Céad Míle Fáilte
Once again Todd here let’s get into this issue. In this issue we have a new episode of our own Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. The other podcasts we focus on are Three Castles Burning & Mostly Folk. We have a list of new CDs. The highlighted articles include our Celtic Spring Challenge, US Tariffs damaging the Irish economy, Mostly Stilettos honoring Cornwall businesses, & land reform in Scotland. The highlighted festival is the New Mexico Renaissance Celtic Festival that takes place March 29 – 30 & April 5 – 6, at the Wildlife West Nature Park in Edgewood, NM. We hope you enjoy this issue. Until next time, slàinte mhath!
IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST #703: INTERVIEW WITH FLOOK
- Flook, Jigjam, Mac and Cheese, Austral, Mànran, Clare Sands, Aisling Urwin, Marc Gunn, The Secret Commonwealth, David Mitchell, Tuatha Dea, Willowgreen
- A special thanks to our new and continued Patrons of the Podcast: Jay Bower, Mary Wright, Katherine N. Friedman
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 SPRING CHALLENGE
- This April, join the Celtic Spring Challenge — a refreshing way to celebrate spring, connect with music, and make a positive impact on your community.
NEW CDS
- Lark in the Hay – by Katie Down, Matt Glover, Cyril Lance
- Where Fireflies Rest – by Eldarae Willowsong
- Pretannia – by Pritanī
- powerful relaxation vol. 1 – by motion arrey
- Butterflies Awaken – by Eldarae Willowsong
- Encantadas – by An Danzza
- Heilir Aesir – by OB-Lix Original Music & Claude Houde
- Lītudawnās – Proto-Celtic Chants for the Celtic Rite – by Brigocantlos
Attn Bands: Go to 4celts.com to submit your band to the podcast.
THREE CASTLES BURNING: THE END OF MONTO: A CENTURY ON
- This edition of the podcast contains adult language and themes and is not suitable for younger listeners.
- This special live edition of the podcast was part of Abair, an annual programme within the Saint Patrick’s Festival. Joining me is Caroline West (author of a recent best selling history about Monto and a sex educator and columnist), Terry Fagan (oral historian and Monto expert), MacDara Yeates (singer and cultural programmer) as well as musical guests Sean Fitzgerald (The Deadlians) and Phelim Drew.
US TRADE TARIFFS COULD SERIOUSLY DAMAGE IRISH ECONOMY, ACCORDING TO RESEARCH
- A NEW working paper co-authored by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and the Department of Finance has warned that the Irish domestic economy could shrink by 2% between the next five to seven years if the United States follows through on tariffs to EU goods.
- Gross Domestic Product could end up falling by 3.5%, meaning that the overall health of the economy, including contributions by multinationals, would be affected. The report states that the traded sector in particular – that is, the part of the economy which includes pharmaceutical and technology exports – is likely to be ‘disproportionately impacted by protectionist measures due to [the US’s] strong linkages to the global economy’.
MOSTLY FOLK: EPISODE 719
- David Lindes, Kevin Whalen, Lucy Kaplansky, Nina Ricci, Amelia Hogan, Miranda Hardy, Ally Taylor, The Twangtown Paramours, Mark Freeman, Michael Cross, Amy Hopwood, Echo Valley, Antonio Andrade, Mike Rufo, Helene Cronin
WHO ARE MUDDY STILETTOS AWARDS FINALISTS FOR CORNWALL 2025
- The finalists for the Muddy Stilettos Awards 2025 have been revealed, with 105 businesses in Cornwall featured.
- The awards, now in their twelfth year, celebrate top independent lifestyle businesses across 35 counties, with customers and Muddy readers selecting the finalists.
WHY IS LAND REFORM ON THE AGENDA IN SCOTLAND?
- MSPs have given their initial backing to a new Land Reform Bill.
- The Scottish government says it wants to change the way land is owned and managed across the country “for the better”.
- Some campaigners are calling for the bill to go further, while landowners have described the proposals as “unworkable”.
NEW MEXICO RENAISSANCE CELTIC FESTIVAL
- In the heart of Edgewood, New Mexico, the Wildlife West Nature Park is buzzing with anticipation as the 4th Annual New Mexico Renaissance Celtic Festival prepared to unfold over two enchanting weekends in 2025.
- The festival grounds are being transformed into a vibrant tapestry of Celtic heritage. The melodies of the Harp Twins, accompanied by the rhythmic beats of the Volfgang Twins, will resonate through the air, captivating audiences with their harmonious performances.
- Celtica Nova’s electrifying shows will add to the musical feast, drawing visitors into the spirited ambiance.
- Amidst the festivities, a heartfelt ceremony will take place as Eric “the Brown” Vigil and Miss Paula Ross exchanging vows in a traditional Scottish wedding, witnessed by festival-goers who joined in the celebration, marking the union with joy and merriment.
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
March 27, 2025
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