when these tracks -- some are obviously fairly old -- were recorded.

Performers include Wolfhound, Declan Hunt, Eugene McEldowney, the Dubliners, Ray McAreavey and the Irish Ramblers. Modern arrangements mix with scratchy, primitive recordings -- but all surge with the power of the Irish spirit. Geariod Grant's recitation of Pearse's April 24th proclamation is particularly moving.

For some people, songs such as these are a sore spot -- it doesn't seem right to incite further anger in a generations-old conflict still struggling towards peaceful resolution. These, however, are not urging the Irish men and women of today to rise up and fight another bloody war for freedom. They are a slice of Ireland's history, a musical reminder of a struggle long past. Certainly, the names of those brave men and women of 1916, the deeds they did and the price they paid for freedom should not be forgotten.