Céad Míle Fáilte
It is Todd once again. In this issue we have a new episode of our own Irish and Celtic Music Podcast. The other showcased podcasts are Erin’s Isle & Jock’s Celtic Calamity. We have another new list of new albums. The featured articles are about Beverley Callard joining Fair City, the Rosyth-Dunkirk Ferry, & IFTA nominees. The highlighted festival is the 3rd Suncoast Scots Scottish Highland Games & Celtic Festival taking place on January 31 at the Sarasota Fairgrounds. We hope you enjoy this issue. Until next time, Sláinte mhaith!
IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST #743: WALTZES, WHISKEY & WANDERING SOULS
- Nerea The Fiddler, Socks in the Frying Pan, Shannon Heaton, The Irish Rovers, Boxing Robin, Whiskey Faithful, Mary Beth Carty, Michael Joseph Ulery, Blackwillow Starling, CaliCeltic, Hugh Morrison, Jiggy, The Far North, SeaStar
- A special thanks to our new and continued Patrons of the Podcast: Gerry Corr
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 KICKSTARTER IS NOW LIVE
- 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 NOW LIVE!
NEW CELTIC ALBUMS
- One Irish-American Baritone – by Jim Conroy
- Badenya – by Canadh Croí (Celtic Dance music mixed with West African Drums. Unique!)
- The Velvet Canopy – by Asha's Ambient Realms
- Rolling On The Inside – by Noelle O'Sullivan
- Slí Amach: Way Out – by Ishana
Attn Bands: Go to 4celts.com to submit your band to the podcast.
ERIN’S ISLE: THE TAPESTRY OF CLARE ISLAND
- Clare Island is a 45 minute ferry from Westport, Ireland …yet a million miles away in attitude. While home to just 160 people, it has the largest community heart I’ve seen. Families are mostly related. And then there are the blow-ins; those who’ve felt a calling to live here. Ciara Macalla, founded Macalla Farm which is now an organic farm and yoga retreat that focuses on mindfulness, meditation and wholesome food.
CORONATION STREET LEGEND BEVERLEY CALLARD JOINS FAIR CITY
- BEVERLEY CALLARD has joined the cast of RTÉ’s Fair City.
- The actor, who played Liz McDonald in Coronation Street for more than 30 years, is the latest addition to the cast of the Dublin-based soap, which has aired in Ireland since 1989.
- Callard joined Corrie in 1989, where she played pub landlady Liz alongside her on-screen husband Jim – who was played by the Northern Irish actor Charles Lawson – and sons Steve and Andy.
To read more, go here!
Jock's Celtic Calamity: Show No 567
- Face The West, Dougie, Ciarán Ó Maonaigh, The Haar, Melrose Quartet, Belshazzar's Feast, Fourth Moon, Dan McCabe, Vatersay Boys, Slide, Fred Morrison & Jamie McMenemy, Hò-rò, Kevin Burke and Jackie Daly, NicGaviskey, Ian Bruce, Pete Clark, Ian Lowthian & Bruce MacGregor, Brian Ó hEadhra, Bruce MacGregor & Sandy Brechin, Blazin' Fiddles, Alfi, Crowfoot, Skyrie, É.T.É, Tim Edey & Will Pound, Heidi Talbot, Mike Vass, Luis Peixoto, Xosé Liz, Álvaro Iglesias, Marc Xarau, Macdara Ó Faoláin, The Yanks, Arcady
ROSYTH-DUNKIRK FERRY ROUTE: EXPECTED LAUNCH DATE ANNOUNCED WHICH COULD TAKE SCOTLAND RUGBY FANS TO FRANCE
- Dunkirk Port hopes Scotland supporters will use ferry to travel to Six Nations France rugby match
- Scotland rugby fans will be able to travel to the France match next year on a new ferry route from Rosyth, officials from the Port of Dunkirk hope.
- They said on Tuesday they expected the link to be launched by DFDS late this year or early in 2027 – and confirmed it would be going ahead.
To read more, go here!
CILLIAN MURPHY AND JESSIE BUCKLEY AMONG NOMINEES FOR 2026 IFTA AWARDS AS IRISH TALENT HAILED ‘AMONGST THE BEST IN THE WORLD’
- The Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) has announced the nominees for its 2026 awards with some big Irish names featuring in its Lead Actor category.
- The 23rd instalment of the awards ceremony – taking place at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre on Friday, February 20 – will honour exceptional achievement in film and drama, reflecting the country’s “unparalleled storytelling on the global stage”, as described by the academy.
To read more, go here!
3RD SUNCOAST SCOTS SCOTTISH HIGHLAND GAMES & CELTIC FESTIVAL
- Suncoast Scots is a 501c3 non-profit entity that promotes the Scottish culture made up of individuals and leaders of local/regional Scottish Heritage, Scottish Clergy, Celtic organizations and Celtic musicians. Our collective group wants to ensure that centuries of old traditions & customs continue in our local and regional geographic areas.
- Our mission is to organize and promote events such as Suncoast Scots Highland Games and other functions that assist in the continuation of our heritage. We also want to encourage, promote and support other local/regional non-profit groups that share our similar beliefs.
- Some of the entertainers appearing are Celtic Conundrum, Albannach, Blue Skye, and others.
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
January 22, 2026
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