Céad Míle Fáilte
It is your editor, Todd. In this issue we have a new episode of our own Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. The other podcasts featured are Three Castles Burning & Copperplate. The highlighted articles are about Harry Clarke’s Stained Glass, a mural dedicated to Bob Turner, The Murder Capital having to cancel two shows. The featured festival is Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival and Games, taking place on May 17 – 18, 2025, at the Townsend Visitor’s Center, in Townsend, TN. We hope you enjoy this issue. Until next time, slàinte mhath!
IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST #709: THE WORLD IS CHANGING
- Battlefield Band, Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira, Tiffany Schaefer, Adam Agee & Jon Sousa, Scottish Fish, An Lár, Chris Gray, ÚLLA, Dom DufF, The Bog Hoppers, First Highland Watch, Battlelegs, The Flailing Shilaleighs, Sons of Malarkey
- 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
THREE CASTLES BURNING: THE ANIMAL GANGS: AN IRISH PEAKY BLINDERS?
- A nice mention for the podcast recently on Crime World inspired me to go back to the subject of the Animal Gang. Seperating fact from folklore, just who made up the so-called Animal Gang of 1930s and 1940s Dublin. Was there one gang, or does the term mean something much broader? What was the relationship between the Animal Gang and the turbulent politics of the time.
THE LIGHT FANTASTIC: FOLLOWING THE TRAIL OF HARRY CLARKE'S STAINED GLASS
- I HAVE always loved the stained glass of Ireland’s most celebrated artist in that medium, Harry Clarke (1889–1931).
- I first encountered his dazzling array of colours and illustrations at the age of ten, during a visit to Mount Melleray near Cappoquin, Co. Waterford.
- There, with my family, I saw the glorious Assumption of Mary window, depicting the Madonna flanked on either side by two Cistercian monks in their white habits.
- Sadly, that monastery closed earlier this year.
COPPERPLATE TIME 505
- Bothy Band, Goitse, PJ & Marcus Hernon, Christy Moore, Le Cheile, Sean Keane, Elaine Reilly, Eleanor Shanley, Dan Brouder & Angelina Carberry, Bobby Casey, Caoimhin O’Fearghaill, John Regan & Patsy Moloney, Wizz & Simeon Jones, Liam O’Flynn & Mark Knopfler, Eilis Kennedy, Colum Sands, Martin & Eliza Carthy, Oonagh Derby, Ralph McTell, Bothy Band
CORNWALL COUNCIL TALKS MONUMENT, MURAL TO COMMEMORATE BOB TURNER
- Cornwall city councillors passed the ball back to staff members as the city continues to try and find a way to memorialize Bob Turner.
- The Bob Turner Memorial Centre — nicknamed the Bob — was demolished in 2011. Other than a display case at the Benson Centre, Turner’s legacy isn’t currently memorialized anywhere else in Cornwall, even though various ideas ranging from a statue, to a mural, to the naming of one of the Benson Centre’s ice pads, have received some level of council and community attention over the last seven or eight years.
IRISH BAND HAS TWO GERMAN GIGS CANCELED AFTER THEY REFUSE TO TAKE DOWN PALESTINIAN FLAG
- The Murder Capital had two of their concerts in Germany canceled this weekend after they refused to take down a Palestinian flag from their set-up.
- The Dublin-based post-punk band was scheduled to play at the Berlin club Gretchen on Saturday, May 10, and Gebäude 9 in Cologne on Sunday, May 11, but both gigs were canceled.
Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival and Games
- The mission of the Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival and Games is to preserve the heritage and culture of Scotland by fostering national and international sporting, dancing and music competition, as well as cultural performances of the Scottish clans, education, folklore, music, arts, piping, drumming, athletic events and other festivities in the area. The SMSFG shall remain a viable leader in family entertainment and good stewards of our assets, giving back to the community.
- Some of entertainment you will see consists of Eireann’s Call. Raglan Road, Celtic Conundrum, Kinnfolk, & Haggis McCleod
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
May 15, 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.
#celticmusicmagazine
