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Blarney Pilgrims Irish Music Podcast — Music
Blarney Pilgrims Irish Music Podcast

The Blarney Pilgrims Podcast is a weekly journey to the heart of Irish music. We interview players of Irish music about how they first came to the music and the place it occupies in their lives now. We use the word ‘heart’ intentionally, because heart is what this music, and the people who play it, are all about. It’s a funny, warm and often unexpected journey – and the tunes are crackin’ too. NOTE: Hey there – it’s Darren and Dom here. So…we want to let you know that last week was the last episode (Ep 94) of the Blarney Pilgrims Podcast for now. We’ve come to a point where we’ve both decided to take a long pause and focus on a few other things. Knowing how much the podcast means to you all, it’s a decision we’ve been really reluctant to take. What we DO know is how massively grateful we are for every text, every thumbs up, every raised eyebrow of support we’ve had over the past two years. You are all legends, and we’re forever in your debt. Thanks especially to everyone who’s become a Patron Saint and supported us through the toughest of economic times, and thanks most especially to the musicians. To those who have been so generous to share their tunes and stories with us, and to those who’ve welcomed us into pub sessions and festival gatherings and house sessions and campsite sessions. Wherever in the world we’ve chatted with players of the music, we’ve been made to feel like lifelong pals. It’s a testament to the open heartedness of the communities who keep the music going wherever they are, and we can’t thank you all enough. We hope this archive will remain of use to people even as we’re taking a pause. So – please do stay in touch, don’t be a stranger, and if you see us out and about, do say hello. And we’ll see you when we see you. Dom and Darren.

Latest Episodes:

Episode 54: Máirtín Staunton Interview (Flute) Jun 17, 2020

Show notes

The northern flute style; working the bar at Matt Molloy's pub; capturing songs for posterity; on sean-nós singing, music as a release; life in Boston, and the regional sound of Melbourne

Again, this interview was a long time coming. We had actually planned to record it the week Covid hit so we pulled the plug. Now fast forward 12 weeks and we finally got to sit down, face-to-face, with Máirtín, and believe us, it was worth the wait.

In this episode Máirtín plays:

The Lobster (An Gliomach)
Tripping Up The Stairs
Anach cuain (Slow-air dedicated to Ben Duffy)
McKenna Polkas
Long Slender Sally / The Gosson That Bate His Father

To listen, stream or download simply click a link below:

Our website: https://blarneypilgrims.fireside.fm/54
iTunes: https://apple.co/32gvHuH
Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3cPTkis
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3aFuOPa

Or alternatively, simply search your favourite podcast app for the Blarney Pilgrims.

Right so, that's it for another week. Thanks again Máirtín for the chat and the tunes. And thanks to Maggie Carty for the accompanying banjo and biscuits.

Bye bye,

Darren and Dom

--

We know it's a tough time so we hope you can hang in there with us. If you liked this episode and think you got some worth from it, then please pledge at any level over at www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims.

If you can't afford to pledge on Patreon, and we totally understand if you can't, all is not lost. You can still support the show by sharing it on your socials, posting about it in your favourite forums or simply by telling your mates about it down the pub.

www.blarneypilgrims.com
www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims
www.facebook.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast
www.instagram.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast
www.twitter.com/BlarneyPodcast

Special Guest: Máirtín Staunton.

Episode 53: Don Meade Interview (Harmonica) Jun 10, 2020

Show notes

Irish tunes on the harmonica - seriously awesome. The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, Eddie Clark, New York's Irish music scene in the '80s; Bill De Blasio's busted progressive cred and The Catskills Irish Arts Week.

Don Meade on Irish tunes on the harmonica, The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, Eddie Clark, New York's Irish music scene in the '80s, and The Catskills Irish Arts Week.

Seriously amazing music this week with Don.

As always you can listen or download from the usual spots:
Our site: https://blarneypilgrims.fireside.fm/53
iTunes: https://apple.co/2MI9ZJf
Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3cPTkis
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3aFuOPa

Don plays the following tunes:

The Haunted House and The Lark on The Strand (Jigs)
The Green Mountain and Rip The Calico (Reels)
The Fiddler's Elbow (Meade)
Brosna Slides
The Waterford Hornpipe

To follow Don go here: facebook.com/don.meade.73
To learn more about the Barney Star and read the articles mentioned in the episode go here: http://www.blarneystar.com/

Love,

Darren and Dom

--

We know it's a tough time so we hope you can hang in there with us. If you liked this episode and think you got some worth from it, then please pledge at any level over at www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims.

If you can't afford to pledge on Patreon, and we totally understand if you can't, all is not lost. You can still support the show by sharing it on your socials, posting about it in your favourite forums or simply by telling your mates about it down the pub.

www.blarneypilgrims.com
www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims
www.facebook.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast
www.instagram.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast
www.twitter.com/BlarneyPodcast

Episode 52: Ken Fleming Interview (Banjo, accordion, guitar and singing) Jun 02, 2020

Show notes

Accordion tunes in the 90 degree heat. On the '80s Cowboys and Irish music in Dallas, Texas. On De Danaan kicking up a dust storm; the Charlie Piggott route to falling in love with the banjo and struggles in learning to play. The O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat and the sweetness of playing music with your kids.

