Céad Míle Fáilte
Todd here again. In this issue we have a new episode of our own Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. The other showcased podcasts are Celtic Source & Copperplate Time. The articles featured are about an activist being honoured, a young poet and spoken worf, & Tartan Army. We have new albums as well. The highlighted festival is the Ohio Scotish Games taking place June 26 -27 at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds in Berea, Oh. We hope you enjoy this issue. Until next time, Sláinte mhaith!
IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST #763: CELTIC BLOOD AND BURNING ROADS
- Sean Heely and Beth Patterson, The Byrne Brothers, serious kitchen, Jared Bogle, Matt and Shannon Heaton, Ockham's Razor, Runa, Hounds of Finn, The Horsenecks, Skyrie, Vicki Swan and Jonny Dyer, Jarmila Xymena Gorna, The McDades
- A special thanks our newest Patron of the Podcast: John W
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
- The Dream – by Anu
- Dance of the Spiritwild – by TOFIE
- Tree of Life (Sketches 2026)j – by Owen Vaughan Hanner
- The Quiet Collection: Celtic – by Bill Lollar
- Tales From The Glen – by Bang On The Ear
- Secret Oaks – by Secret Oaks
Attn Bands: Go to 4celts.com to submit your band to the podcast.
Celtic Source 78: The Oldest Welsh Fairytale Explained: Elidy…
- Get the short guide ‘The 5 Keys of Celtic Myth' here: https://celticsource.online/the-5-keys-of-celtic-myth/ The story of Elidyr and the Tylwyth Teg is the oldest Welsh fairy tale on record. It tells of a boy's journey through ancient liminal spaces, encountering a deep realm of where the fairies have their own high ideals and ethics. But what does this story actually mean? What does it tell us about encounters with the extraordinary, about truth, childhood, and lost wisdom?
ACTIVIST HONOURED FOR ‘DEDICATING LIFE' TO IRISH COMMUNITY IN BRITAIN
- COMMUNITY activist Angie Birtill has been honoured for ‘dedicating her life to community, solidarity and social justice’.
- Born into a Liverpool Irish family in the 1950s, where her Co. Meath-born mother was working as a nurse, Ms Birtill has gone on to become one of the longest-standing activists among the Irish community.
- In the 1970s, Ms Birtill moved to London, where she was elected a councillor in Kilburn and later joined the London Irish Women’s centre in Hackney.
To read more, go here!
COPPERPLATE TIME 540
- BOTHY BAND, GATEHOUSE, BRIAN CONWAY, SEAN TYRRELL, KEVIN GLACKIN & RONAN BROWNE, SEAN TYRRELL, McCARTHY FAMILY, TOMMY McCARTHY & LOUISE COSTELLO, PATSY MOLONEY, ROSIE STEWART, BOTHY BAND, PADRAIG RYNNE, DEZI DONNELLY, LISA KNAPP, JACK E McAULEY, RALPH McTELL, BERT JANSCH, BOB DYLAN & JOHNNY CASH, TIM O’BRIEN, GOITSE, THE VOICE SQUAD, BOTHY BAND
POETRY IS MY THERAPY – I HOPE PEOPLE HEAR MY ACCENT AND FEEL INSPIRED
- A young poet who calls the spoken word her “biggest form of therapy” says the growing popularity of sharing poetry online is because people “have a lot to say”.
- Georgia Griffiths, 26, from Merthyr Tydfil, said writing poetry helped her to make sense of the world in today's “very political climate”.
To read more, go here!
TARTAN ARMY'S ‘NO SCOTLAND, NO PARTY' CHANT WILL ‘NEVER BE FORGOTTEN' IN US CITY
- The Tartan Army have been well received after they based themselves in Providence for the World Cup. The skirl of bagpipes has become a familiar noise in the US city after thousands of members of Scotland fans flocked there for the World Cup.
- A representative from a Rhode Island visitors' organisation joked she can hear bagpipes “in my sleep” as buoyant punters base themselves in the New England city during the tournament.
To read more, go here!
OHIO SCOTTISH GAMES & CELTIC FESTIVAL
- GATES OPEN FRIDAY AT 4:45PM AND SATURDAY AT 7:30AM FOR MORNING COMPETITION. ENTERTAINMENT BEGINS AROUND 10:30AM
- The Ohio Scottish Games and Celtic Festival is held on the 4th Saturday every June.
- The Games runs under The Scottish American Cultural Society of Ohio, Inc (SACSO).
- Established in 1977, this long standing event is presented by members of The Ohio Scottish American Cultural Society of Ohio, an organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of their proud Scottish Heritage and ancestry.
- The Ohio Scottish Games and Celtic Festival highlights the traditional dance, music and athletics of the ancient highland games while celebrating the cultural of the Celtic nations. This event is for the enjoyment of all Scots and friends as well as to introduce the Scottish Arts and traditions to the community.
- Some of the entertainers you will see are The Prodigals, Sweet Killarney, Trio 42, Geordie Symes' Pirates Smallpipe Group, & 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 (he/him) & Marc Gunn (he/him), The Celtfather
June 18, 2026
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