Céad Míle Fáilte
It is Todd once again. In this issue we have new episodes of our own Irish & Celtic Music Podcast and Celtic Christmas Music Podcast. Also check out information on Marc’s new Kickstarter. The other featured podcasts are Traveling in Ireland and Celt in a Twist. We have also included a list of new albums. The articles featured include ones about Indiana’s hidden heartlands, five Welsh restaurants ranked best in the world, & Gary Moore. The highlighted festival is the Sherwood Celtic Yuletide Festival taking place this weekend December 12 – 14, at the Sherwood Forest Faire in McDade, TX. We hope you enjoy this issue. Until next time, Sláinte mhaith!
IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST #737: INTERVIEWS WITH THE GOTHARD SISTERS AND THE IRISH LASSIES
- Enjoy interviews about two new albums by two amazing Celtic bands–The Gothard Sisters and The Irish Lassies–this week on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #737.
- A special thanks to our Celtic Legends: Shawn Cali, Mike Schock, Kelly Garrod, John Sharkey White, II, Lynda MacNeil, Gary R Hook, Nancie Barnett, Miranda Nelson, Gerald F Boyle, Jeff A, Dan mcDade, Emma Bartholomew, Margreta Silverstone, Alan Schindler, Marti Meyers, Brian McReynolds, Daniel Ide, Bruce, Rick Boyce, Dave and Rosie Donnelly
GET NOTIFIED ABOUT OUR NEXT KICKSTARTER
- We're launching a Kickstarter in January for the Best Celtic Music of 2025. Ride the waves of Irish & Celtic music with us, support the album and podcast together with an Irish and Celtic Music Compilation!
- Get a Shirt, CD, Sticker, Album and perhaps more when you make a pledge to support the Kickstarter. The campaign is not yet open. But you can be the first to be notified.
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?
CELTIC CHRISTMAS MUSIC PODCAST #89: CHRISTMAS MUSIC & STORIES FROM THE GOTHARD SISTERS & JESSE FERGUSON
- This episode blends whistle melodies, pub Christmas cheer, timeless carols, and two storytellers bringing the season to life. Pour a warm drink and dive in.
- Cedar Dobson, Kinnfolk, Celtic Woman, Plunk Murray, The Gothard Sisters, Jesse Ferguson, Stonecircle, The Irish Rovers, Bonnie Rideout, Al Petteway, Cherish the Ladies
- It’s Celtic Christmas Music #89
GET FREE XMAS ORNAMENT WITH $50 PURCHASE
- You can own the Celtic Christmas Greetings ornament when you spend at least $50 in my Mage Records store.
- This limited-edition ornament features the beautiful album cover designed by Ingrid Houwers. It also includes a free copy of my Celtic Christmas Greetings album.
- Just spend $50 or more in my store. That includes everything from CDs, shirts, album pins to digital downloads. As well as lots of compilations from the podcast.
NEW CELTIC ALBUMS
- The Folking Dead – by Marcos Goitia
- Live Promo EP – by Baka Beyond
- The Voice – by Sophie Brown and Friends
- Humours of Toddy – by Jeremy Kingsbury
- Chrono Trigger – Echoes of Nippon – by PixelBeats
- Flowers Of The Valley – by Freedom Fighters
Attn Bands: Go to 4celts.com to submit your band to the podcast.
TRAVELING IN IRELAND: DON’T MISS THESE TRAVEL DEALS & DISCOUNTS FOR 2026
- Several of my travel partners rolled out special offers that run well into the new year — and a few stretch all the way through 2026. From tours and tastings to stays and savings, these are the deals worth grabbing while they last.
QUIET ROADS, BIG HISTORY, SLOW TRAVEL
- IRELAND'S Hidden Heartlands is a region in the midlands of Ireland known for its tranquil, unspoiled landscapes, waterways, and rural charm.
- This tranquil area specialisines in unhurried holidays featuring “slow travel” — experiences such as cycling, horseback trails, walking trails and cruising down the maze of waterways.
To read more, go here!
CELT IN A TWIST: DECEMBER 7, 2025
- A palette cleanser for Christmas tune-weary ears! Reworking classic Celtic like The Rocky Road To Dublin, Raggle Taggle Gypsy and Sweet Bonnie Lass From Belfast, reimagining the highland pipes, the small pipes with fiddle fusions, a rockin' remake by The Paperboys, CeltPunk Grrrls, Toxic Frogs and Celtronica from Tartan Amoebas. Taste the difference when you've got your Celt In A Twist!
THE FIVE WELSH RESTAURANTS RANKED AS BEST IN THE WORLD
- Welsh restaurants and hotels are cleaning up when it comes to top accolades. The latest best places list is La Liste's Top 1,000 restaurants, with the best food destinations in the world being ranked – and five Welsh venues have secured a place.
To read more, go here!
BELFAST STRIKES A CHORD FOR GARY MOORE
- MANY Irish music fans – echoing the sentiments of one of his iconic songs, Still Got the Blues – will feel a tinge of melancholy as Gary Moore’s 15th anniversary approaches next February.
- The Belfast-born genius was rightly considered a legend, with esteemed publications such as Total Guitar, Classic Rock, and Louder having all hailed him as one of the greatest lead guitarists of all time.
To read more, go here!
SHERWOOD CELTIC YULETIDE FESTIVAL
- Some the entertainers you will see are The Byrne Brothers, Killian’s Angels, Whiskey on a Sunday, Black Rose, Toasted Clover, Andrew McKee, Piper Gunn, and many 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
December 11, 2025
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