Blarney Pilgrims Irish Music Podcast artwork

Blarney Pilgrims Irish Music Podcast

94 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 54 ratings

The Blarney Pilgrims Podcast is a weekly journey to the heart of Irish music. We interview players of Irish music about how they first came to the music and the place it occupies in their lives now. We use the word ‘heart’ intentionally, because heart is what this music, and the people who play it, are all about. It’s a funny, warm and often unexpected journey – and the tunes are crackin' too.
NOTE:
Hey there - it's Darren and Dom here. So...we want to let you know that last week was the last episode (Ep 94) of the Blarney Pilgrims Podcast for now. We've come to a point where we've both decided to take a long pause and focus on a few other things. Knowing how much the podcast means to you all, it's a decision we've been really reluctant to take. What we DO know is how massively grateful we are for every text, every thumbs up, every raised eyebrow of support we've had over the past two years. You are all legends, and we're forever in your debt. Thanks especially to everyone who's become a Patron Saint and supported us through the toughest of economic times, and thanks most especially to the musicians. To those who have been so generous to share their tunes and stories with us, and to those who've welcomed us into pub sessions and festival gatherings and house sessions and campsite sessions. Wherever in the world we've chatted with players of the music, we've been made to feel like lifelong pals. It's a testament to the open heartedness of the communities who keep the music going wherever they are, and we can't thank you all enough. We hope this archive will remain of use to people even as we're taking a pause. So - please do stay in touch, don't be a stranger, and if you see us out and about, do say hello. And we'll see you when we see you. Dom and Darren.

Music Interviews Music Music Commentary irish music podcast irish music irish music traditional irish music irish traditional music trad traditional celtic tunes
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Episodes

Episode 94: Nuala Kennedy Interview (Flute, whistle, singing)

March 23, 2021 09:00 - 1 hour - 95.7 MB

An absolute stoater! A Great Session = 'The maximum fun possible, every night!' From Dundalk to Belfast, and finding freedom in Edinburgh. Hamish Henderson and the wild nights in Sandy Bell's. Mike One-Shirt and Luke Plumb; Deaf Shepherd and the great encouragers like Cathal McConnell. The consolations of music. House sessions in Venice Beach, meeting the daughter of the man who wrote Thíos Cois na Trá, and so much more. Awesome. In this episode Nuala plays and sings... Kitty Gone A Milking ...

Episode 93: Jimmy Mullarkey (Accordion)

March 15, 2021 03:00 - 1 hour - 58.6 MB

'I could play reels all night if I knew enough of them.' Country Sligo in the '50s and '60s, to London then Sydney. Father, mother and uncle playing the fiddle, learning at country house dances and 'having a go myself.' Ceili House on Radio Athlone, and looking forward to Friday night house dances. Falling in love with the accordion. Listening to the greats of the London scene; learning the box, digging trenches and labouring; Kentish Town and Holloway Road. Plenty of work in Sydney, and get...

Episode 92: Gráinne Brady Interview (Fiddle)

March 05, 2021 03:00 - 1 hour - 73.2 MB

From Cavan to Glasgow. Party houses and late night tapes. Finding your feet in sessions that suit. Creating your own space to play. The Navvy poet Patrick MacGill, The Road Across The Hill, Newcomer and The Children Of The Dead End. In this episode we play: The Road Across the Hills Newcomer By and By Atone To listen, stream or download simply click a link below: Our website: https://blarneypilgrims.com iTunes: https://apple.co/2A6tUPm Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3cPTkis Spotify: https://...

Episode 91: Angela Usher Interview (Banjo, whistle, tenor guitar)

March 01, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 68.6 MB

Tin whistle with Marian Egan (Flannery) in Hulme. Touring New Zealand and Australia. First banjos and joining Curragh. Toss the Feathers and choosing work over the road. The social side of learning. Joe and Jack Cooley and the lost tapes from America. The Love of Lucia, Kitty’s Twelve Roses and The Gort Mile. In this episode Angela plays: Port Chuilinn / The Munster Buttermilk / Bobby Casey's (Banjo jigs) The Coalminers / Patsy Toughey's / Finbar Dwyais (Tin whistle set) Flat Water Fran / Lit...

