Another consequence of the Anglicisation of Ireland was the gradual loss of traditional Irish music. Knowledge of Gaelic songs decreased with knowledge of the Irish language in general. Old Irish melodies were partially forgotten, while the use of traditional Irish instruments, namely the harp, the Irish pipes, and the fiddle, declined. As a wave of cultural nationalism swept Ireland in the late 1800s and early 1900s, various individuals and groups sought to assert Ireland’s distinct cultural identity by reviving its fading musical tradition. Perhaps foremost among these groups was the Feis Ceoil Association, which was founded in the late 1890s by a group of Irish individuals with the intention of promoting Irish music. Another prominent group was the Irish Folk Song Society, which was established in 1904 with the goal of collecting and publishing Irish folk songs and ballads. The books of music pictured below illustrate Irish cultural nationalists’ attempts to preserve Ireland’s rich musical heritage.