Céad Míle Fáilte
It is Todd once again. How is everyone? I am sorry again for the delay. I thought this got posted. Unfortunately, apparently there were some issues on my end. But let’s jump into it in the issue we have a new episode of our own Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. The other podcasts we showcase include The Irish Pagan School Podcast and my own Celtic Indy Podcast. We have included a new list of recent album releases. The featured articles are about new music release in Ireland, a Viking hoard found in Scotland, and a Cornish ale now being served in Parliament. The highlighted festival is the Casper Celtic Irish Festival taking place July 18 – 19 at the Nicolaysen Art Museum in Casper, WY. We hope you enjoy this issue. Until next time, slàinte mhath!
IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST #717: ONLY THE HIGHLIGHTS, PLEASE!
- This is the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #717. Today, I’m sharing the very first Highlight Reel we released over on Patreon. Highlight Reels are music-only episodes. They feature some of the best tracks, as voted on by fans of the show, from the 5-7 previous episodes. So these were all from the beginning of 2022.
- Patrons of the Podcast get Highlight Reels every few months. You also get Music-Only episodes every week. I won’t be introducing individual songs or tunes. Instead, you can go to the shownotes at celticmusicpodcast.com to find out who’s who in this episode.
- As always thank you to our amazing Patrons
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?
NEW CDS
- Tús – by Úna
- Midleton Rare – by John Cronin & Daithí Kearney
- Tuatha Dé Donann – by Díréadú
- Goldenrod – by February Sky
- Time-Honored Pathways – by February Sky
- Les Chroniques du Chat Noir [OST] © – by Tristan Lohengrin
Attn Bands: Go to 4celts.com to submit your band to the podcast.
THE IRISH PAGAN SCHOOL PODCAST: IS CÚ CHULAINN A TRAGIC HERO? EXPLORING THE MYTH & LEGACY
- Is Cú Chulainn a true tragic hero, or is his story more complicated than it seems? In this insightful video, Jon O'Sullivan of the Irish Pagan School delves into the myths and historical contexts surrounding one of Ireland's most famous figures, Cú Chulainn (Setanta Mac Súaltam).Often romanticised as a paragon of heroism, Cú Chulainn's tale reveals darker layers of violence, manipulation, and tragic choices, making him more of a tragic figure than a hero. Jon examines the Ulster Cycle and the cultural upbringing that shaped Cú Chulainn into a complex character who was ultimately a product of his violent society.Discover the deeper truths behind this iconic figure of Irish mythology and how his legacy has been used throughout history. If you're curious about the real story of Cú Chulainn, Jon also offers a full class, “Cú Chulainn: A Life of Stories,” available at the Irish Pagan School.
ON THE RECORD – THE BEST NEW MUSIC RELEASES IN IRELAND THIS MONTH
- “GRATITUDE is the key to serendipity,” says Dirty Marmalade about their debut album, Hills of Breifne (Spooky Jazz Records).
- It’s a fair enough observation from the Cavan band, who also state their manifesto (of sorts) via a press release: “We stand for the creative weirdos struggling to find their place among mainstream society.”
CELTIC INDY PODCAST: PATINA ROCKS
- In this episode we feature music from Reverie Road featuring Liam Kantor, Patina, Ben Traverse & Nick Veine, The Irish Airs, On the Lash, Kinnfolk, Hounds of Finn, Blackwillow Starling, Erin Hill, Crossbow, & Whorled. We also have list concerts and festivals taking place in an around the Midwest. We have also included a history of the song Wild Mountain Time (AKA Wilde Mountain Time, Wild Mountain Thyme, or Wilde Mountain Thyme).
UNBURIED TREASURE: A VIKING HOARD FOUND BY A SCOTTISH DETECTORIST AND ITS ‘BIZARRE’ LINK TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA
- In AD900, marauding Vikings buried a hoard of treasure – jewellery, gold, silver and more – in Scotland. It wasn’t until 2014 that it was unearthed.
- Metal detectorist Derek McLennan was prospecting in a ploughed field near Dumfries and Galloway when he came across the hoard, which turned out to be the most significant Viking-age collection ever found in the UK or Ireland.
CORNISH ALE LANDS SPOT IN PARLIAMENT BAR AFTER MP'S SUPPORT
- A CORNISH brewery will have one of its products served in the bar of the Houses of Parliament after a campaign by the MP for North Cornwall.
- Bluntrock Brewery and Taproom, produced in St Minver, near Wadebridge, was invited to Parliament to show off the ‘best that the brewery has to offer’ and as a result, the brewerys Bluntrock Gold will be served in the ‘Stranger’s Bar’ on draught.
CASPER CELTIC IRISH FESTIVAL
- The 2025 Casper Celtic Irish Festival celebrates Celtic Culture through music, dancing, and various cultural experiences. In July, join us for live performances from artists like Colm Keegan, Irish dancing, classes and seminars on Celtic Culture, and so much more. Located at the Nicolaysen Art Museum at 400 E Collins Drive, this festival will be a 2-day event that starts on Friday, July 18th, with doors opening at 5:30 pm, and continues on Saturday, July 19th, with doors opening at 9:30 am. The first day will feature a concert from our 2 headlining acts, with day 2 being a full day of activities. Click on event details to see a full list of activities and learn more about them.
- Some the entertainment you will see includes Colm Keegan, On the Lash, Syr, Once Upon a Tune, Celtic Solas, and more.
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
July 10, 2025
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