Episode 90: Enda Murray Interview (Songs of the Last Convict Ship)

February 22, 2021 05:00 - 2 hours - 83 MB

Irish Fenian rebellion prisoners and the songs of the last convict ship to Australia. Ned Of The Hill, John Boyle O'Reilly and Exile In The Kingdom. The Stardust Hotel and the birth of Drogheda Boxing Club. The London squat scene, Jamaican sound systems and the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. Secret Family Recipes and looking back at tradition with rose tinted glasses. No Bother. In this episode we hear: O'Niell's March Last Rose Of Summer Freedom - Exile In The Kingdom Ned Of The...

Episode 89: Maċa Interview (Fiddle, guitar, bodhran)

February 15, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 86.2 MB

Buying your first guitar with your confirmation money. Playing 182 tunes in two hours. Winning Réalta agus Gaolta. Cutting your teeth in Raglan Road Orlando. Finding a mentor in Kíla's Rónán Ó Snodaigh. Translating the craic. Avoiding the abyss of lockdown and a casual Disney Princess flex. In this episode Maċa play: Devil's Den Something Blue Feel Like Home Call On You Buy Maċa's new album 'Spiral' here: https://macaofficial.com/ Follow them on the socials here: https://www.facebook.com/m...

Episode 88: Shane Lestideau Interview (Fiddle, baroque violin, violin d'amore)

February 07, 2021 01:00 - 2 hours - 71.3 MB

Finding Michael Jackson in the Blue Mountains after ten years in a Buddhist Bush community. A year of four hour nights. Mozart with a Sligo lilt. Ten hour train trips for one hour lessons. Scottish baroque music, modal tunes, violin d'amore, and combining art music and folk music. Catch Shane Lestideau in Queenscliff during the Boxwood Festival from the 19th to the 21st of Feb 2021. Joining Shane at Boxwood are Maggie Carty, Máirtín Staunton, Andy Rigby, Aifric Boylan, Chris Norman and Coral...

Episode 87: Aidan Crossey Interview (Mandolin)

February 01, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 83 MB

Stiff Little Fingers, punk rock, rebel songs and finding your tribe. Getting your head shard. Good listening makes good music. An Achill Island session and a musical awakening. Losing good friends and finding solace in music. GameStop, countercultures, DIY creativity, Inflammable Material, and of course, The Irish Mandolin... 1-2-3-4! In this episode Aidan plays: My Singing Bird / The Bird In The Bush Junior Crehans / Nightcap McQuillans Hill (Original) Michael Gregory's (Original) Kilnamo...

Episode 86: Rus Bradburd Interview (Fiddle)

January 22, 2021 05:00 - 2 hours - 60.3 MB

Digging into tunes. Paddy Jones. The Draoicht. Sports and music, and finding your place in both. Coaching basketball in Ireland and the Tralee Tigers. Carl Hardebeck, The Blind Bard of Belfast. The fiddle as an old person's instrument. Sliabh Luachra. Padraig O'Keeffe. Paddy on the Hardwood. Slow airs in sessions and New Mexico polkas. In this episode Rus plays: Westfort Gals The Pikeman's / Down The Glen (Marches) Farewell To Whiskey / The Dark Girl In The Blue Dress Leaving Lerwick (Paddy...

Episode 85: Barry Kerr Interview (Uilleann pipes, flute, singing)

January 17, 2021 06:00 - 1 hour - 73.9 MB

The Liam O'Flynn Award. Digging into the Irish Traditional Music Archive. Ulster hunting songs and mummers. Hare coursing. Life in Lurgan County Armagh. The Ceili House and legend of Seamus Tansey. Prehistoric cairns and building on the tradition. The magic of the session and finding inspiration in the music. In this episode Barry Plays: The Holy Trinity Reels: Clancy from Clare / The Rambles of Ennis / Master Rowesome’s Of Sportsmen Bold The Chicken Gone to Scotland / Unnamed tune from Fin...

