Darren O'Mahony

Episode 14: Paddy Fitzgerald Interview (Accordion, Lilting) - The Blarney Pilgrims Traditional Irish Music Podcast

September 10th, 2019  |  1 hr 25 mins

accordion, australia, fitzgerald, galway, gob music, ireland, melbourne, paddy

One of the most respected and influential players in the traditional Irish scene here in Melbourne and internationally, Paddy Fitzgerald sits down with us for a few tunes and a chat about where it all began.

Episode 13: Sean Mathews Interview (Unaccompanied singing) - The Blarney Pilgrims Traditional Irish Music Podcast

September 3rd, 2019  |  1 hr 8 mins

The nyah, fireside values, singing unaccompanied, and so much more. Sean and Darren dig deep about what it was like growing up in Drogheda and feeling disconnected from the music.

Episode 12: John Carty Interview (Banjo) - The Blarney Pilgrims Traditional Irish Music Podcast

August 27th, 2019  |  1 hr 7 mins

banjo, carty, drogheda, fiddle, flanagan brothers' award, fleadh, ireland, irish, john, london, music, sessions, sligo, trad

Banjo in Irish music, where "the session" was born, musical accents and so much more. While in Drogheda to receive The Flanagan Brothers' Award, John Carty stopped past Darren's Mam and Dad's to sit down, chat and play us some tunes.

Episode 11: Chris Fitzgerald Interview (Fiddle) - The Blarney Pilgrims Traditional Irish Music Podcast

August 20th, 2019  |  59 mins 34 secs

ambulance, bush, busking, chris, fiddle, fitzgerald, jar, last, melbourne, session

Community, people and what happens in a session. Chris Fitzgerald takes us from the Bush to Europe and back again.

Episode 10: Bush Gothic Interview (Fiddle, double bass, percussion, vocal) - The Blarney Pilgrims Traditional Irish Music Podcast

August 13th, 2019  |  1 hr 5 secs

Bush Gothic reimagine traditional songs - from Australia, Ireland, England, wherever they find them - in the deepest sense of that word ‘reimagine.’ What happens when that happens? Songs are suddenly visible in new light, with new contours and meanings evident. It’s pretty amazing. You think about words you’ve heard maybe hundreds of times before in a whole new way.

And as I mention in the intro to the episode, they leave space in their arrangements, so you can really hear the songs, the music, unfurl. So listen, with headphones if possible, cos this is seriously beautiful music.

Episode 9: Kevin Burke Interview (Fiddle) - The Blarney Pilgrims Traditional Irish Music Podcast

August 6th, 2019  |  2 hrs 4 mins

bothy band, fiddle, kevin burke, kevin burke interview

A boy in post war London, learning the fiddle from Ms. Christopherson, bumping into Joe Burke at JFK after failing to get Arlo Guthrie’s phone number from Directory Enquiries, and so much more. This was delightful. Have a listen.

Episode 8: Beth McCracken Interview (Flute) - The Blarney Pilgrims Traditional Irish Music Podcast

July 30th, 2019  |  53 mins 42 secs

beth, blarney, celtic, classical, declan, fiddle, flute, ireland, irish, mccracken, melbourne, national celtic festival, pilgrims, simpson

Playing from the page, versus playing by ear, Beth McCracken talks about her transition from classical flute to traditional Irish music. Through her personal story, Beth highlights just how different these two worlds can be.

Episode 7: Connor Hoy and Austral Interview (Uilleann pipes, fiddles, guitar, didgeridoo) - The Blarney Pilgrims Traditional Irish Music Podcast

July 23rd, 2019  |  45 mins 18 secs

angus barbary, austral, bouzouki, caity brennan, cajon, connor hoy, didgeridoo, fiddle, guitar, rhys crimmin., tambourine, uilleann pipes, whistle

Uilleann pipes and sub-drops. Connor Hoy and Austral share their infectious energy live at the National Celtic Festival.

Episode 6: Daoirí Farrell Interview (Bouzouki, singing) - The Blarney Pilgrims Traditional Irish Music Podcast

July 16th, 2019  |  1 hr 5 mins

an góilín, australia, blarney, bouzouki, celtic, creggan, crumlin, daoiri, dublin, dónal lunny, farrell, geelong, hare, irish, lifetime of happiness, pilgrim, podcast, prodigy, singer, white

From the Prodigy to Pat Rainey, Daoirí Farrell chats about how music changed his life forever.

Episode 5: Maggie Carty Interview (Banjo, singing) - The Blarney Pilgrims Traditional Irish Music Podcast

July 9th, 2019  |  41 mins 40 secs

banjo, blarney, carty, celtic, festival, irish, jim, john carty, maggie, melbourne, national, patton, pilgrims, settle out of court, trad

Maggie Carty plays a few tunes and chats about being immersed in the music all her life, custodianship, and the musicians that made the biggest impact on her playing.

Episode 4: Mary MacNamara & Eileen O'Brien Interview (Fiddle, concertina, lilting) - The Blarney Pilgrims Traditional Irish Music Podcast

July 3rd, 2019  |  55 mins 52 secs

celtic, clare, concertina, eileen, festival, fiddle, gerry, listening, macnamara, mary, mckeage, music room, o'brien, portarlington, tulla

"Nobody listens! Nobody. They think they're listening, but they're not actually listening." Recorded live at the National Celtic Festival in Portarlington, two of Irelands greatest traditional players share their love of the music, teaching and the art of listening.
Joining Mary and Eileen on guitar is previous guest of the show, Gerry Mc Keague. Gerry, actually just came along to listen but when asked by Mary and Eileen to join in, he jumped at the chance. What a legend. Recorded live at the National Celtic Festival in Portarlington, two of Irelands greatest traditional players share their love of the music, teaching and the art of listening.

Episode 3: Jamie Molloy Interview (Concertina, guitar, singing)

June 6th, 2019  |  1 hr 18 mins

australia, blarney, bush, celtic, concertina, folk, guitar, ireland, irish, jamie, molloy, music, new zealand, pilgrims, songs, the good girl song project, trad, tunes, victoria

The Australian bush, Maori pianos, famine roads and sponsored women in the 1830s. Jamie Molloy can really tell a story, not to mention his singing, guitar and concertina playing. Enjoy!

Episode 2: Corinn Strating Interview (Flute) - The Blarney Pilgrims Traditional Irish Music Podcast

June 5th, 2019  |  53 mins 6 secs

antrim, australia, belfast, blarney, celtic, corinn, flute, folk, honeyfields, ireland, irish, music, pilgrims, songs, strating, trad, tunes, victoria, whistle

Billy Far Out - How sitting on a train with Andy Irvine at 13 years old can change your life forever.

Episode 1: Gerry McKeague Interview (Guitar, singing) - The Blarney Pilgrims Traditional Irish Music Podcast

June 5th, 2019  |  56 mins 44 secs

antrim, australia, belfast, blarney, celtic, folk, geelong, gerry, guitar, ireland, irish, irish traditional music, mckeague, music, pilgrims, songs, the boston burglar, trad, tunes, victoria, whistle

From Belfast rock bands to The Boston Burglar, Gerry McKeague takes us on a journey from his childhood home in Ireland to Geelong in Victoria, Australia.