Blarney Pilgrims Irish Music Podcast - Episodes Tagged with “Irish”

Episode 83: SMASH HITS 2020 (PART 3)

Darren O'Mahony, Dominic Black — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 23:00:00 +1100

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 - Kitty Lie Over
Una Monaghan - Nana Nora's and The Clean Player

Jason Rouse - The Famous Ballymote / Scotch Mary
Emma Lewis - Dwyer's Jig / O'Sullivan's March / untitled jig
Joanie Madden - The Cat's Meow
Rita Farrell - The Happy Days of Youth and Colonel Rodgers' (often known as McKenna's 1 & 2)
Daithí Gormley - Last Night's Fun
James Keane - tunes to bring his father back for a visit - Tom Ward's Downfall, Farewell to Erin (from the playing of Paddy O'Brien) and Dillon's Fancy

Tara Howley - The Legacy/Paidín Ó Raifeartaigh
Sean Lally - The May Morning Dew / Humours of Ballyloughlin
Cathy Custy - A Jig and the Cliffs of Moher
Hajime Takahashi - Unnamed Tune
Catherine McEvoy - Bánchnoic Éireann Ó

Ciaran Kelly - The Showman's Fancy and The Galway Hornpipe.
Cameron Mather - Fergal O’Gara’s / The Bag of Spuds / The Boys of ‘45
Áine Tyrrell - In This House
Sean Mathews - Welcome to Ballsgrove
Liam Thomas Bailey - The Broken Parts + The Maids of Mitchelstown
Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin - The Deepest Breath

Rita Farrell - The Drunken Gauger / The Humours of Ballingarry / The Girl From the Big House
Tola Custy - Love at the Ending
and
Tola Custy with Ado Barker - The Broken Pledge/The Porthole of the Kelp/Jenny's Welcome to Charlie

Our heartfelt thanks go outto everyone who's supported the podcast over the past year with emails, chats, words of encouragement and suggestions. And to the musicians.

Seriously - without you all, we wouldn't be doing this. All the best from us to you for 2021. Hang in there.

Love

Darren and Dom

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://spoti.fi/3eIwBFy

Or alternatively, simply search your favourite podcast app for the Blarney Pilgrims.

Become a Patron Saint of the Blarney Pilgrims Podcast.

We want the podcast to be free to listen to for as many people as possible. But without the support from at least some of you we couldn’t keep putting out an episode a week. That’s why we’re asking you to become a Patron (Saint) of the podcast. www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims

So, for the price of a pint, or a half pint for that matter, you can help keep this show on the road and be safe in the knowledge you have a halo above your head.

For your good deed you will secure your place in traditional Irish music podcast heaven. But most importantly, you’ll have helped pay for the other 99% of listeners that don’t or can’t chip in.

And that, my friend, is a hell-of-a-nice thing to do.

Darren & Dom

www.blarneypilgrims.com
www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims
www.facebook.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast
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Episode 79: Rita Farrell Interview (Uilleann pipes, flute)

Darren O'Mahony, Dominic Black — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 19:00:00 +1100

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 Norton too. Bish Bash Bosh. What a treat.

The tunes:
Two jigs - Mama's Pet and Hinchey's Delight
Alexander's Hornpipe and The Kildare fancy
Two McKenna Reels
The Sailor's Cravate, I'm Waiting For You and Bonny Kate (from the playing of Tommy Reck)
The Drunken Gauger
and
Lovely Leitrim (thanks Mr & Mrs Farrell)

Every week we are amazed by how much fun we've had - seriously.
And then the next week we are amazed all over again.

Rita, thank you.

P.s. For anyone interested in the London Facebook group mentioned in the episode you'll find it here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/IrishMusicLondonGroup

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://spoti.fi/3eIwBFy

Or alternatively, simply search your favourite podcast app for the Blarney Pilgrims.

Become a Patron Saint of the Blarney Pilgrims Podcast.

So, for the price of a pint, or a half pint for that matter, you can help keep this show on the road and be safe in the knowledge you have a halo above your head.

For your good deed you will secure your place in traditional Irish music podcast heaven. But most importantly, you’ll have helped pay for the other 99% of listeners that don’t or can’t chip in.

And that, my friend, is a hell-of-a-nice thing to do.