Episode 84: Aoife Kelly Interview (Concertina)

January 06, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 76.8 MB

We ARE the source.' John Kelly of Capel Street and Scattery Island. Hiding the fiddle under your jacket in Dublin in the rare oul times. Strange hornpipes, slip jigs, slides. Patsy Geary, Jimmy O'Donahue and Kilfenora's three bakeries. The memory palace and preserving a life. Ireland, Australia, Tommy Potts posters and the evocative power of seagulls. Searching out the music in Darwin. Sydney, Melbourne and going back home. Also, maybe young kids shouldn't listen to the intro of this ep. The...

Episode 83: SMASH HITS 2020 (PART 3)

January 04, 2021 12:00 - 1 hour - 58.9 MB

A bit of beach time, and the third of our compilations from the year of 2020. Featuring Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, Una Monaghan, Jason Rouse, Emma Lewis, Joanie Madden, Rita Farrell, Daithí Gormley, James Keane, Tara Howley, Sean Lally, Cathy Custy, Hajime Takahashi, Catherine McEvoy, Ciaran Kelly, Cameron Mather, Áine Tyrrell, Sean Mathews, Liam Thomas Bailey, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Tola Custy and Tola Custy live with Ado Barker. The tunes (I think we've got 'em all...) Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh...

Episode 82: SMASH HITS 2020 (PART 2)

December 22, 2020 12:00 - 1 hour - 61.3 MB

Ahh, the week between Xmas and NYD. Sure what else would you be doing but watching classic TV and making best of 2020 lists. Here's part 2 of our SMASH HITS 2020 to help you through. Don Meade -The Haunted House and The Lark on The Strand Shannon Heaton - P. Joe Hayes Number 2, The Cottage in the Grove and The Mother and Child Reel (with Matt Heaton) Elaine O'Sullivan - Toss The Feathers and Grandpa Tommy's Ceili Band Caitlin NicGabhann - Slip Jigs: Na Ceannabhain Bhana, Bean Phaidin, Nead...

Episode 81: SMASH HITS 2020 (PART 1)

December 20, 2020 12:00 - 1 hour - 48 MB

All the best of the tunes and songs from the last year of Blarney Pilgrims Podcast. And by way of thanks, the conferring of titles on the Patron Saints who've supported the podcast over the last year and a half. 'Out of the blue, maybe thirty, forty birds come and they all start singing beautiful, that was the feeling it had like, you know...' Thank you, above all, to the musicians who were so generous to chat with us over the past year. Featured in this episode... Karen Dolan - Calliope H...

Episode 80: Joanie Madden Interview (Whistle)

December 13, 2020 12:00 - 1 hour - 61.5 MB

The legend. 'We just kept climbing up that mountain.' The hardest working woman in folk music. Hearing Mary Bergin and the beginnings of a career in the entertainment business. New York, the drive to succeed and picking up the phone thirty times a day to get a gig. Balls, weddings, county dances, and the circuit. An American in Ireland. Tour(s), interrupted. 'It's a tough old racket.' Keeping going and being present for the opportunity. And the tunes! The Palm Tree (Billy McComiskey) and a t...

Episode 79: Rita Farrell Interview (Uilleann pipes, flute)

December 07, 2020 08:00 - 1 hour - 82.8 MB

So much in here: piping as meditation and not setting fire to the old Ganley flute. Starting on the whistle but falling for the pipes despite the danger. The eternal conversation: reeds, drones and regulators. The session spaces of Belfast, open piping closed piping, Tommy Reck and saying 'I Love You' to Liam O'Flynn. Being a girl and running an all female session. A room tuned to G Minor, the Drogheda connection, the five string banjo and 'Lovely Leitrim.' Oh. And Robbie Williams and Graham...

