Blarney Pilgrims Irish Music Podcast
A weekly journey to the heart of Irish music.
About the show
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.
Blarney Pilgrims Irish Music Podcast on social media
Episodes
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.