Céad Míle Fáilte
It is Todd once again. In this issue we have new episodes of our own Irish & Celtic Podcast and Folk Songs & Stories. The other featured podcasts are Travelling in Ireland and Celt in a Twist. We also have a sale on your first month of Patreon. As well as a list of new albums. The highlighted articles consist of ones about Leeds Irish, Roald Dahl sketches, and Family Library. The Celtic Fest this week is the Holland Waterfront Celtic festival and Highland Games taking place 6/20 – 6/21 at the Ottawa County Fairgrounds in Holland, MI. We hope you enjoy this issue. Until next time, slàinte mhath!
IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST #714: ST. PATRICK'S DAY FAVORITES
- Fialla, Goitse, Mànran, Larkin & Moran Brothers, River Driver, Mac and Cheese, David Mitchell, Bealtaine, Conamara Chaos, Brobdingnagian Bards, On The Lash, The Friel Sisters, Runa, Willowgreen, Charlie O'Brien, Sligo Rags
- A special thanks to our new and continued Patrons of the Podcast:
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?
FOLK SONGS & STORIES #303: LORD OF THE POUNCE: A FELINE FOLK FANTASY
- Make sure your cat is drinking water. Cats love to pounce. It’s another 20th anniversary celebration of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers as I share the story behind “Lord of the Pounce”.
- This is Folk Songs & Stories #303
NEW CDS
- Awen EP /|\ – by Mari Mathias (Tarian Records) + Friends
- modern relax – by motion arrey
- Fiacre's Fell – by McFloosey
- The In Between – by SeaStar
- Cladach – by Tero Goldenhill
- Ironrealm – by Everrune
- Mistwoven Realms – by Everrune
- Exosphera – by Everrune
- Complicated to Be Simple – by Evergreen
- Celtic Spirit – The Colors of Irish Sound – by The Celtic Journey
- The Magic of Celtic Music – by Laura Giorgi Valenti
- Irish Pub Jigs – Alibi Music
- Highland Mist – by Red Carpenter
- Here To Stay – by Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira
- Echos from Home – by Kathryn Lillich
- Mine høvdinge – by Fuimadane
- Celtic Fiddle Rambles Vol. 1, discs #1 & 2 – by Skip Gorman
- Celtic Fiddle Rambles with Skip Gorman , Vol. 2 (discs #3 & 4) – by Skip Gorman
Attn Bands: Go to 4celts.com to submit your band to the podcast.
SHOW YOUR CELTIC PRIDE
- Join us on Patreon and save 22% off your first month or year from now until June 23.
TRAVELLING IN IRELAND: WHEN NOT TO VISIT BLARNEY CASTLE (AND HOW TO TIME IT RIGHT)
- Blarney Castle and Gardens is one of Ireland’s most popular tourist destinations – and for good reason. But if you show up at the wrong time, your magical visit can quickly turn into a crowded, stressful experience.
- Here’s a quick planning tip that can make all the difference.
LEEDS IRISH CENTRE CELEBRATES ITS 55TH BIRTHDAY
- I OFTEN wonder how many people have driven past the Irish Centre on the very busy York Road in Leeds and wondered what's inside.
- The Irish Centre is one of Leeds' worst kept secrets because behind its 1970s façade they will find a vibrant community who are an integral part of the city.
- Over the 55 years the Centre has been at the forefront of the Irish Diaspora in Leeds, an emerald on the hill looking to the city and standing proud to be part of this thriving city.
CELT IN A TWIST: JUNE 15, 2025
- 13 for the road. Wherever you roam the world is your home! New music this hour from the borderlands between Denmark and Germany from Drones & Bellows, Italian Celtic with a Canadian singer from Willos. Livin' High On Highland Life with Barleyjuice and a Cosmic Celtic from The Breath. In, out and all about, it's Celt In A Twist!
ORIGINAL ROALD DAHL SKETCHES SELL FOR £24,000
- Original sketches done by children's author Roald Dahl for his memoir have sold for nearly £24,000.
- Dahl, who was born in Llandaff, Cardiff, produced the sketches in black ballpoint pen for the book Boy, which was published in 1984.
OPTIONS FOR FAMILY LIBRARY FUTURE TO BE EXPLORED
- Options for the future running of services at a community library under threat of closure over funding are set to be brought forward in October.
- The Isle of Man's Family Library is set to shut on 31 July due to expected annual losses of £100,000, as a result of rising costs and declining incomes.
- Tynwald members supported Treasury Minister Alex Allinson's proposal for the ministers to work with the directors to understand its financial situation, and explore options to save it, with an urgent meeting scheduled for 30 June.
HOLLAND WATERFRONT CELTIC FESTIVAL & HIGHLAND GAMES
- We’re serious about our heritage
The Holland Celtic Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation registered with the Internal Revenue Service. Our first community-wide event was the first annual Holland Waterfront Celtic Festival & Highland Games in 2022. Join us every year!
- Some of the entertainment you will see includes Barley Saints, Black Murray, Ironwood, Kennedy’s Kitchen, Leprecons, On the Lash, Stone Clover, the Kalamazoo Pipe Band, Whorled, and dancing.
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
June 19, 2025
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