Episode 78: Liam Thomas Bailey Interview (Fiddle, five-string banjo, singing)

November 30, 2020 03:00 - 2 hours - 81.6 MB

Stories of a life in music, so far. Ancient tunes and new ones, losing a loved one and finding her again through tunes. The Irish connection. Out of The Wind, Into the Sun: depression, loss, and the therapeutic power of psilocybin mushrooms. Recovery into music. All of everything in a single tune. 'Keeping myself in the air as an artist.' Country song-smithing, Darren's unending love of pop, Dom's unending love of neon COLD BEER signs. The road, the weight, a writer not writing. Bruce Springs...

Episode 77: Darren O'Mahony, Dominic Black, Gerry McKeague and a Huge Thank-You (5-string banjo, guitar, singing)

November 23, 2020 20:00 - 1 hour - 79.3 MB

A chat to mark passing the 100K download mark, with Gerry McKeague of Belfast and Geelong. About what we've learned so far and where we're going. Seriously great fun, and a lovely chance for us to think out loud about what this all means to us. And to say thank to all of you who've travelled with us this far. Tunes: Darren plays Sandy River Belle and Morphine Dominic sings Please Tell My Brother and Gerry sings Sailing Southwards from Rathlin Island During the episode Darren spoke about h...

Episode 76: Tara Howley Interview (Whistle, concertina and uilleann pipes)

November 16, 2020 12:00 - 1 hour - 82.3 MB

Kilfenora; the nervous you get playing in front of ten people, worse than playing in front of a thousand. Leaving your ego at the door. Being happy with what you're doing, being happy within yourself. First hearing the pipes and the trials of competition. Restless creativity, and finding your way to Riverdance. Managing social media and the inner self. (And a Burmese Mountain Dog called Saoirse). The tunes: The Cat's Meaow (Joanie Madden) and Ward's Jig The Three Kilfenoras A Slow Air... Que...

Episode 75: Michael Walsh Interview (Flute, whistle, singing)

November 09, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 79.8 MB

" 'England gave me everything I ever wanted.' " The Quarehawk. Big Tom, Margo, the Manchester scene; Irish, English, and in-between. A love of England and making a whole out of two halves. Grieving, and crafting an album. Fathers, sons, boys, men. Asturias, the flute and identifying as one thing or another. Getting Kepa Junkera to play on your album. And so much more. Brilliant stuff. The tunes: Quarehawk (from Michael's album of the same name) The Boys of Bluehill and the Stockport Hornpipe ...

Episode 74: Caitlín Nic Gabhann Interview (Concertina)

November 02, 2020 05:00 - 2 hours - 85.8 MB

Jig songs, syncopation and keeping away from the funky chicken tunes. Playing out til 4 in the morning with your dad on a Fleadh Saturday night. The magic of Donegal, chancing your arm for a Riverdance audition and not talking to Maria Carey at the pyramids. Finding your own musical voice. Battering, sets and the beauty of West Clare dancing. Youth trad Tinder, the elusive high G# and teaching the concertina to learners across the world. To listen, stream or download simply click a link belo...

Episode 73: Sean Mathews Interview (Sean-nós, twelve string guitar, lap dulcimer)

October 24, 2020 19:00 - 1 hour - 82.5 MB

From Ballsgrove to Dooley Gate. Drogheda singing group to Marcelo Bielsa. Innovating and finding your voice. Halloween, bonfires, fireworks, hash and Scrumpy Jack. Parochial Kavanagh, Jinx Lennon, Blindboy Boatclub and the rise and fall of the commuter belt. This is Sean Mathew's second appearance on the podcast and it's bloody good for the soul I tell ya! Most of the chat is based around Drogheda but really, everything that is said in here will apply to most large towns. In this episode Sea...

Episode 72: Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin Interview (Sean-nós, concertina, flute)

October 12, 2020 09:00 - 1 hour - 68 MB

Mitching classes to work on your music. Sean-nós: 'My granny would have just called them songs.' Tradition and change, art and technique and the soul of the thing. Writing in English, writing in Irish. Activism, collectivity and music as barriers against despair. The tunes: Two reels - The Green Bunch of Rushes and The Merry Sisters of Fate Tá na Páipéir dhá Saighneáil A song Eoghan learned from his father and grandmother - Meiriceá The Monaghan Jig and Eoghan's song, The Deepest Breath Yo...