Darren & Dom

www.blarneypilgrims.com
www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims
www.facebook.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast
www.instagram.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast
www.twitter.com/BlarneyPodcast

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

Darren O'Mahony, Dominic Black — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 23:00:00 +1100

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...
Queen of the Fair
and
Two jigs

Tara Howley Music:
www.facebook.com/tarahowleymusic/

Tara's Instagram is here:
www.instagram.com/tarahowleymusic/

There's a cool video of Tara and her dad here: Tara Howley Traditional Irish Music and Dance
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVMrAJN5UzQ

Thanks Tara. Lovely stuff.

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://spoti.fi/3eIwBFy

Or alternatively, simply search your favourite podcast app for the Blarney Pilgrims.

Become a Patron Saint of the Blarney Pilgrims Podcast.

So, for the price of a pint, or a half pint for that matter, you can help keep this show on the road and be safe in the knowledge you have a halo above your head.

For your good deed you will secure your place in traditional Irish music podcast heaven. But most importantly, you’ll have helped pay for the other 99% of listeners that don’t or can’t chip in.

And that, my friend, is a hell-of-a-nice thing to do.

Darren & Dom

www.blarneypilgrims.com
www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims
www.facebook.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast
www.instagram.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast
www.twitter.com/BlarneyPodcast

Episode 60: Daithí Gormley Interview (Accordion)

Darren O'Mahony, Dominic Black — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 20:00:00 +1000

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 great musician - you figure out what you're not able to do, and don't do it.' Finbarr Dwyer's advice to Daithí.

Daithí's album with Catherine McHugh is
‘Fiddling without a Bow – Irish Traditional Music on Button Accordion’
https://daithigormley.bandcamp.com/

And his book 'Fiddlers of Sligo Tunebook' compiled with Oisin Mac Diarmada, is available here:
https://custysmusic.com/search?q=Daith%C3%AD+gormley&type=product

The tunes Daithí plays:

Last Night's Fun
The Templehouse Reel and an unnamed reel, from the playing of Michael Joe and Larry MacDonagh
The Spike Island Lasses and Farewell to Leitrim
Tell Her I Am and Tatter Jack Walsh
My Love is Fair and Handsome followed by The Maid of Mount Cisco (composed by Paddy Killoran)

And finally - it's hard to do justice to Ciaran Carson's last collection of poems, which we mention during the chat,
'Still Life.' It's shot through with sorrow and love, and a savouring of the last of life.
https://www.gallerypress.com/product/still-life/

Ciaran Carson also wrote what many regard as the best book on Irish music yet written, 'Last Night's Fun.' Which happens to be the name of the tune with which Daithí began todays episode, talking about the legendary Joe Cooley. Thank you, Daithí.

If you'd like to check it out, this is Craig Ferguson's 2010 monologue on Brittney Spears and addiction that Darren mentions. It's powerful, and worth the watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=11&v=7ZVWIELHQQY&feature=emb_logo

To see some of the Irish Music Legends work go here:
instagram.com/irishmusiclegends/
facebook.com/irishmusiclegends

To listen, stream or download simply click a link below:

Our website: https://blarneypilgrims.fireside.fm
iTunes: https://apple.co/2A6tUPm
Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3cPTkis
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3eIwBFy

Or alternatively, simply search your favourite podcast app for the Blarney Pilgrims.

Become a Patron Saint of the Blarney Pilgrims Podcast.

So, for the price of a pint, or a half pint for that matter, you can help keep this show on the road and be safe in the knowledge you have a halo above your head.

For your good deed you will secure your place in traditional Irish music podcast heaven. But most importantly, you’ll have helped pay for the other 99% of listeners that don’t or can’t chip in.

And that, my friend, is a hell-of-a-nice thing to do.

Darren & Dom

www.blarneypilgrims.com
www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims
www.facebook.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast
www.instagram.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast
www.twitter.com/BlarneyPodcast

Episode 47: Mick Doherty Interview (Fiddle)

Darren O'Mahony, Dominic Black — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 19:00:00 +1000

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. Produced by Ulster Television, it's a fascinating document of a moment in his life and, like all the best documentaries, it shifts a little each time you watch it. In fact, if you watch really closely, you'll notice how with the passing of time the film itself has assumed a strange, elastic quality. So the background behind Johnny as he plays seems to sway in places and elongate and contract, as if it's about to come loose from its moorings. Listen to Mick speaking of his uncle Johnny, and that effect is amplified.

Fiddler On The Road:
https://bit.ly/3bMLQfx

Mick Doherty recorded his one and only CD in partnership with his student and friend Rob Zielinski, of Perth, Western Australia. Mick lived in WA until his death in 2014, and we have Rob to thank for the tunes preserved on that CD, the echoes of Mick's father and grandfather in the playing, and for the recordings that make up today's episode.

