Céad Míle Fáilte
Hello, it is Todd once again. In this issue we have a new episode of our very own Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. The other featured podcasts are Travelling in Ireland & Copperplate Time. We also have a list of new albums. As well as information about our Celtic Spring Challenge. The highlighted articles are about Edel Murphy, a Castletown Pub for sale, & protecting Scotland’s Rivers and lochs. The highlighted festival is the Norcal Celtic Festival taking place on April 26 & 27 in Woodland, CA along Main St in the Historic Downtown. We hope you enjoy this issue. Until next time, slàinte mhath!
IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST #706: AMELIA HOGAN INTERVIEW
- Amelia Hogan, The Friel Sisters, Flook, Fialla, Robert Zielinski, On The Lash, Brobdingnagian Bards, Joseph Carmichael, The Lilies of the Midwest, Austral, Hounds of Finn
- A special thanks to our Celtic Legends: Rick Boyce, Bruce, Daniel Ide, Brian McReynolds, Marti Meyers, Alan Schindler, Margreta Silverstone, Emma Bartholomew, Dan mcDade, 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 Spotify
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 SPRING CHALLENGE – WALK, LISTEN, GIVE BACK! 🌿
This April, embrace the spirit of spring with the Celtic Spring Challenge—a simple way to enjoy music, stay active, and help the planet!
Here’s the challenge:
🎶 Listen to Celtic Music – Fill your walks with the energy of jigs, reels, and ballads. Let the rhythm guide your steps! Pick your favorite band or listen to the podcast.
🚶♂️ Walk for 30 Minutes – Get outside, breathe in the fresh air, and move your body every day for a month.
♻️ Pick Up 3 Pieces of Trash – Make your surroundings a little cleaner while you’re at it. Every small action adds up!
Join in and share your experience using #CelticSpringChallenge—let’s celebrate spring with great music, healthy habits, and a cleaner world.
Are you in? Lace up, press play, and let’s make April count!
Earth Day is April 22
Arbor Day is April 25
NEW CDS
Get weekly updates of New CDs in our Celtic Music Magazine and download 34 Celtic MP3s for free at bestcelticmusic.net. #NewCelticCDs
- The World of An-Darna – by The Last Retinue
- Teiliwr / Tailor – by Three Legg'd Mare
- Brawlers & Ballads – by Hooligan's Wake
- Légendes bretonnes Vol. 2 – by Xavier Barluet de Beauchesne
- Miliwr / Soldier – by Three Legg'd Mare
- Tincer/ Tinker – by Three Legg'd Mare
- Celtic spirit – by Elias J. Connor
- Shamrocks & Shenanigans – by Hooligan's Wake
- Drunken Saints & Fallen Kings – Hooligan's Wake
- Sidecountry – by Half Pelican
- Nordic Music – Relax your Soul – by Paradise Sonus
Attn Bands: Go to 4celts.com to submit your band to the podcast.
TRAVELING IN IRELAND: DERRY GUIDED TOURS
- Planning to visit Derry/ Londonderry?
- This city in Northern Ireland is well known for its defensive city walls, murals, and the tragic Bloody Sunday history during the period known as The Troubles.
- Located at the westernmost end of the Causeway Coastal Route and the northernmost tip of the Wild Atlantic Way, Derry makes a terrific base to for touring portions of these scenic drives.
TEN MINS WITH…EDEL MURPHY
- EDEL MURPHY, a singer, actor, and musician from Dublin, has toured globally with Celtic Woman and performed as a soprano soloist in Riverdance.
- In her album Motherland Songs Edel showcases folk anthems and modern classics.
- She released her debut EP Bluebonnet Spring in 2015
- This week she spoke to the Irish Post about the power of storytelling, her upcoming album Motherland Songs, and how memories of Sligo summers and stage dreams have shaped her sound…
COPPERPLATE TIME 503
- Bothy Band, Trian, Frankie Gavin’s 20 Orchestra, Andy Irvine, Paddy Carty & Mick O’Connor, Paddy Glackin, Noel Hill, Frank Cassidy, Matt Molloy, Dick Gaughan, John McEvoy & John Wynne, Dan Brouder & Angelina Carberry, Donnchadh Gough/Danu, Elaine Reilly & Daithi Gormley, Nancy Costello, Seán ÓSé & Ceoltoirí Chulann,Maeve Donnelly & Peter O’Loughlan, Mick O’Brien & Terry Crehan, & Bothy Band
CASTLETOWN PUB UP FOR SALE
- The Viking – complete with live-in accommodation – appears online
MORE NEED TO BE DONE TO PROTECT SCOTLAND'S RIVERS AND LOCHS
- Scotland is rightly proud of our stunning coastlines, rivers and lochs. But it’s been clear for years we are far from immune from the sewage scandal gripping the UK, with waterfirms letting human waste spew into the environment.
2025 NORCAL CELTIC FESTIVAL
- This FREE To Attend NorCal Celtic Festival, in beautiful and historic downtown Woodland,
will showcase Celtic music, dance, food and culture.
Kilted Pipe Bands, Solo Pipers and Drummers, Drum Majors and Scottish Highland Dancers will compete throughout the day along Main Street, culminating in the much anticipated gathering of the Massed Pipes and Drums playing “Scotland the Brave.”
The Festival finale features The Young Dubliners!!
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
April 17, 2025
TELL A FRIEND
Do you have a friend who loves Celtic music? Why not share the latest episode of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. Share this newsletter or your favorite episode. Tell them why you love it.
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