Episode 71: Cli Donnellan Interview (Fiddle)

October 09, 2020 00:00 - 1 hour - 64.6 MB

The elusive nya! Making tunes your own, ornamentation and phrasing and the old East Clare style. Francie Donnellan, Seamus Bugler, Martin Woods and a tune by the stove. Learning, loving, leaving the music, and returning. 'Songs My Father Sang,' the journey, knowing yourself and the truth in music. The tunes Cli plays this week: The Corner House and The Glen Allen (two reels) The Binder Twine (Lifted from the 'Songs My Father Sang' album) Caisleán An Óir The Trip To London and The Legacy (w...

Episode 70: Mary McEvilly-Butler Interview (Fiddle)

October 05, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 79.1 MB

A Supergroup at the National Celtic Festival. Remembering and forgetting the names of tunes. Ballintubber, County Mayo and musicians in the house. The freedom of the open road, to Boston and Australia. Maintaining a love of kids even when you've been teaching for twenty years or so, and fostering a growth mindset - in children, and yourself. Thanks to Una McAlinden of the National Celtic Festival at Portarlington for giving us the opportunity to hang out in 2019 when we first met Mary. And th...

Episode 69: Úna Monaghan Interview (Harp, samples)

September 28, 2020 11:00 - 2 hours - 86.6 MB

The hornpipe is the rebel, the wink, the wee pocket of mischief. Electronics, samples, rhythms. The harp, and the influence of Janet Harbison. Performing for others and performing alone. Art and listener responses. The Star Factory, mapping Belfast, engineering in sound. Gender, power, Mise Fosta and equal representation in the music business in Ireland. Úna's website is the place to go for more info about her life and work (very cool stuff to discover): http://www.unamonaghan.com/ The first...

Episode 68: James Keane Interview (Accordion) Part 2

September 18, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 51.3 MB

'Know when you've landed.' A first trip to New York and painting the town with Joe Burke and friends. Bill Fuller's ballroom empire, The Woodworm Hotel, and the John Barleycorn. Overcoming adversity and reaching some sort of contentment. Paul Brady, Michael D. Higgins and staying with the music. The tunes in this episode, recorded beautifully by Kate O'Connell: The Lament for the Battle of Aughrim The Stone in the Field, The Steeplechase and The Coolfada Jimmy Giblin's, Throw It Across and...

Episode 67: James Keane Interview (Accordion) Part 1

September 14, 2020 14:00 - 1 hour - 72 MB

The legend. A photo of a photo, pictures within pictures. Father's shift work at Clondalkin paper mill and growing up in Drimnagh. Memories of those that are gone, embedded in the tunes, and bringing them back each time you play. Ceoltóirí Chualann, not letting on that you play the diddley-eye stuff and midnight gigs at the age of 11. 'That quiet part of the world' and the Dublin folk revival scene of the '50s and '60s. Thirteen gigs in the one night and remembering the McPeakes of Belfast. ...

Episode 66: Karen Dolan Interview (Banjo, mandolin)

September 07, 2020 00:00 - 1 hour - 72.1 MB

'Philomena Begley on a tractor!' Tuesday night is music night, learning tunes before the oven timer goes off. To fleadh or not to fleadh; to lilt or not to lilt? The players of Mullaghoran, County Cavan and keeping open to as many influences as possible. The banjo, the mando and joys of teaching. An open hearted approach to music and the fun to be had from it. 'I could close my eyes in a gig and not have a care in the world.' We really hope you get as much enjoyment out of this as we did. It'...

Episode 65: Shannon Heaton Interview (Flute)

August 30, 2020 06:00 - 1 hour - 71.9 MB

A Belgian neighbour in Nigeria and a first encounter with the recorder and whistle; traditional music in Thailand and a global musical imagination; Maria Carey, melismatic singing, Paddy Tunney and the Ulster song tradition; Irish music with Chris and Aidan and John, and meeting Matt Molloy. Holding on to a singer so they don't drift away. Composing, teaching and podcasting, constructing a living in music. And, you know, heart and soul stuff - like hope. So - as you'll know from the chat, Sh...