In collaboration with Rob, in 2009 Kevin Bradley at the National Museum in Canberra recorded five separate sessions in conversation with Mick, sessions covering his life story, family history and musical lineage. It's thanks to them we have this treasure to share with you today. Truth be told, Mick's speaking voice is a long, unspooling melody itself, with a cadence and rhythm that carry within them the man as he was in 2009 and the lives he had lived up to that point.

We've re-arranged some segments of the original archive recordings so they play sequentially in this episode. And we feel it's true to the spirit of Mick's story, his voice and his playing. If you'd like to dive into the entire series of recordings, go here:
https://bit.ly/3bZ1dBi

And please check out Mick Doherty's CD recorded with Rob Zielinski. It's essential listening really:
https://www.robertzielinskimusic.com/shop

And as we mention during the show, our heartfelt thanks to Kevin Bradley and Rob Zielinski for all their help with this episode.

We hope you're all keeping well, and we'll see you next week.

Darren and Dom

...

Well, we know it's a tough time so we hope you can hang in there with us, and we'll do the same for you. So if you liked this episode and think you got some worth from it, then please pledge at any level over at www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims.

If you can't afford to pledge on Patreon, and we totally understand if you can't, all is not lost. You can still support the show by sharing it on your socials, posting about it in your favourite forums or simply by telling your mates about it down the pub.

www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims
www.blarneypilgrims.com
www.facebook.com/BlarneyPilgrimsPodcast
https://www.instagram.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast/

Episode 46: Hannah Harris Interview (Fiddle)

Darren O'Mahony, Dominic Black — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 11:00:00 +1000

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 Castle Hotel Set (If someone knows the names please send them in thanks)
John Brosnan's Reel / Martin Wynne's No 2
Sunday's Well

To keep up to date and follow Hannah go here:
https://www.facebook.com/hannahharrisceol

To follow Hannah on Instragram go here:
https://www.instagram.com/hannahharrisceol/

As always the episode is free to download or stream from our website or any podcast app:

Our website: https://blarneypilgrims.fireside.fm/46
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2KlfSuH
Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3cPTkis
Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2XVl68c
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2KoNQhL

Right that's it, enjoy!
Darren & Dom

...

Well, it's a tough time, so we hope you can hang in there with us, and we'll do the same for you. So if you liked this episode and think you got some worth from it, then please pledge at any level over at www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims.

www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims
www.blarneypilgrims.com
www.facebook.com/BlarneyPilgrimsPodcast
https://www.instagram.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast/

Episode 38: Joe Fitzgerald Interview (Accordion, singing)

Darren O'Mahony, Dominic Black — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 10:00:00 +1100

The great Joe Fitzgerald, of east Clare and Melbourne. On first hearing his mother play the melodeon. On drovers, the bush, and working with his father. On lost players: Mick Minogue, Mrs Brady, Mrs Purcell and Frank MacNamara. Growing old and the curative power of music and song. 'Strange thing I have...I was born in Galway. I was raised in Clare. We lived just inside the parish of Ogonnellow, but I went to school in the parish of Bodyke and played my hurling there...and I have Ireland and Australia. So I have two of everything, and I love them all.'

Joe plays two reels to start:
The Stone of Destiny and The Trip to Cullenstown.

Then, Miss McLeod's Reel, the first tune he heard his mother play.
Then, The Foxhunter's Reel.

He sings 'Andy's Gone With Cattle' and finishes with a slow air which we don't have the name of.

You can hear Paddy, Joe's brother, talk about their childhood and the role of music in their household here, in Episode 14:

https://blarneypilgrims.fireside.fm/14

And Eileen O'Brien and Mary MacNamara's full episode here:

https://blarneypilgrims.fireside.fm/4

Beautiful stuff. Thanks to Joe, and to Chris and Bryony Fitzgerald and the staff at The Last Jar in Melbourne.

Enjoy!
Darren & Dom
...

If you liked this episode and think you got some worth from it, then please pledge at any level over at www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims.

Of course, you don't have to become a patron to listen, but we guarantee you'll enjoy each episode more because you'll be safe in the knowledge that you're a deadset legend.

www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims
www.blarneypilgrims.com
www.facebook.com/BlarneyPilgrimsPodcast
@BlarneyPilgrimsPodcast

Episode 27: Ciaran O'Grady Interview (Concertina)

Darren O'Mahony, Dominic Black — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 16:00:00 +1100

Growing up in Luton, meeting Francis Droney, the anatomy of the concertina, English Folk music, and many many thoughts on identity, home and what "being Irish" means.

