Céad Míle Fáilte
It is Todd once again. I hope the new year is treating you well. In this week’s issue we have a new episode of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. The other podcasts featured are Erin’s Isle & Copperplate Time. The highlighted articles feature ones about Ireland’s literary heritage, ancient Celtic tribe had women at its center, & Outlander’s roots in Celtic myths and legends. The highlighted festival is Caloosahatchee Celtic Festival, taking place on January 24 – 25, at the Caloosa Sound Amphitheater in Ft Myers. We hope you enjoy this issue. Until next time, slàinte mhath!
IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST #694: CELTIC WOMEN FLOWERS OF WINTER
- Flook, Hanneke Cassel, Eimear Arkins, Erin Ruth, Tradify, Mary – Kate Spring Lee, Runa, Clay Babies, Charlene Adzima, Mary Frances Leahy, Sheridan Rúitín, Louise Bichan, Roehind, Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening
- A special thanks to our new and continued Patrons of the Podcast: TolkienFan4Ever, Michael Cassidy, Cristen Y, Jon
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?
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.
SHEEPDOGS ON ERIN’S ISLE
- In Ireland, sheep are everywhere except in the biggest cities. You see them on the mountains, alongside the rural roads, even sometimes on the rural roads, taking their time grazing and sauntering. They don’t seem to be bothered by the cars, but pull up near one and ty to take a picture and they sprint away.
THE LITERARY SPARK FROM FAMILY, CULTURE AND CONTENTION
- Does Ireland’s literary heritage emerge from big families, sibling conflict, cultural discord — or is it fuelled by other elements?
- WHAT makes a writer and, in particular, what is it about Ireland that produces so many writers?
- The late poet Louise Gluck offered a theory which is the most plausible account I have read of how a child discovers an enthusiasm for writing and cultivating the skill of generating pithy, witty and effective lines.
COPPERPLATE TIME 494
- Bothy Band, Moving Cloud, Dermot Byrne, John Carty & Michael McGoldrick, Tom & Dick Joyce, Patsy Moloney, Bridge Ceili Band, PJ & Marcus Hernon, Seamus Begley/Teada, Niall & Brian Crehan, Garadice, Tony Linnane, Cillian Vallely & David Doocey, Christy Moore, Dezi Donnelly & Mike McGoldrick, Paddy O’Brien, John McEvoy & John Wynne, Dave Sheridan, Bert Jansch, London Lasses, Bothy Band
ANCIENT CELTIC TRIBE HAD WOMEN AT ITS SOCIAL CENTER
- For millennia, couples have had to decide where to live.
- “For the vast majority of human history,” says Lara Cassidy, a geneticist at Trinity College Dublin, “societies were centered around ties of kinship, so you're deciding whose family you're going to live with.”
OUTLANDER'S ROOTS IN CELTIC MYTHS AND LEGENDS EXPLAINED – FROM STANDING STONES TO THE LOCH NESS MONSTER
- Outlander has brought folklore and myths to worldwide audiences. The show, based on Diana Gabaldon's bestselling books, mixes history, fantasy and romance with aspects of Celtic mythology.
- The interest in the Celtic mythology contained in the Outlander universe is still high, with almost 100,000 Google searches. The show ranks third in popularity among TV shows with Celtic influences, after Game of Thrones and Teen Wolf, as per a study by SlotBox.
2025 CALOOSAHATCHEE CELTIC FESTIVAL!
- Get ready to don your kilts and embrace the magic of Celtic tradition at the much-anticipated 2025 Caloosahatchee Celtic Festival. We're thrilled to bring back everyone's favorite New Year's tradition, but for the 21st anniversary it will be on Friday and Saturday. Get a full weekend of Celtic vibes and brews on January 24-25, right in the heart of downtown Fort Myers. Join us at the stunning Caloosa Sound Amphitheater, 2101 Edwards Dr, 33901.
- Some of the performers you will see are Screaming Orphans, Albannach, & Ally the Piper.
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
January 23, 2025
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