Episode 64: Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh Interview (Hardanger d'Amore)

August 24, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 77.5 MB

A pause in pandemic times and what you hear when you hear Seamus Ennis; Phelim O'Reilly, Anton McGowan and doorway street sessions; holding onto infectious rhythms from youthful summers. Theoretical physics and musical headspace. 'What is it? What was it?' The irresistible core at the heart of a great session. Schrödinger's Irish tunes, the real music in the solo players and the liberation to be found in lilting. Getting things out of the way as you look for the joy in the music, and falling...

Episode 63: Áine Tyrrell Interview (Guitar, singing, banjo)

August 17, 2020 14:00 - 1 hour - 76.5 MB

Welcome To Country; Ireland, history, emigration; who we are and where we belong. Finding culture, finding your self and finding the courage to take to the road. Away from suburban life and Tupperware. Gender disparity in Irish radio, Robert Kee and Fred Dibnah. This is such a lovely chat - what better way is there to spend an hour? Thanks Áine. The best way to support Áine is through her Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/ainetyrrellmusic Her latest single is 'We Call You Now' - watch i...

Episode 62: Theresa O'Grady Interview (Banjo, tenor guitar, mandolin)

August 10, 2020 04:00 - 2 hours - 90.8 MB

Sunday morning sessions at The Coach and Horses, Finsbury Park; summer road trips to Ireland and back, via relatives' houses, Fleadhs, sessions and the Holyhead ferry; learning to play in Anne Caulfield's house in Luton; competing and adjudicating; becoming a teacher of music and recording your first album. All that AND Barings Bank. Nick Leeson how are ye! You can probably tell from the tape, this was a LOT of fun. Thanks Theresa. Theresa's album, BANJO'ista, is a gem. Get it here, on her b...

Episode 61: Elaine O'Sullivan Interview (Accordion)

August 03, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 66.3 MB

Teenage musicians, crackin the floor in a Drogheda pub and the Wednesday of the Fleadh; passing on the music; community and tunes in Hull, Leeds and the Coventry; the Holyhead night ferry; an English accent in border country, Crossmaglen sessions and the accordion as passport. Elaine plays these tunes: Two jigs - Kitty's Rambles (from Vincent Tighe) / Willie Coleman's Two hornpipes: The Western / The Galway Toss the Feathers / Grandpa Tommy's Ceili Band O'Carolan's Draught / Flagstone of M...

Episode 60: Daithí Gormley Interview (Accordion)

July 27, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 67.3 MB

It doesn't get better than this. 'A good reel would wipe the cobwebs off his heart.' Last Night's Fun and Joe Cooley, a -kick-you-in-the-chest-kind-of-accordion-player.' Looking for the ghosts of James Morrison and Michael Coleman on the streets of New York City. Translating the music of the fiddle into the language of the box. A grandmother's recordings a treasure trove for the aspiring Daithí Gormley and the chancey nature of recording in the studio. 'There's only one trick to becoming a g...

Episode 59: Jason Rouse Interview (Uilleann Pipes)

July 21, 2020 05:00 - 1 hour - 62 MB

Discovering the uilleann pipes on a road trip to Donegal; oils on metal; generative art and music; not settling in Northern Ireland; MIDI pipes and the Cardiff scene; restoration and the mysterious conversations which only pipers understand. Thoughtful and engaging stuff. In this episode Jason plays: The Rocks of Bawn followed by Kitty Got a Clinking Coming from The Fair Two reels, one of which is Scotch Mary An unnamed tune and... When The Cock Crows It Is Day To listen, stream or downlo...

