Céad Míle Fáilte
It is Todd once again. In this issue we have a new episode of our own Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. The other highlighted podcasts are National Leprechaun Museum Talking Stories and Copperplate Time. We have a list of new albums. The articles featured are about a Dublin busker becoming the voice of the Celtic Social Club, a Cardiff street becoming an advent calendar, and pictures of an ancient Manx Christmas tradition. In lieu of a showcased festival we have a question for all of you. We hope you enjoy this issue. Until next time, Sláinte mhaith!
IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST #739: CELTIC CHRISTMAS CAROLS & SONGS
- The Gothard Sisters, Kinnfolk, Irish Christmas in America, Ritchie Remo, The Chivalrous Crickets, Boston Blackthorne, The Shamrocks, The Rogues, Terry McDade & The McDades, Plunk Murray, Kathleen MacInnes, The Irish Rovers, Celtic Woman, Sean Griffin, Seán Heely
- A special thanks to our new and continued Patrons of the Podcast: Amy Dale
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
- Celtic Calm Choir Affirmations – by Molly's Gone Mad
- Stir the Blood to Fire – by Sean Heely and Beth Patterson
- First Will (2025 Remix) – by Legacy
- The Elder Lass – by Margaret Davis
- Fest-noz e Logunec'h (Live) – by Kerbedig (Ablum is in Breton)
- Celtic Morning – by Bobby Cole
- Mist Over Avalon – by Gwendolyn Spire
- Traditional Folk – by Bobby Cole
- Banjo-Kazooie: Quest for Jiggies – by PixelBeats
- Celtic Christmas 2025 – by Radio Ruach
- Bardic Ballads from the Tavern – by Bobby Cole
Attn Bands: Go to 4celts.com to submit your band to the podcast.
National Leprechaun Museum Talking Stories: Winter Special (S03 EP 07.5)
- Welcome to this very special winter episode of the National Leprechaun Museum's podcast, The Storytellers. This episode we talk about the old and modern winter traditions in Ireland.
- Opening and closing music “Kesh Jig, Leitrim Fancy” by Sláinte
HOW A DUBLIN BUSKER BECAME THE VOICE OF THE CELTIC SOCIAL CLUB
- WHEN Taylor Byrne first received an unexpected Instagram message from a French band he hadn't heard of, he ignored it.
- “Initially I thought it was a scam, so I didn’t respond for two weeks,” he laughs.
- Just a short time later, the Finglas native found himself standing on a festival stage in western France, singing in front of 2,000 people.
To read more, go here!
COPPERPLATE TIME 523: COPPERPLATE'S CHRISTMAS MISCELLANY
- EILEEN IVERS, TOMMY SANDS, JOHNNY CONNOLLY & BRIAN McGRATH, PAUL BRADY, OUTSIDE TRACK, TIM DENNEHY, CÓR CHOIS FHARRAIGE , EILEEN IVERS, JERRY LYNCH, NEW RANGE, FRANK KELLY, CHRISTY MOORE, DICK GAUGHAN, MOVING HEARTS, TERRY CLARKE, JONI MITCHELL,MICK MOLONEY, BERT JANSCH, RALPH McTELL, BILLY McCOMISKEY BAND
CARDIFF STREET BECOMES A MAGICAL ‘WALK THROUGH ADVENT CALENDAR'
- A Cardiff road has been turned into a “walk-through advent calendar”, thanks to a big community effort by those who live there. Residents of Canada Road have raised more than £700 for Cardiff Foodbank through their Christmas window decorations.
- The project, supported by local businesses and St Monica’s Church in Wales Primary School, has turned the road, in the Gabalfa area, into a “walk-through advent calendar”, organisers say. Each day in the run up to Christmas, one or two houses have unveiled unique festive displays in their front windows.
- The first window, created by pupils from St Monica’s and Morgans Consult, was launched on December 1 and the advent windows will remain on display after Christmas until Twelfth Night, Monday, January 5, which is the traditional date for taking down decorations.
To read more, go here!
PICTURES AS DISPLAYS OF ANCIENT MANX CHRISTMAS TRADITION RAISE HUNDREDS FOR CHARITY
- Two special displays of an ancient Manx Christmas tradition have raised roughly £600 for two local charities.
- The Manx White Boys tradition is a custom that has been part of the Isle of Man’s Christmas celebrations for roughly 200 years and is a traditional seasonal play known for its distinctive costumes, sword fighting and lively street entertainment.
To read more, go here!
CELTIC QUESTION
- We at the Irish and Celtic Music Podcast would like to pose a question to all our wonderful listeners.
- What Celtic gift would you love to receive?
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 24, 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
