Céad Míle Fáilte
Hello all, it is Todd once again. In this episode we have a new episode of our own Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. A peeler's jacket, a wizard hiding in glass, and a cuckoo singing somewhere in May. This week runs from a French village to Donegal Bay, from the heart of Buffalo to a lay sung in old Gaelic. Fifteen artists, one hour, and not a dull mile in it. The other podcasts are Erin’s Isle & Celt in a Twist. The articles this week are about road bowling, Margam Park, & Gruffalo books being given to Scottish children. As usual we have a list of new albums released over the past week. The festival we highlight is the Longs Peak Scottish Irish Highland Festival taking place September 11 – 13, 2026 in Estes Park, CO. We hope you enjoy this issue. Until next time, Sláinte mhaith!
IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST #773: THE WIZARD OF DONEGAL BAY
- Caitlin Finley & Will Woodson, Boxing Robin, Almost Seamus, Cedar Dobson and Debojyoti Sanyal, Brian Quigley, Brobdingnagian Bards, Hildaland, The Leftovers, Tara's Folk, Ned Bigham, The Edinburgh Quartet & Màiri Macmillan, The McDades, Irish Millie, River Driver, MacCumhaill and the Gang, Trí
- Special thanks to our newest Patron of the Podcast: Katy K
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 PODFEST AND ARTS MARKET
- The 2026 Celtic PodFest was a tremendous success. Kinnfolk and The Muckers joined me for our first festival at The Lost Druid Brewery in Avondale Estates, Ga. The festival happened because of many of my listeners who pledged at our start-of-the-year Kickstarter. We had a great turnout, but we could’ve done better if we had planned it more than a month out.
- There is now a Kickstarter Pre-Launch Page for our Second Celtic PodFest. You’ll find a link in the shownotes. This fundraiser will hopefully allow us to bring a second festival to you.
- The Kickstarter will launch in September. Will you help?
JOIN THE CELTIC INVASION OF THE ISLE OF SKYE
- Skye is not just one of the most-stunning destinations in Scotland. It is also a hiking Mecca. There are so many great places to head out into the wilderness and experience the incredible wilds of Skye.
- In 2027, we're invading Skye with an emphasis on hiking. We'll be out hiking for 2-4 hours a day for at least four days.
- Get ready for an exciting adventure filled with exhausting joy.
Learn more about the Celtic Invasion of Skye!
NEW CELTIC ALBUMS
- Celtic Soull – by Melinda Rockell
- OGHAM – by Swan montgomery and Bo Weinberg
- In the Blink of an Eye – by Mundi
- We Love a Good Shanty! – by Anton A
- Untraditional – by The Diddley Idols
- Freumhan – by Kenneth Nicolson
- Empress of Fire – by Axe & Ale
- Skaldesanger – by Merrigan
- アラビアンナイト – by Bobby Cole
Attn Bands: Go to 4celts.com to submit your band to the podcast.
ERIN’S ISLE: MEET THE IRISH WOLFHOUNDS IN DUBLIN
- Irish Wolfhounds are a part of ancient Ireland. Know for being huge, fierce in battle, dependable and loyal, when they aren’t hunting they really are gentle giants. Wayne McMahon knows all about them. You see, he owns 17 of the hounds and he brings them in to Dublin for tours at St.Stephen’s Green. They are magnificent! No one misses this crowd as it makes its way around the park.
ROAD BOWLING BIDS FOR UNESCO HERITAGE RECOGNITION
- ONE of Ireland's oldest traditional sports could soon receive official recognition as part of the nation's living cultural heritage, after the governing body for road bowling called for it to be added to Ireland's UNESCO heritage list.
- Ból Chumann na hÉireann believes the centuries-old pastime deserves to sit alongside recognised Irish traditions such as hurling, harping and Uilleann piping.
To read more, go here!
CELT IN A TWIST: SEPTEMBER 1, 2026
- Celtic comfort coming home to Celt In A Twist! You’ve Got A Friend in Australia’s Cloverhearts, Boiled In Lead slip in some jigs to start and The Real McKenzies give a surprising Celt Punk history lesson about Shackleton and the polar voyage of The Endurance! Dance, stroll, plug into the perfect soundtrack for your adventure. You might even learn something 😊 Celt In A Twist!
SPRAWLING WELSH ESTATE WITH GOTHIC CASTLE AND FAIRYTALE VILLAGE IDEAL FOR AN AUTUMN DAY OUT
- The weather's turning cooler, the sunset is earlier and some days will be downright soggy, but there's no need to despair as autumn comes closer as sometimes it's a perfect time to visit some of Wales' best castles and walking destinations.
To read more, go here!
THOUSANDS OF SCOTTISH CHILDREN TO RECEIVE FREE GRUFFALO BOOKS
- Thousands of children across Scotland are set to receive free books featuring one of the world’s best-loved storybook characters.
- Scottish Book Trust is distributing 30,000 copies of The Gruffalo and related titles after receiving a major donation from author Julia Donaldson, illustrator Axel Scheffler and Macmillan Children’s Books.
To read more, go here!
LONGS PEAK SCOTTISH IRISH HIGHLAND FESTIVAL
- For half a century, the Rocky Mountains have echoed with the sound of pipes, drums, and Celtic tradition.
- In 2026, we invite you to join us for our 50th Anniversary—a landmark celebration of heritage, international performance, and the enduring spirit of the festival.
- Experience a weekend filled with world-class music, Highland athletics, cultural traditions, and the unforgettable Estes Park International Tattoo. Explore the exciting new additions featured below, including the Sword Experience, the Hibernian Baker, and our new Ceilidh!
- Some of the entertainers will be Swagger, Harp Twins, Sean Heely, Seamus Kennedy, 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
September 3, 2026
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