Ciaran is currently working on a solo album with Aifric Boylan, Kate Burke and Graeme Newell and as soon as we hear news about it we'll let you know. We can't wait!

Thanks for such an insightful chat Ciaran. It was a real pleasure.

(Apologies the mics were running a little hot during the tunes)

Enjoy!
Darren & Dom

...

If you liked this episode and think you got some worth from it, then please pledge $2 over at www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims.

Of course, you don't have to become a patron to listen, but we guarantee you'll enjoy each episode more because you'll be safe in the knowledge that you're a deadset legend.

Episode 22: Liz Carroll Interview (Fiddle)

Darren O'Mahony, Dominic Black — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 16:00:00 +1100

Liz Carroll takes some time out from the QuasiTrad Tunes Camp. Along the way she plays us some tunes, demonstrate some basics, and chats to us about her incredible journey through the music.

Enjoy!
Darren & Dom

To buy Liz's records or follow her, go here:
https://www.lizcarroll.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Liz-Carroll-230562170312283/

To find out more and follow QuasiTrad, go here:
https://quasitrad.com/
https://www.facebook.com/quasitrad/

...

If you liked this episode and think you got some worth from it, then please pledge $2 over at www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims.

Of course, you don't have to become a patron to listen, but we guarantee you'll enjoy each episode more because you'll be safe in the knowledge that you're a deadset legend.

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

Darren O'Mahony, Dominic Black — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 13:00:00 +1000

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.

The tunes played in this episode are:

The Jolly Beggerman/(unknown)/Paddy McGinty's Goat
The Jug O' Punch/Eddie Kelly's
The Geese in the Bog
Peelers Creek/(Unknown - Verona Ryan Tune)

To follow John Carty go here:
https://www.facebook.com/Johnpatrickcarty
https://twitter.com/johncartymusic

To buy his amazing albums go here:
http://www.johncartymusic.com/music.asp

Thank you so much for your time John, and congrats again on the award.

...

If you liked this episode and think you got some worth from it, then please pledge $2 over at www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims.

Of course, you don't have to become a patron to listen, but we guarantee you'll enjoy each episode more because you'll be safe in the knowledge that you're a deadset legend.

Till next time.
Darren & Dom

www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims
www.blarneypilgrims.com
facebook.com/BlarneyPilgrimsPodcast
@blarneyPilgrimsPodcast

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

Darren O'Mahony, Dominic Black — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 19:00:00 +1000

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.

Thanks again to Beth for taking the time to sit down with us. Also thanks to Declan Simpson for the accompaniment, maybe next time you'll join us in the hot seat?

The session Beth mentions is on in the Drunken Poet on Friday evenings. You can find out more about that here: https://www.facebook.com/drunkenpoetmusic/

Finally, thanks again to Una McAlinden for the chance to record on location at the National Celtic Festival.

...

If you liked this episode and think you got a dollar or two's worth from it, then please pledge $2 over at www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims. Of course, you don't have to become a patron to listen, but we guarantee you'll enjoy each episode more because you'll be safe in the knowledge that you're a deadset legend.

Till next time.
Darren & Dom

www.blarneypilgrims.com
facebook.com/BlarneyPilgrimsPodcast
@blarneyPilgrimsPodcast

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

Darren O'Mahony, Dominic Black — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 21:45:00 +1000

From a teen growing up in Crumlin in the 90s, to touring the world as a multi-award winning solo artist, Daoirí Farrell shares his incredible journey with us and treats us to a few tunes along the way.

To follow Daoirí, and more importantly, to buy his CDs, you can find him here:
http://daoiri.com/
https://www.facebook.com/DaoiriFarrell/

...

Where do you start? Maybe the obvious place, the place I first came across his music thanks to a tip from my good mate from Ballycastle, Alex Campbell: his version of The Creggan White Hare. This is the song me and Darren refer to in our intro, a song which at the time of writing has a meagre 1,287,874 views on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPI_tHNjS78

I first heard The Creggan White Hare on the Dick Gaughan / Andy Irvine album 'Parallel Lines.' Which, to be honest, is an album I've never loved. I mean, what's not to love about a collaboration like that? I love Andy Irvine's music, I love Dick Gaughan's music. It should be my all time favourite. And yet, somehow it doesn't quite work for me. Though it does have a very stately version of Dylan's 'My Back Pages.'

