Céad Míle Fáilte
Welcome all, it is Todd once again. This week we don’t have new episodes of our podcasts. However, check out our blog of bands we played most often on the podcast. The highlighted podcasts are the National Leprechaun Museum Talking Stories and Copperplate Podcast. We have a list of new albums as well. The articles we feature are about Olwen Fouéré, A mysterious meteorite that fell in Glasgow in 1804, and an Irish post night in London. The spotlighted festival is the Yule Viking Festival. It takes place on December 6-7, 13-14, and 20-21, 2025 in Gladewater, TX. We hope you enjoy this issue. Until next time, Sláinte mhaith!
TOP 15 CELTIC FOLK BANDS OF 2025
- As 2025 winds down, I want to spotlight the Celtic folk bands that ended up in my heavy rotation this year. There’s an ocean of brilliant Celtic music out there, but certain artists inevitably rise to the top. These are the ones you reach for without thinking, the ones that soundtrack your days, your drives, and your late-night editing sessions.
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These are the bands that earned the most plays on my Irish & Celtic Music Podcast playlists this trip around the sun.
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 CELTIC ALBUMS
- Yet We Sing – by Cara
- Horizon – by Cara
- Live – by Cara
- Don't Forget to Dream – by Peter Crowley
- Tales from the Ivory Tower Basement – by Velvet Entropy
- Lost Castles – by Lost Castles
- Nature's Bounty – by Jacqui Rutten (composer and singer)
- The Harp and the Holly – by Hannah Flowers
- Grounded – by Cara
- Jours de Douceur – by Great Bear Music
Attn Bands: Go to 4celts.com to submit your band to the podcast.
NATIONAL LEPRECHAUN MUSEUM TALKING STORIES: VOYAGES (S03 EP07)
- Welcome to the sixth Episode for Season 3 of the National Leprechaun Museum's podcast, The Storytellers.
- This episode we discuss the next category of story required by the Filí (the bards) to know to earn their title. This category is Voyages! We would like to dedicate this episode to podcast listener and friend of the museum, Bethany.
- Opening and closing music “Kesh Jig, Leitrim Fancy” by Sláinte
IRISH ACTRESS OLWEN FOUÉRÉ AMONG THREE PEOPLE TO REFUSE DOCTORATE FROM UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY OVER ISRAELI TIES
- IRISH actress Olwen Fouéré is one of three people to refuse to accept an honorary doctorate from the University of Galway over its ties to an Israeli institution.
- Fouéré, along with filmmaker Margo Harkin and academic Professor Kerby Miller, declined the honours ahead of the ceremony on Thursday.
- Galway-born Fouéré cited the university's ‘extremely problematic' ties with Technion, Israel's Institute of Technology, as the reason behind her decision.
To read more, go here!
COPPERPLATE PODCAST 312
- Gerry Diver, Garadice, Dan Brouder & Angelina Carberry, John & Jacinta McEvoy, Michael Banahan, Urnua, John Carty & Mike McGoldrick, Eilis Kennedy, John Wynne & John McEvoy, Aoife & Mick O’Brien & Emer Mayock, Gerry Hanley, The Outside Track, Mick Mulvey & Shane Meehan, PJ & Marcus Hernon, Dave Sheridan, Gerry DiverDescription
THE MYSTERIOUS METEORITE THAT FELL ON NORTH GLASGOW & WHERE IT IS NOW
- On 5 April 1804, the High Possil meteorite crashed to Earth near what is now the Possil Marsh Nature Reserve, situated between High Possil and Lambhill on the banks of the Forth and Clyde Canal. The event became one of the earliest scientifically verified meteorite falls in the world.
To read more, go here!
STARS SHINE AT SPECTACULAR IRISH POST NIGHT IN LONDON
- IRISH talent from across the worlds of arts, sport, business and culture lit up London last night as the Irish Post Awards 2025 returned to the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane for another unforgettable celebration of Irish excellence.
- More than 1,000 guests gathered for what has become one of the most important annual events for the Irish diaspora in Britain.
To read more, go here!
YULE VIKING FESTIVAL
- Step into a realm of ancient legends and modern revelry at the Yule Viking Festival, proudly hosted by Uppsala!
- Join us at our new expansive location spanning over 47 acres at 14200 County Road 3104, Gladewater, TX 75647, complete with camping and RV facilities, for a weekend filled with vibrant festivities and Nordic charm.
- Prepare to be enchanted by our exceptional lineup of performers, including the captivating Nordic Daughter, the thrilling Equestrian Chaos, the fiery Adamo Ignis fire and danger show. The daring feats of the Harmless Danger Show. Join Celtica Nova for a journey through Celtic music.
- Some of the entertainers you will see are Celtica Nova, Nordic Daughter, The Singing Serpents, and others.
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 (he/him) & Marc Gunn (he/him), The Celtfather
December 4, 2025
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