Nollaig Shona Daoibh! That's Merry Christmas for those who don't speak Gaelic, like myself. It may be Christmas, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy some splendid Celtic music for the holidays from these great Celtic musicians: Mithril Duo, Battlefield Band with Leo McCann, Poor Clares, Musical Blades, Ceol Gan Achar, Marc Gunn & Jamie Haeuser, Bow Triplets, Poitin, Fionnuala Sherry, Good Foot, Jacie McConnell, The Led Farmers, Sylvia Platypus, Black 47, Beyond the Pale.
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If you enjoy this podcast, then please rate the show on iTunes or your favorite podcatcher. Then subscribe to our Celtic Music Magazine. This is our free newsletter and your guide to the latest Celtic music and podcast news. Subscribe today to download 34 Celtic MP3s for free. Remember to support the artists who support this podcast: buy their CDs, download their MP3s, see their shows, and drop them an email to let them know you heard them on the Irish and Celtic Music Podcast. And remember to Vote in the Celtic Top 20. Your active voting will help define the Top 20 songs of 2015 at the end of the year.

Today's show is brought to you by Patrons of the Podcast

There is a lot that goes into the production of a successful podcast. I want to thank the 127 kind patrons of this podcast for your generosity, especially during the holiday season. You too can become a patron for as little as $1 per episode. Go to celticmusicpodcast.com/patron for more details. And if you're not giving to this podcast, support a band in the podcast, or make a donation to your favorite charity. Spread the love this holiday season.

Notes:

* Thanks to the Patrons of the Podcast. Your kind and generous support keeps this show running every week. Become a Patrons at http://celticmusicpodcast.com/patron/. Special thanks to our newest Patrons: Rebecca

* The Celtic Christmas Podcast four episodes this year. Don't miss the show and please celebrate the holidays with us. You can find more Celtic Christmas resources here.

* I WANT YOUR FEEDBACK: Email a written or audio comment to music@celticmusicpodcast.com or call 678-CELT-POD to leave a voicemail message. That's 678-235-8763. What are you doing today while listening to the podcast? Send me pictures of what you're doing or picture of one of your travels to Ireland or Scotland

Pamela Stohrer writes: “Just a thought, bagpipes have had their say, and sensitive guys with guitars are standard. But harps! On the Guinness bottle and on the podcast. Hoping this is an idea whose time has come. A faithful listener…”

Katie Lutz writes: “Marc, I discovered your podcast about a month ago (thank you Serial for finally getting me into podcasts) so I've been binge listening to many of your older episodes. I'm so glad I found you, but I only wish it had been sooner!

I started playing Irish music with the Academy of Irish Music in Chicago when I was in 7th grade. I played with them though high school and then continued to play on my own when I was in college.

Shortly after college, I married my high school sweetheart. He was in the army so we moved down to Ft. Rucker, AL in 2006. I assumed that there was no Irish music in the South, so I didn't even look! (then we went to Korea for a year and there REALLY isn't any there). From there, we went to Ft. Hood, TX. I was surprised to hear on your show that there is a big Celtic music festival in Austin! I'm sad that I had wrongly assumed that there was no Irish music around me, I missed out on some very cool music from other parts of the country. Too bad for me!

My husband has been out of the army for a year now and we are living back in Chicago. I'm back playing with the Academy of Irish Music and loving it. Noel Rice is the director of the Academy and he's in the group Baal Tinne (highly recommend checking them out). The Academy has put out a few CDs over the years, Pleraca (my old group) and Cruinn.

Anyway, I'm so glad that I found your podcast. I'm looking forward to expanding my musical horizons! Thanks for all you do! Katie Jo”

This Week in Celtic Music

“O'Carolan's Favorite Jig” by Mithril Duo
from Bottom of the Punch Bowl

“Reels: The Five Mile Chase / The Black Haired Lass / Miss Girdle” by Battlefield Band with Leo McCann
from Beg & Borrow

“Stone Whispers” by Poor Clares
from Change of Habbit

“Foggy Dew” by Musical Blades
from Treasures of Old

“Hedigans Fancy Hawson” by Ceol Gan Achar
from Ceol Gan Achar

“Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye” by Marc Gunn & Jamie Haeuser
from How America Saved Irish Music

“Here's a Great Night” by Bow Triplets
from Never Too Early

“Honeycake” by Poitin
from Bofiguifluki

“The Last Rose” by Fionnuala Sherry
from Songs From Before

“Mountain Road/Hunter's Purse” by Good Foot
from Good Foot

“Cuan Sianail (Storm on the Ocean)” by Jacie McConnell
from Mystical Moments A Sign Of Things To Come

“Drinking with the Lads” by The Led Farmers
from Lucy

“Raggle Taggle Gypsy” by Sylvia Platypus
from Sylvia Platypus

“Ballad of Brendan Behan” by Black 47
from Last Call

“Farrel O'Gara's/Bellharbor/Siobhan O'Donnell's” by Beyond the Pale
from Queen of Skye

The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast was produced by Marc Gunn, The Celtfather. To subscribe, go to iTunes or to our website where you can become a Patron of the Podcast for as little as $1 per episode. You can post feedback in the shownotes or email me music@celticmusicpodcast.com.

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