Céad Míle Fáilte
It is your intrepid editor Todd Wiley. In this issue we have a new episode of our own Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. We also have included one of our Patreon exclusive blog posts. The other podcasts we highlight are Travelling in Ireland & Mostly Folk Podcast. We have highlighted a list of new albums. The articles we highlight include ones about Irish’s involvement in London’s history, a light show raising money for the Cornwall Air Ambulance, & mysterious massive object off the North Wales coast. The highlighted festival is the Florida Keys Celtic Festival taking place on January 11 & 12 at Marathon Community Park in Marathon, Fl.
IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST #692: IRISH SESSIONS WITH SHANNON HEATON
- Natalie Padilla, Joseph Carmichael, Kyle Carey, Robert Zielinski, Matt & Shannon Heaton, Celtic Wood and Wires, Michael Darcy & The Atlantic Tramps, Skyrie
- A special thanks to our Celtic Legends: Bruce, Brian McReynolds, Marti Meyers, Alan Schindler, Karen DM Harris, Emma Bartholomew, Dan mcDade, Miranda Nelson, Nancie Barnett, Kevin Long, Gary R Hook, Lynda MacNeil, Kelly Garrod, Mike Schock, Annie Lorkowski, Shawn Cali
GET A MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP ON PATREON
- Our Patreon officially switched to a monthly membership. You can now support the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. We need to raise $500 more to get us back to continue to meet our bills.
- As a patron, you get ad – free episodes before regular listeners, vote in the Celtic Top 20, stand – alone stories, you get a private feed to listen to the show or you can listen through the Patreon app. All that for as little as $1 per month.
Episode Photo
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.
Patreon
WHAT'S NEW WITH CELTIC MUSIC
& CULTURE ONLINE?
NEW CDS
- North Star – by Kontraband
- Fantasy Harp – by The Harp of Dreams
- Bonfire Songs – by Fabricio Saga
- Valtos & Friends – by Valtos
- Universal Healing – by Elemental Magic
- Glimmer – by Carol Crittenden
- Mermaids – by Derek & Brandon Fiechter
- Dulcimer – by Brian Leach
Attn Bands: Go to 4celts.com to submit your band to the podcast.
SIGN UP TO KICKSTARTER PRE-LAUNCH PAGE
- In January, we are archiving the Best Irish & Celtic Music of the 2024 with a limited-edition CD, Album Pin, and Shirt. We'd like your support!
- Visit our Kickstarter pre-launch page. You'll be able to support the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast and get some great limited-edition swag.
Sign up now to our Kickstarter Pre-Launch Page.
BLOG: 9 CELTIC BANDS I'M WATCHING IN 2025
- With each new year there are always a selection of bands that seem to merit a closer look and a call out for ongoing attention. As we slide on in to 2025, this is the list of bands I’ll be keeping a close eye on.
Read the Blog – Patreon Exclusive
TRAVELING IN IRELAND: MONEY SAVING TIPS FOR YOUR IRELAND VACATION
- An Ireland vacation doesn't have to break your budget! Use these tips to make your Euro go farther and help you save money in Ireland! In this article you'll learn eight essential tips for saving money while traveling in Ireland. From budgeting and timing your trip to finding the best flight deals and transportation options, this practical advice helps travelers maximize their experience without overspending. You'll learn the importance of planning, gain insight on accommodations, dining, attractions, and smart shopping strategies, ensuring that visitors can enjoy the beauty of Ireland without breaking the bank.
- Continue reading at Money Saving Tips for Your Ireland Vacation | Ireland Family Vacations
IRISH FOOTPRINTS IN THE FOG OF LONDON’S HISTORY
- PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins’ sojourn as President of Ireland comes to an end in November 2025.
- It is thought that he will make at least one visit to the diaspora in Britain before he hangs up his presidential hat and returns to writing poetry.
- Whether he’ll meet the King seems highly likely — the two men are known to like and respect each other, and of course he has met the King when he was just lowly Prince Charles, on one of his visits to Ireland.
MOSTLY FOLK PODCAST: EPISODE 708
- Nichole Wagner, Chip Taylor, Antje Duvekot, Bart Moore,
- Becky Buller, Carolann Solebello, Eugene Ruffolo, Jay Linden, M Sparks, Mark Dvorak, Son Stone, 10,000 Maniacs, Steve Louw, Jordi Baizan, Antje Duvekot
DAZZLING LIGHTS SHOW HELPS TO RAISE NEARLY £5,200 FOR THE CORNWALL AIR AMBULANCE
- An annual Christmas lights show in St Austell has helped to raise a dazzling £5,189.74 for the Cornwall Air Ambulance appeal to purchase a second lifesaving helicopter.
- The lights display is the brainchild of Arran Gandy, who has been organising and exhibiting the lights at his house in Manor Close for the past nine years.
MYSTERY OF ‘MASSIVE OBJECT' MISTAKEN FOR NEW ISLAND OFF NORTH WALES COAST
- From a distance, through winter haze, startled walkers spotted a “massive object” in the sea off the North Wales coast. For a moment, they wondered if a small island had suddenly sprouted in Liverpool Bay.
- Visitor Lisa Kearns was walking the Wales Coast Path near Deganwy golf course, Conwy, when she sighted the strange vision off-shore from the Great Orme, Llandudno. Logic dictated it must be a ship but, in a flight of fancy, she imagined it might be something else. Calling for social media help, she said: “It looks like an island but we think it’s a ship.”
FLORIDA KEYS CELTIC FESTIVAL
- The Florida Keys Celtic Festival features family-friendly Celtic rock and Traditional music, Irish & Scottish Dancing, Pipes and Drums, a Children’s Glen with games, face painting and fun activities, and fabulous Celtic (and Keys) foods and crafts vendors. Highland Athletics, the original Strongman sport, features a sanctioned Woman’s Highland Athletics Competition and for a little Sunday Funday, locals can sign up for our Marathon “Celtic Games” Competition. The Florida Keys Celtic Festival was recently voted a Best of Florida Regional Winner for Festivals.
- Some of the musical acts you can see are Albannach, The Screaming Orphans, & West of Galway
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
1/9/2025
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