Céad Míle Fáilte
Todd here again. In this issue we have a new episode of our own Irish and Celtic Music Podcast. The other podcasts we showcase are National Leprechaun Museum Talking Stories and Copperplate Time. We have more information about our Kickstarter. We also have a list of new albums. The articles we highlight are about author Seán Hewitt being on the long list for the Swansea University Dylan Thomas prize, a new documentary that was filmed in Cornwall, and Ciara Murphy. The spotlighted festival is the Tallahassee Highland Games, taking place February 7th & 8th taking place at the Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, FL. We hope you enjoy this issue. Until next time, Sláinte mhaith!
IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST #744: LADY WITH A LILY CROWN
- Adam Agee & Jon Sousa, Albannach, Alex Sturbaum, Tradify, Dan Possumato, Low Power Trio, Heather Dale, Low Lily, Stephen MacDonald, Tony Christie & Ranagri, Brad The Piper, Mary Frances Leahy, The Crazy Rogues, The McDades
- A special thanks to our new and continued Patrons of the Podcast: Julia Usry, 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?
WHY THE CELTIC KICKSTARTER MATTERS
- The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast has shared independent Celtic music for 20 years. Over 740 episodes. Always free.
- This Kickstarter does two things:
$5,000 funds the Emerald Wave album and pays artists.
$9,000 funds the first Irish & Celtic Music PodFest. - One supports new music. One builds real community. Both keep Celtic music thriving.
Just one more day to Make a Pledge. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/marcgunn/emerald-waves-2025-celtic-compilation
NEW CELTIC ALBUMS
- One Man Band – by Dan Whalen
- Between Forest & Sea – by Asha's Ambient Realms
- The Poetry of Burns: Vol 1 – by Anna & Thy Charms
- Windjammer – by Alex Sturbaum
- Whispers Of The Frozen North – by Nokturhn
- Garden City Fiddle – by Tony Dong
- The Wheel – by Battlesoul
- (Re)commencement – by Matthias Welling
- ‘Gus' for Short – by Gus the Bardic Troubadour
- An da Shealladh – by Bob Renwick
- Angel of Mercy – by Lisa Lynne
Attn Bands: Go to 4celts.com to submit your band to the podcast.
NATIONAL LEPRECHAUN MUSEUM TALKING STORIES: FEASTS (S03 EP08)
- Welcome to the eighth Episode for Season 3 of the National Leprechaun Museum's podcast, The Storytellers.
- This episode we discuss the next category of story required by the Filí (the bards) to know to earn their title. This category is Feasts!
IRISH AUTHOR MAKES SWANSEA UNIVERSITY DYLAN THOMAS PRIZE LONGLIST FOR SECOND YEAR RUNNING
- IRISH author Seán Hewitt has made the longlist for the Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize for the second year running.
- Born in Warrington, to parents from England and Ireland, Hewitt is a poet, memoirist, novelist and literary critic.
- He is among a 12-strong longlist for the 2026 prize, which is worth £20k to the winner.
To read more, go here!
COPPERPLATE TIME 525
- BOTHY BAND, GARADICE, DANU, RALPH McTELL, MICK O’BRIEN & TERRY CREHAN, ANDY MARTYN, TERENCE O’FLAHERTY, PADDY TAYLOR, PADDY KEENAN, EAMONN COTTER, SEAMUS BEGLEY & STEVE COONEY, FRANK KELLY, RITA GALLAGHER, ROGER SHERLOCK, SEAN Ó SE & CEOLTOIRI CHUALANN, DEZI DONNELLY & MIKE McGOLDRICK, DICK GAUGHAN & JOHNNY CUNNINGHAM, DAVE SHERIDAN, BOTHY BAND
STUNNING PICTURES SHOW UNIQUELY CORNISH LIFE UNDERGROUND
- A new documentary that was filmed in Cornwall over a two-year period will be screened at Kendal Mountain Festival later this year. The Lost Boys of Carbis Bay, directed by Dan Simpkins, captures the unseen world of Cornish underground explorers – a tight-knit group of men who share a passion for mine exploration.
- Shot over two years, the documentary is a deeply personal and visually stunning project about a group of explorers called the Carbis Bay Crew, that has been submitted to over 20 film festivals. Simpkins, whose filmmaking is inspired by Cornwall’s people and landscape, spent weekends travelling from London to film the group – eventually moving back to Cornwall for three months to embed himself in their world.
- The director said: “Cornwall is where I’ve always felt most creatively connected. This documentary is about more than a hobby – it’s about the complexities of masculinity, the search for purpose, and the importance of community. Focusing on the extraordinary lives of everyday people.”
To read more, go here!
BEHIND THE MUSIC – CIARA MURPHY
- Sligo native Ciara Murphy makes her National Concert Hall debut as a conductor, conducting the UCD Symphony Orchestra at the 30th Irish Association of Youth Orchestras Festival on Saturday, 7 February. we asked her the BIG questions . . .
- This is the 30th Festival of Youth Orchestras presented by The Irish Association of Youth Orchestras and marks three decades of celebrating Ireland's youth orchestra community, with a variety of music played by young people for young people.
To read more, go here!
TALLAHASSEE HIGHLAND GAMES
- A GATHERING OF CLANS, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY
- From athletic fields to clan tents, the Tallahassee Highland Games bring families, athletes, and heritage together for a shared day of tradition, music, and strength.
- Entertainers you will see are North of Argyll & Dram O’ Day,
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 29, 2026
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