High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Horslips are an Irish celtic rock band that compose, arrange and perform songs based on traditional Irish jigs and reels. The group are regarded as `founding fathers of celtic rock` for their fusion of traditional Irish music with rock music and went on to inspire many local and international acts. They formed in 1970 and `retired` in 1980 for an extended period. The name originated from a spoonerism on The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse which became "The Four Poxmen of The Horslypse".