Episode 58: Kevin Crawford Interview (Flute, whistle)

July 14, 2020 05:00 - 2 hours - 87.9 MB

Taking on the old tunes. Records on the wall. The art and laughter of Michael Grinter. The Teetotallers, that Gort Tape and the Irish music scene in 80s Birmingham. Living in America. The birth of Lúnasa. And the rise and rise of TV snooker and Irish music. Gold. The incredibly talented and generous Kevin Crawford joins us for a mammoth chat down the line from Brooklyn, New York. Honestly the man is as good a storyteller as he is a player. You're in for a treat with this one. To listen, strea...

Episode 57: Aifric Boylan Interview (Fiddle)

July 06, 2020 09:00 - 1 hour - 67.8 MB

Competing in your first Fleadh, hearing the ocean in the music and searching out the rarest old tunes. Learning from older players, driving to sessions with your dad and a road trip to a Belfast terraced house in search of a fiddle. In this episode Aifric plays: The Golden Castle / Mickey Callaghan's Fancy Rolling in the Ryegrass and Woman of the House (Thanks Jond from the session.org for your help with the names) O'Donnell's Lament The Battle of Aughrim Fitzgerald's / An Paistin Fionn (The...

Episode 56: Luke Plumb Interview - Part 2 (Mandolin and singing)

June 28, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 77.4 MB

'The artist is like a blind caterpillar at the end of a leaf reaching out into the darkness.' Staring The Reaper Down. Life in music, Shoogelnifty and Sandy Bell's in Edinburgh. All night sessions in Borneo, Pretty Peggy-O and teaching Andy Irvine bouzouki parts to an audience including...er...Andy Irvine. In this episode Luke plays: The Log Cabin and Bean A' Ti Ar Lar Pretty Peggy-O The Battle of the Somme (Retreat March) The Cornerhouse, The Lady's Pantalettes and The Bird in the Bush To l...

Episode 55: Luke Plumb Interview - Part 1 (Mandolin, singing)

June 24, 2020 12:00 - 1 hour - 42.4 MB

The real deal. Part one of two. Incredible playing and great chat: the painters of ancient Egypt and the joy of playing in an orchestra; De Danaan, Planxty and Schubert; Martin Carthy and Nic Jones and the thrum of existential rhythm. Truth be told, we don't have much to add to this show - it'll all in the tape. Next week: Shooglenifty and living in Scotland, the moments in a gig that a musician lives for, coming home to Australia and recording an album with Andy Irvine. In this episode Luk...

Episode 54: Máirtín Staunton Interview (Flute)

June 17, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 48.5 MB

The northern flute style; working the bar at Matt Molloy's pub; capturing songs for posterity; on sean-nós singing, music as a release; life in Boston, and the regional sound of Melbourne Again, this interview was a long time coming. We had actually planned to record it the week Covid hit so we pulled the plug. Now fast forward 12 weeks and we finally got to sit down, face-to-face, with Máirtín, and believe us, it was worth the wait. In this episode Máirtín plays: The Lobster (An Gliomach) T...

Episode 53: Don Meade Interview (Harmonica)

June 10, 2020 02:00 - 1 hour - 72.1 MB

Irish tunes on the harmonica - seriously awesome. The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, Eddie Clark, New York's Irish music scene in the '80s; Bill De Blasio's busted progressive cred and The Catskills Irish Arts Week. Don Meade on Irish tunes on the harmonica, The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, Eddie Clark, New York's Irish music scene in the '80s, and The Catskills Irish Arts Week. Seriously amazing music this week with Don. As always you can listen or download from the usual spots...

Episode 52: Ken Fleming Interview (Banjo, accordion, guitar and singing)

June 02, 2020 12:00 - 1 hour - 67.9 MB

Accordion tunes in the 90 degree heat. On the '80s Cowboys and Irish music in Dallas, Texas. On De Danaan kicking up a dust storm; the Charlie Piggott route to falling in love with the banjo and struggles in learning to play. The O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat and the sweetness of playing music with your kids.  Ken Fleming's such an easy going guy, but when you hear his story you'll realize he's driven. I mean, you can't get an Irish music festival up and running in Texas without some amazing...

