Céad Míle Fáilte
It is Todd once again with your weekly news from the world of the Celts. In this issue we have new episodes of our own Irish & Celtic Music Podcast & Pub Songs & Stories. The other featured podcasts are In tune with Tradition & Jock’s Celtic Calamity. The articles are about a new podcast for Foinneóg: 75 Bliain Ag Fás, RTÉ producer Cliodhna Ní Anluain’s new book, and the St. Magnus Festival. The festival we spotlight this week is the Halifax Celtic Cultural Festival, Which takes place June 17 – 21, 2026 at the Halifax City Hall in Wednesday for the flag raising, followed by The Old Triangle for Giving Celtic Context, then at Spatz Theater Thursday – Sunday. All in Halifax, Nova Scotia. We hope you enjoy this issue. Until next time, Sláinte mhaith!
IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST #762: SOCKS IN THE FRYING PAN INTERVIEW
- Socks in the Frying Pan, Téada, Amadan, Old Man Flanagan's Ghost, The Celtic Kitchen Party, Brobdingnagian Bards, The Gothard Sisters
- A special thanks to our Celtic Legends: Fuzzy, Dave and Rosie Donnelly, Rick Boyce, Bruce, Daniel Ide, Brian McReynolds, Marti Meyers, Alan Schindler, Margreta Silverstone, Emma Bartholomew, Dan mcDade, Jeff A, Gerald F Boyle, Miranda Nelson, Nancie Barnett, Gary R Hook, Lynda MacNeil, Kelly Garrod, Mike Schock, Shawn Cali
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
- Irish Piano Music for Saint Patrick's Day – by James Woodward
- Blarney Stoned – by Blarney Stoned
- Tha Mi Saor (I Am Free) – by Karen McChesney
- Celtic Acoustic: Lanterns of the Hidden Alley – by YUNOKIA
- The Last Horizon – by Old Gods Covenant
- Roses – by Stephanie Irvine
- Twilight in the Valley – by The Undead Association
- Sunny – by Fae Wiedenhoeft
Attn Bands: Go to 4celts.com to submit your band to the podcast.
Pub Songs & Stories #316: Pub Songs at Renaissance Festivals
- A solo bard on the Renaissance stage. A band called May Will Bloom joining the revelry. And the Georgia Renaissance Festival, alive with Celtic folk magic. Music from Marc Gunn, Bealtaine, Skara Brae
This is Pub Songs & Stories #316
IN TUNE WITH TRADITION: I REALLY LOVE IRISH MUSIC
- Join Tara Connaghan as she chats with Four Men and a Dog bodhrán player, Gino Lupari. Explore the rich culture of Irish traditional music sessions, the importance of etiquette, and how to improve as a musician. Insights from a seasoned Irish musician sharing stories, tips, and the essence of session camaraderie.
FOUNDERS, ICONS & KEY FIGURES
- A chairde,
- We are delighted to launch Foinneóg: 75 Bliain Ag Fás. A brand new podcast brought to you by Comhaltas, dropping every Wednesday ahead of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.
- Hosted by Máire Ní Churraoin, each episode will feature stories, music, memories and conversations from across the Comhaltas Community.
- Episode 1: Available Now
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
JOCK'S CELTIC CALAMITY: SHOW NO 586
- Altan , Jenna Reid, Duncan Lyall, Horslips, Arcady, Sandy Denny, Seth Staton Watkins, Amaidí, The Poozies, Blazin' Fiddles , De Dannan, Maggie MacInnes, Gerry O’Connor, Katie Macfarlane, Donnacha Doyle , The Fiddle Case, Open the Door for Three, Silly Wizard , Sian, Daimh, Coda, Boys of the Lough, Ye Vagabonds, The New England Irish Harp…, Natalie MacMaster & Donnell, Aoife Granville, Bob Fox, The Mischa Macpherson Trio, The Bee Eaters
RTÉ PRODUCER MARKS A CENTURY OF IRISH RADIO WITH NEW BOOK
- AS RTÉ celebrates 100 years, radio producer Cliodhna Ní Anluain has written about the sounds and stories of Ireland through a century of change.
- Ní Anluain, who has worked in radio at RTÉ since 2000, is the author of On Air, a new illustrated history of Irish radio, set to be published on October 30.
- The book arrives as Ireland's national broadcaster marks the centenary of 2RN, the station that first went on air in 1926 and evolved into today's RTÉ Radio.
To read more, go here!
THE ST MAGNUS FESTIVAL AT 50: ‘AN EVENT THAT'S ALIVE TO ITS SURROUNDINGS'
- Over five decades, Orkney’s St Magnus Festival has evolved by remaining responsive to place, to artists, and to audience, writes its artistic director Alasdair Nicolson
To read more, go here!
HALIFAX CELTIC CULTURAL FESTIVAL 2026
- Welcome
- Thanks for joining us during our annual gathering to celebrate Celtic heritages through the cultural expressions of music, song, dance, languages, genealogy, arts and crafts, and histories.
- Some of the entertainers you will see are Alycia Putnam & Family, Beòlach, Callehan, Corbies, Kitchen Criminals, The Foleys, and 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 11, 2026
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