Céad Míle Fáilte
Hello, this is Todd. In this issue we have new episodes of our own Irish & Celtic Music Podcast & Celtic Christmas Music. The other podcast we highlight are Three Castles Burning & Jock’s Celtic Calamity. We also have a list of new albums. The articles featured are about Adam O’Donovan, Scottish brother setting a world record, and a new natural play area. The featured festivals are IrishFest Atlanta and the Long’s Peak Scottish Irish Highland Festival. The Long’s Peak Scottish Irish Highland Festival takes place September 5 – 7 in Estes Park, CO. We hope you enjoy this issue. Until next time, Sláinte mhaith!
IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST #725: CELTIC WOMEN AT THE HEART OF THE TRADITION
- Olivia Barrett, Carroll Sisters Trio, Eimear Arkins & Eileen Gannon, Scottish Fish, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Niamh Dunne, Old Man Flanagan's Ghost, Chloe Matharu, Jen Midkiff, Rambling Sailors, The Bordercollies, Plunk Murray, The Friel Sisters
- A special thanks to our Celtic Legends: Dave and Rosie Donnelly, Rick Boyce, Bruce, Daniel Ide, Brian McReynolds, Marti Meyers, Alan Schindler, Margreta Silverstone, Emma Bartholomew, Dan mcDade, Jeff A, Gerald F Boyle, Miranda Nelson, Nancie Barnett, Kevin Long, Gary R Hook, Lynda MacNeil, John Sharkey White, II, Kelly Garrod, Mike Schock, Annie Lorkowski, Shawn Cali
IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC: BEST OF 2024 PLAYLIST
- Every week, Patrons of the Podcast vote in the Celtic Top 20. Those votes are tabulated two weeks later. The most-popular songs are added to these playlists.
- You can vote for your favorite by following the link in this week's show.
Listen on Youtube
CAST YOUR VOTE IN THE CELTIC TOP 20
- Every year, I publish the Celtic Top 20. This is your pick of the best, most-popular songs of the year. But to make the show great, I need you to vote for your favorite songs in each episode.
- Just list each of the bands performing those favorite songs to quickly and easily cast your vote.
WHAT'S NEW WITH CELTIC MUSIC
& CULTURE ONLINE?
CELTIC CHRISTMAS MUSIC #85: CELTIC CHRISTMAS REELS, CAROLS, AND WINTER MAGIC
- Imagine snow falling on a highland glen, where fiddles join the winter wind and harps weave the magic of the season. That’s what you’ll hear this week—on the Celtic Christmas Music #85
IRISHFEST ATLANTA
- Join us at IrishFest Atlanta on Nov 7-9, 2025. You’ll enjoy exclusive concerts with Open the Door For Three with Special Guest Liz Carroll on Friday and Teada on Saturday night.
- Plus enjoy music from Kathleen Donohoe, O’Brian’s Bards, Olivia Bradley, Roundabouts, The Kinnegans, The Muckers, Irish Brothers, Celtic Brew, Station 1 2 3 and special set from Inara and Marc Gunn.
- There are music and dance workshops, Irish cooking competitions, IrishTea, Irish Films, and of course, LOTS of Irish dancing.
- Celebrate your Irish heritage at IrishFest Atlanta in November. Bring a friend!
Learn more at IrishFestAtlanta.com
NEW CDS
- Legends of Tir na nÓg – by Lumiere SoundWorks
- Traditions & Original Work – by Erin Ruth
- The Light Within – by Between Us
- Moon's Embrace – by WaifuBEATS
- nonametrio EP – by nonametrio
- Woodland Paradise – by Spiral Design
Attn Bands: Go to 4celts.com to submit your band to the podcast.
THREE CASTLES BURNING: BRIAN KERR IN CONVERSATION: DRIMNAGH, LIBYA AND BEYOND
- Brian Kerr’s voice is instantly familiar as a broadcaster, and his contribution to Irish football is extraordinary. Born in 1953, his first coaching role came while barely a teenager. In the 1980s he would come to manage the team he had supported since his childhood, St Patrick’s Athletic, before going on to historic victories with Ireland’s youth teams in the 1990s. In this discussion, we touch on everything from the 1966 World Cup Final to the visit of the Al-Helal Football Academy in Gaza to Dublin. A little language in this one.
TEN MINS WITH… ADAM O’DONOVAN
- CORK-BASED artist M’adam, the stage name of songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Adam O’Donovan, has just released his single You Get Me.
- A gentle but resonant send-off, this track serves as the final release before his album Before We Die, which will be available digitally on August 29.
To read more, go here!
JOCK'S CELTIC CALAMITY: SHOW NO 552
- Billy McComiskey, Alan Kelly Gang, Tiernan Courell, Colm R. McGuinness, The Bothy Band, Unspoken Tradition, John Doyle, Sunfire, Valtos, Gary Innes, Hannah Read, Michael Stark…, Breaking Trad, Corner House, Yvonne Casey, Catherine McEvoy, Chessboxer, Louise Morrissey, adrian mcauliffe & Cathal Fl…, Missy Raines, William Coulter, John Williamson, Shelta, Téada, The Cottars, The Nordic Fiddlers Bloc, Brittany Haas, Casey Murray & Molly Tucker, Talisk, The Mackenzie, Aaron Copland, Tulla Céilí Band, Sean Tyrrell, Meredith Moon, The Celtic Consort
3 SCOTTISH BROTHERS SET WORLD RECORD FOR FASTEST PACIFIC ROW
- Three Scottish brothers set a world record Saturday for completing the fastest unsupported row across the full Pacific Ocean.
- Jamie, Ewan and Lachlan Maclean completed the journey in 139 days, arriving in Cairns, Australia. They rowed over 9,000 miles non-stop from Peru, becoming the first team to achieve the full crossing from South America to Australia.
To read more, go here!
CROWDS ENJOY NATURAL PLAY AREA OPENING IN ISLE OF MAN ESTATE DESPITE RAINY WEATHER
- Families braved wind, rain and plenty of mud at the weekend to celebrate the official opening of a new natural play area at Ballagarraghyn, Jurby.
- Umbrellas were up and waterproofs zipped tight, but that didn’t dampen the excitement as children rushed to explore their brand-new outdoor space.
To read more, go here!
LONGS PEAK SCOTTISH IRISH HIGHLAND FESTIVAL
- Celtic Legends Come to Life!
- Experience the Magic at the 49th Annual Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival
- Immerse yourself in three unforgettable days of Celtic culture, featuring:
- Four live music stages, Scotch tastings, Thrilling Highland athletics, Traditional Highland dancing, World-class bagpiping, Discover your heritage in Clan Row!
- Some of the entertainers you will see are Albannach, Brother, On the Lash, Katie Jane Band, Sean Heely Band, Seamus Kennedy, Scooter & Jil, & many more!
WHAT ARE YOU DOING WHILE LISTENING?
You can send a comment or a picture of what you're doing. You can also send a photo from one of your trips to a Celtic nation or anywhere around the globe.
Slainte!
Todd Wiley & Marc Gunn, The Celtfather
September 4, 2025
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