Céad Míle Fáilte
Intrepid readers it is Todd once again. In this issue we have a new episode of our own Irish & Celtic Music Podcast where the Cuckoo sings in May and the King of the Dogwoods reigns over an hour built from polkas, ballads, and Gaelic song. This episode moves between Ireland, Scotland, and the wider Celtic diaspora, featuring both first – time voices on the show and beloved regulars who have shaped its sound for years. The other podcasts we showcase are the Scottish History Podcast & Copperplate Time. We have a new list of Celtic albums. The articles featured are about the contract to build a new city library in Dublin, Scots contending with clouds during the solar eclipse, & Cornwall coming together for a communal during the eclipse. The highlighted festival is Chicago Gaelic Park’s Irish Fest taking place August 21 – 23, 2026 at Chicago Gaelic Park in Oak Forest, Il. We hope you enjoy this issue. Until next time, Sláinte mhaith!
IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST #770: DOGWOOD KING OF CONNEMARA
- Trí, Celtic Underground, Blackwillow Starling, Caitlin Finley & Will Woodson, Irish Millie, The Bilge Pumps, Callan, Boiled In Lead, Mairi McGillivray, Hadrian's Wall, Colin Steele, Sean Griffin, The Tan and Sober Gentlemen, John Doyle
- A huge Celtic thank you to the Patrons of the Podcast.
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 HIGH MAN REVISTED – by SWAN MONTGOMERY
- Aly Bain & Young Champions – by Aly Bain & Young Champions
- Sampler – by Sophie Brown and Friends
- Breath Of The Infinite – by Anu
- Celtic Fantasy: Resonance of the Twilight Guardianv – by YUNOKIA
- If It Was All a Dream -by Kye Goski
- Woodland Festival – by Celtic Garden
- The Spirits and the Sea – by The Elders
Attn Bands: Go to 4celts.com to submit your band to the podcast.
SCOTTISH HISTORY PODCAST 127 – ANDREW CARNEGIE & JOHN LOGIE BAIRD
- This week in Scottish History
- We celebrate the births of 2 fascinating men.
PURCELL CONSTRUCTION APPOINTED TO BUILD NEW CITY LIBRARY IN DUBLIN
- PURCELL CONSTRUCTION has won the contract to build a new city library in the heart of Dublin.
- The Irish firm has been confirmed as main contractor for Phase 1 of the Parnell Square Cultural Quarter project, with construction due to begin in the weeks ahead…
To read more, go here!
COPPERPLATE TIME 545
- BOTHY BAND, JOHN REGAN & PADDY GLACKIN, BRIAN CONWAY, PADDY KEENAN, CHRISTY O’LEARY & BERT DEIVERT, JOHNNY CONNOLLY, GERRY HARRINGTON, ROBBIE McMAHON, JOE COOLEY & JOE LEARY, KEVIN ROWSOME, MARCAS O’MURCHU & OISIN MacDIARMADA, LUNASA, SANDY DENNY, MICHELLE MULCAHY, KATE & ANNA McGarrigle, JOHN RENBOURN, FRASER FIFIELD, LIAM O’FLYNN, FAIRPORT CONVENTION, BOTHY BAND
SCOTS CONTEND WITH CLOUDS TO CATCH GLIMPSE OF RARE SOLAR ECLIPSE
- Scots across the country have come out in the hope of witnessing a once-in-a-generation solar eclipse – but many were left disappointed when it was covered by a blanket of cloud.
- More than 90 per cent of the sun was obscured by the Moon between about 6pm and 8.15pm on August 12, the most it has been blocked above UK skies since the total eclipse in 1999.
To read more, go here!
‘A MAGICAL EERINESS’: CORNWALL COMES TOGETHER FOR COMMUNAL MOMENT DURING SOLAR ECLIPSE
- At 6pm the beach and village began to empty, and those in the know headed up the hill towards the old granite coastguard station on the headland.
- “This is the best spot,” said Sennen Cove resident Lisa Redfern, who had built a pinhole camera for the eclipse out of an old Ryvita Thins box.
- As the moon began to hide the sun and Redfern – just about – got her makeshift device to work, she felt a little emotional.
To read more, go here!
CHICAGO GAELIC PARK’S IRISH FEST
- Get ready for a euphoric journey to the Emerald Isle at Chicago Gaelic Park’s Irish Fest, where the air will be filled with the enchanting tunes of Celtic music and the rhythm of dancing feet. This weekend-long extravaganza is lined up with an unprecedented ensemble of Irish bands, dance schools, and artists who will bring the true essence of Irish culture to the forefront.
- Some of the entrainers you can see are Billow Wood, Cailíní Lua, Dennis Doyle, The Drowsy Lads, George Murphy & Friends, JigJam, Kieran Byrne, Kilmaine Saints, One for the Ditch, Socks in the Frying Pan, Waxie Dargles, & 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
August 13, 2026
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