Happy St. Patrick's Day! I know it's not #CelticThursday, but I want to ask you a small favor. Share this newsletter with your friends. They can find a direct link to it at celticmusicpodcast.com/stpatricksday2015

Ten years ago, in 2005, I released the first “17 Free Celtic MP3s for St. Patrick's Day” article. It's the most-talked about series of the Celtic Music Magazine. I am super excited to share more free St Patrick's Day MP3s with you today!

Before we get to that, I have a few thank yous to share.

I want to thank you for being a part of the Celtic Music Magazine. The website has been running strong since December 2000 when I launched it. I also want to thank you for listening to the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. You are the reason it is the #1 show online for indie Celtic music. No one is doing quite what we are, or doing it nearly as well. And though there are a lot of great Celtic programs out there. Only we are topping the charts on iTunes and Stitcher. That's because of your generous support for this show. So thank you!

If you want to show your love for the podcast, then vote for us in the Podcast Awards. We're nominated for Best Podsafe Music. This is a popularity contest. So all you have to do is vote once a day, every day, until March 24th and we will win once again. Vote for Celtic music at podcastawards.com.

Speaking of support, the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast became a weekly show last year thanks to Patreon.

Patreon is a crowdfunding website, similar to Kickstarter. But instead of making one donation for a big project, it allows you to show your support each and every month.

Here's how it works:

1. You make a pledge to donate money for each show I release.

2. Once a month, Patreon collects your donations, and sends them to the podcast.

3. You get episodes of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast up to three days before they are officially released.

4. Your friendly donation helps cover the $730 in monthly bills.

Yes, that's how much it costs to run this show. It's not cheap. But thanks to the generosity of 71 Patrons, we're getting close to covering our monthly bills. And for you, it costs no more than a latte at Starbucks to show your support, just $1 per episode.

Your generosity makes a HUGE impact on the success of this show. If you'd like to become a patron and maybe even help us achieve another Milestone, go make a pledge at celticmusicpodcast.com/patreon

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ARE THESE MP3s REALLY FREE?

You betcha. Every month, a bunch of Celtic musicians submit music to the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. They give me permission to use their music on my show. But some, extra awesome bands, also give me permission to give their music away for free. Some of those MP3s end up in Song Henge, a monthly album of Celtic MP3s with 1-3 MP3s from 5-8 Celtic bands. Each year, we pick our favorites of the year and share them in this free compilation.

WHAT'S THE CATCH?

No. You do not need to subscribe to a mailing list to download these MP3s. They are 100% free. But there is a catch… well,sort of…

The goal of all of my websites is to help bands make new fans. 99% of the bands you hear on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast are indie bands. That means, they have no record label, except their own. Most can't afford to hire a publicist or promoter for their music. They're doing everything themselves, making fans, one at a time.

It's not easy. I started the podcast and magazine as a way to help these indie Celtic musicians stand out and get noticed. So yes, there is a catch. I want you to listen and enjoy the music we selected for you. If you find a song you enjoy, the visit the band's website, join their mailing list, and buy their albums. And of course, tell the band, how much you appreciate them sharing their music with the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast.

It's a simple courtesy that shows these bands that what I'm doing HELPS!

HOW TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE CELTIC MP3S FOR ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Alright let's get started. The music is all easily compiled into one large ZIP file. To download,

• Right-click the link below.
• “Save as” to the folder you choose.
• Then unzip the file.

Download: 17 Free Celtic MP3s for St Patrick’s Day 2015 (ZIP file, 116 MB)

That's it! Download and listen. Make sure you save this article so you can find out more about the bands.Tomorrow, I plan to release an episode of the podcast where I will highlight the bands a wee bit better.

Enjoy! And have a Happy and Safe St. Patrick's Day.

17 FREE CELTIC MP3S FOR ST. PATRICK'S DAY

“Galway Shawl” by The Fenian Sons, http://www.thefeniansons.com
from 617

“The Butcher Boy” by Jesse Ferguson, http://www.jessefergusonmusic.com
from The Butcher Boy

“Songs from the Western Seaboard” by Jimi McRae, http://lastkingofpictland.com/
from Last King of Pictland

“The Liberty” by Poitín, http://www.reverbnation.com/poitin
from Wish

“Joe's Lost E Jig/Marcel Martin” by Flashpoint, http://facebook.com/flashpointirish
from A Timely Misadventure

“Natalie Jane” by Jonathan Milton, http://www.jonmilton.com
from Just One More…

“The Wife of Usher's Well” by Martyn Wylde, http://www.martynwylde.com
from The Child Ballads, Vol. 1

“Canadee-i-o” by Chambless & Muse, http://www.jilchambless.com; http://www.scootermuse.com
from Passing Tales & Glories

“Lion Ring” by The Killdares, http://killdares.com/
from Steal the Sky

“Scotland is Free” by Hugh Morrison, http://www.hughmorrison.com
from Scotland is Free

“She Moved Through the Faire” by Faire to Middlin, http://Reverbnation/Fairetomiddlin
from Faire to Middlin

“The Bold Grenadier/Melodie Cornouaillaise” by Slán, http://www.slan.nl
from Later

“Bonny Portmore” by 3 Pints Gone, http://celticmusicpodcast.com/3pintsgone
from It's About Bloody Time

“All the Tunes in the World” by Jesse Linder, http://www.facebook.com/JesseLinder.Bard
from Ready for the Storm

“William O'Connor” by Canny Brothers Band, http://cannybrothersband.com
from The Guinness Siutation

“Celtic-American” by The Stubby Shillelaghs, http://thestubbies.net
from Celtic-American

“The Hills of Connemara” by The ShamRogues, http://www.theshamrogues.net
from Drunken Memories

Thanks again for all your support.

Slainte!
Marc Gunn, The Celtfather