There's something about Daoirí's version of 'The Creggan White Hare' that I prefer. It's more robust, or something. I mean, it's unstoppable. That's what it is. It has a sense of fate about it. It's existential, man.

As for The Pursuit of Farmer Michael Hayes...you can find it on the Planxty album After The Break.There's some interesting info here about possible origins:

https://mainlynorfolk.info/folk/songs/thepursuitoffarmermichaelhayes.html

We also chat at the end of our interview about 'Christy Moore, Donal Lunny, Jimmy Faulkner, Live In Dublin' - an album I first heard thanks, also, to my pal Alex Campbell. I can remember the cover of that album so clearly, and trying to decipher the newsprint while sitting on Alex's bed. We'd listen over and over again, trying to learn the chords of 'Hey Sandy,' until his mum took pity on us and arrived up with a plate of ham sandwiches and mugs of tea. God love her, she had the patience of a saint. Anyway, it's another album that's worth hunting down if you've not heard it already.

https://www.discogs.com/Christy-Moore-Donal-Lunny-Jimmy-Faulkner-Live-In-Dublin/release/2219545

Thanks again Daoirí.

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

Darren O'Mahony, Dominic Black — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 20:00:00 +1000

Recorded live at the National Celtic Festival in Victoria, Australia. Maggie Carty joins us for a few tunes and a chat about being immersed in the music all her life, custodianship, and the musicians that made the biggest impact on her playing. The songs and tunes performed are as follows:

The Moving Bogs/Sydney Bogs
(please correct me if this is wrong)
Lough Erne Shore
The Nightingale
The Mist Covered Mountains/The Gallowglass Jig
Stór Mo Chroí

...

So it won't be a surprise to anybody who's listened to a few episodes already that my first acquaintance with Lough Erne Shore, which Maggie Kate sings in Episode 5 of The Blarney Pilgrims Podcast, was via the Paul Brady and Andy Irvine Purple Album...worth a listen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UiBO1MT65g

And here is a great song Maggie performs with John Carty (her dad) and Francis Gaffney:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzLKI9B67-M

The Mist Covered Mountains, which Maggie plays, got me all nostalgic for Scotland as I was listening to her. And bagpipes. So many bagpipes at the National Celtic Festival Australia Official, some of which you can hear floating on the breeze behind Maggie as she's chatting with us on a sunny Saturday morning. And which put me in mind of other sunny Saturday mornings in Stirling, Scotland, when I worked in a wine and whiskey store and would hear two competing pipers busking from either end of the same street. A very interesting phenomenon, the effects of competing bagpipe music floating on the breeze on one's psyche...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n72XebBaMeI

Louis MacNeice's poem Bagpipe Music (what an accent that guy had - you'd hardly guess he was born in Carrickfergus.) Louis worked for a long time at the BBC, and is fondly remembered by Andy Irvine, who knew him from drinking in The George in London, before he (Andy) found his way to Ireland...

https://www.andyirvine.com/bio/chapter1.html

Maybe everything, always, eventually comes back around to...you know...Andy Irvine.

Louise Mulcahy, one of the Mulcahy sisters who Maggie cites as an influence:

https://www.facebook.com/louise.mulcahy.330/

And a fascinating clip of (I think) Bryan Rooney - the Godfather:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EopvuL9T8W4

One last note, Maggie was chatting about the London Irish music scene...I'm trying to track down an old BBC Radio 4 docco about just that, so hopefully in the next few weeks we'll be able to share it with you.

Seriously - has a banjo ever sounded so good? Thank you Maggie Kate for a lovely Saturday morning.

You can buy Maggie's CDs here:
johncartymusic.com/music.asp
(BTW, CDs are on sale for €10 with free postage to anywhere in the world for the month of July.)

And you can follow her here:
www.facebook.com/maggie.carty.3
www.instagram.com/maggiekatemusic/

I (Darren) would like to say a massive thank you to Jim Patton, who, after listening to the episode got in contact with me via Facebook to let me know some more info about Maggie's banjo. So, for those of you interested in such things, here are the deets. It is a Jim Patton Banjo. The tone ring is made from 3/8" square brass tube rolled to fit the rim. And the wood is American black walnut. It's a beautiful banjo!

You can contact Jim here: https://www.jpbanjos.co.uk/
And you can follow him here: https://www.facebook.com/jim.patton.946

Thanks again to Una McAlinden for having us at the National Celtic Festival and to everyone that came along to watch and support.

Also a HUGE thank you to Dave At Screenwave for becoming a Patreon. You're some sound man Dave!