Episode 51: Caity Brennan Interview (Fiddle) - The Blarney Pilgrims Traditional Irish Music Podcast

May 26, 2020 07:00 - 1 hour - 62 MB

On growing up with traditional Irish music, on taking ownership, on finding festivals, on 92.7 Fresh Fm, on Austral and creating a dance party, and losing yourself at Woodford Folk Festival . Way, way back in June last year we caught up with Austral during the National Celtic Festival. During that interview we said we'd love to sit down and chat with Caity Brennan. Well, 12 months and one global pandemic later, we've finally done it and it's everything we'd hoped it would be. In this episode ...

Episode 50: Ciaran Kelly Interview (Accordion and Melodeon) The Blarney Pilgrims Traditional Irish Music Podcast

May 20, 2020 14:00 - 1 hour - 58 MB

On accordions, melodeons, the push draw and The Pure Drop; Portrush sessions at the Harbour Bar, Ballycastle sessions at The House of McDonnell. The snug. Athlone. The borderlands of Fermanagh, Coleraine and Ceili House. And Coronation Street even gets a mention. As in - and I'm paraphrasing - 'Now and again something might have been taped over with an episode of Coronation Street.' Ciaran's archive, which he shares on a daily basis, is astonishing. A seemingly endless treasure trove of clips...

Episode 49: Ewen Baker Interview (Fiddle)

May 12, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 72.2 MB

'When you're playing with other people...and you get that feeling that is above and beyond life, in a sense. Where you just go, this is why I exist. This is as happy as this bunch of cells can be, right now, on this planet.' If there’s a better way to spend an hour and a bit of your day than listening to this week's episode with Ewen Baker, I’ve not heard of it. Ewen’s a fiddle player, arranger, multi instrumentalist and teacher, and he takes us on a journey to find the music-induced tingly ...

Episode 48: Merran Moir Interview (Smallpipes, Whistle)

May 06, 2020 01:00 - 1 hour - 56.4 MB

On ABC song books, on the south-western coast of Victoria, on Scottish cèilidhs, on the highland pipes, on learning and teaching and on the understanding of air. This interview has been a long time coming and it was everything we hoped it would be. Thanks so much for your time, your patience and your beautiful tunes Merran. If you'd like to contact Merran about lessons or having a tune down Warrnambool way then please follow her here: https://www.facebook.com/merran.moir In this episode Merr...

Episode 47: Mick Doherty Interview (Fiddle)

April 29, 2020 09:00 - 1 hour - 45.6 MB

There's a single story or a thousand stories in this week's episode. The story of Mick Doherty, Donegal fiddle player of the famed Doherty family of tinsmiths, travelers and musicians. The story of his father's music, and of his grandfather's music. And woven in and around it all the figure of Johnny Doherty - Mick's uncle - one of the iconic Irish fiddle players, a tinsmith himself, and traveling man.  Johnny was the subject of a documentary in 1972, a film called Fiddler on the Road. Produc...

Episode 46: Hannah Harris Interview (Fiddle)

April 21, 2020 01:00 - 1 hour - 77.6 MB

On the Swannanoa Gathering with Finn Magill, on ethnomusicology, on the difference between Irish and Celtic, on her time in Cork and finding lock-down inspiration in Quarantunes. Hailing from North Carolina and now residing in North Michigan, Hannah Harris is a wonderful fiddle player and ethnomusicologist. Hannah recently recorded her first album which hopefully will be released in the coming weeks. In this episode Hannah plays: Alice's Reel / Maudabawn Chapel Citi na gCumman The Blarney...

Episode 45: Darragh Ó Héiligh Interview (Uilleann Pipes)

April 15, 2020 22:00 - 1 hour - 54.9 MB

On the creation of Ceol FM, on equal access; on finding the pipes, on creating community and space for upcoming players, and on seeing a need and acting on it. Darragh Ó Héiligh is a phenomenal uilleann pipe player from Drogheda. He has tirelessly worked to grow and share Irish music, not only within his town with Music At the Gate, but also nationally and internationally with his innovative digital radio station Ceol FM.   As you'll hear in the episode Darragh is a great man for playing the ...

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