If you want to be sound like Dave, please head over here and shout us a pint - you know we're worth it - www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims

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

Darren O'Mahony, Dominic Black — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 23:00:00 +1000

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

As mentioned in the interview, Jamie is one of the performers in The Good Girl Song Project - you can find it here: http://thegoodgirlsongproject.com/

In this episode Jamie plays:

Newry Town (Traditional)

The Curragh of Kildare (Traditional)

Matty (Wally Page)

Two Junior Crehan tunes

Down The Hall on a Saturday Night (Ken McMaster)

Untitled jig

I, me, (Dominic), refer in the interview to the story J. M Synge related in the preface to Playboy of the Western World, which I sort of half remembered:

"When I was writing The Shadow of the Glen some years ago I got more aid than any learning could have given me from a chink in the floor of the old Wicklow house where I was staying, that let me hear what was being said by the servant girls in the kitchen."

I also seem to remember reading something by Colm Toibin in 'New Ways to Kill Your Mother' that the story was sort of...em...not true. But don't quote me on that. It's a pretty great book though - essays on Irish writers and their relationship with their mothers, Ireland and each other. There's a review of the book here:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/feb/26/ways-kill-your-mother-colm-toibin-review

Oddly enough, you'll see in this review, too, a reference to Blake Bailey’s biography of American writer John Cheever. Have to say, it’s a cracking book, even if you don't like biographies. It's a cracker. Grim, funny, horrible, fascinating. So. Yeah...fab.

For more information on the New Zealand Wars check out Te Ara,
The Encyclopedia of New Zealand:

https://teara.govt.nz/en/new-zealand-wars

...

If you liked this episode, please leave us a 5 star review on iTunes, it REALLY helps us getting the podcast out to more people.

You can also support The Blarney Pilgrims on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims

www.blarneypilgrims.com
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Special Guest: Jamie Molloy.

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

Darren O'Mahony, Dominic Black — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 14:00:00 +1000

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

The Andy Irvine song Corinn talks about is this one, I think: 'Billy Far Out'
https://andyirvinelyrics.wordpress.com/2014/02/12/billy-far-out/

We also talk about the song 'O'Donoghues' which is a bloody brilliant chronicling a time and place. When I listen to this it sort of tugs at something in me to do with the optimism of youth, and dreams of a future in music, and stuff like that. Fits pretty sweetly with Corinn's story of chatting with Andy on the train.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3swQZ_avLX0

And a great interview, Andy Irvine talking to The Second Captains, my favorite sports podcast that ventures into other areas from time to time. From October 2018.
https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2018/1021/1005709-andy-irvine-profile-folk-awards/

Corinn mentions her friend, flute maker and musician Michael Grinter, who died tragically at the end of 2018. You can find more information about his life and work at his website, here:
https://www.grinterflutes.com/

Special thanks to the Last Jar in Melbourne for helping us out with space to record in and chairs to sit on.

...

If you liked this episode, please leave us a 5 star review on iTunes, it REALLY helps us getting the podcast out to more people.

You can also support The Blarney Pilgrims on Patreon:
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www.blarneypilgrims.com
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@blarneyPilgrimsPodcast

Special Guest: Corinn Strating.

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

Darren O'Mahony, Dominic Black — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 14:00:00 +1000

From Belfast rock bands to The Boston Burglar, Gerry McKeague takes us on a musical journey from his childhood home in Ireland to Geelong in Victoria, Australia. If you'd like to get in touch with Gerry you can reach him at https://www.facebook.com/gerry.keague

In this episode Gerry plays the following songs:

Fisherman's Day
(Written by Brian Connors)

Slieve Gallion Braes
(Traditional)

Voyage for Ireland
(Pierre Bensusan)

Shipyard Slips
(David Wilde of The Men of No Property)

Pride of the Springfield Road
(Traditional)

The Boston Burglar
(Traditional)

You can catch Gerry and his sister Mary live as “Innisfayle” at the National Celtic Festival on the weekend of the 7th - 10th June:

https://www.nationalcelticfestival.com/artists-2019/2019/2/19/gerry-amp-mary-mckeague

Thanks to the players and staff at The Last Jar for the jig we use at the opening and closing of the podcast.

...

If you liked this episode, please leave us a 5 star review on iTunes, it REALLY helps us getting the podcast out to more people and we absolutely appreciate your help with this.

You can also support The Blarney Pilgrims on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims

www.blarneypilgrims.com
facebook.com/BlarneyPilgrimsPodcast
@blarneyPilgrimsPodcast

Special Guest: Gerry McKeague.