Ken Fleming's such an easy going guy, but when you hear his story you'll realize he's driven. I mean, you can't get an Irish music festival up and running in Texas without some amazing combination of vision, commitment and a willingness to take a punt. It's probably not an exaggeration to say that without Ken's work over the past forty years, the Irish music scene there would be a shadow of what it's now become (thriving).

So - here's The North Texas Irish Festival, of which Ken was a key founder:
https://ntif.org/

And you can find The O'Flaherty Irish Music retreat here:
https://oflahertyretreat.org/

Check out their list of past guest musicians and you'll get an idea of the calibre of the weekend:
https://oflahertyretreat.org/instructor_role/core-classes/

Thank you, Ken, for hacking through the long distance digital thickets with us to get this episode up and out. And thanks for your tunes and your chat.

As always the episode is free to stream or download from all the usual spots:
Our Website: https://blarneypilgrims.fireside.fm/52
iTunes: https://apple.co/2XsbLo0
Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/3cPTkis
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3aFuOPa

So - this is our 52nd episode. We launched last year at the National Celtic Festival and it was awesome. Thanks to Una McAlinden for that amazing kick start to the project. We got to hang out with...

Mary MacNamara and Eileen O'Brien
https://blarneypilgrims.fireside.fm/4
Maggie Carty
https://blarneypilgrims.fireside.fm/5
Beth McCracken
https://blarneypilgrims.fireside.fm/8
Austral
https://blarneypilgrims.fireside.fm/7
and
Bush Gothic
https://blarneypilgrims.fireside.fm/10

Not bad for a first weekend...

Now, Covid-19 notwithstanding, The Celtic Festival will be hosting a series of events online this year to mark the moment and take a breath before we start the journey towards next year's festival. Look for them here:

https://www.facebook.com/nationalcelticfestival

And finally, thanks to you all for supporting us to get this far. Keep it up and hopefully we'll have another year's worth of great chat and tunes by this time next year.

Love,

Darren and Dom

--

We know it's a tough time so we hope you can hang in there with us. If you liked this episode and think you got some worth from it, then please pledge at any level over at www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims.

If you can't afford to pledge on Patreon, and we totally understand if you can't, all is not lost. You can still support the show by sharing it on your socials, posting about it in your favourite forums or simply by telling your mates about it down the pub.

www.blarneypilgrims.com
www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims
www.facebook.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast
www.instagram.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast
www.twitter.com/BlarneyPodcast

Episode 51: Caity Brennan Interview (Fiddle) - The Blarney Pilgrims Traditional Irish Music Podcast May 26, 2020

Show notes

On growing up with traditional Irish music, on taking ownership, on finding festivals, on 92.7 Fresh Fm, on Austral and creating a dance party, and losing yourself at Woodford Folk Festival .

Way, way back in June last year we caught up with Austral during the National Celtic Festival. During that interview we said we'd love to sit down and chat with Caity Brennan. Well, 12 months and one global pandemic later, we've finally done it and it's everything we'd hoped it would be.

In this episode Caity plays:
Roll Out The Barrel / Christmas Eve / Castle Kelly
The Orphan / Princess Nancy
Dr. Gilbert's / Siobhan O'Donnell's
The Sheiling Song
Original composition followed by two reels.

During our chat we drop a few names and many of those have also appeared on the Blarney Pilgrims. To make life a little easier we thought we'd list them here for your clicking pleasure.

Caity's Dad, Jack Brennan (Uilleann pipes, whistle): https://blarneypilgrims.fireside.fm/31
Caity's partner, Angus Barbary (Fiddle): https://blarneypilgrims.fireside.fm/16
Caity's band Austral: https://blarneypilgrims.fireside.fm/7

Also, as mentioned in the episode, Austral just reached their pozible target which means there'll be an album coming sometime down the road - Watch this space! In the meantime here's a cracking video clip of the band recorded from last year's Lake School of Celtic Music Song and Dance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr3Ztlftarg

If the playing during the episode doesn't convince you that Caity and Austral can bring the (MF) ruckus, then check out this instagram clip of them at the Melbourne Vic Night Markets earlier this year. https://instagram.com/p/B5reS3Egvet/

To keep up with Caity and Austral you can follow them here:

Website: https://www.australband.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/australmusic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/austral.music/

And most importantly, you can buy Austral's music here (including a craicin' live version of Hoedown Throwdown lifted from the episode we recorded last year: https://australtradmusic.bandcamp.com/

I think that's about it for this week,

Right, go on. Goodluck!
Darren & Dom

...

We know it's a tough time so we hope you can hang in there with us. If you liked this episode and think you got some worth from it, then please pledge at any level over at www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims.

If you can't afford to pledge on Patreon, and we totally understand if you can't, all is not lost. You can still support the show by sharing it on your socials, posting about it in your favourite forums or simply by telling your mates about it down the pub.

www.blarneypilgrims.com
www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims
www.facebook.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast
www.instagram.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast
www.twitter.com/BlarneyPodcast

Episode 50: Ciaran Kelly Interview (Accordion and Melodeon) The Blarney Pilgrims Traditional Irish Music Podcast May 21, 2020

Show notes

On accordions, melodeons, the push draw and The Pure Drop; Portrush sessions at the Harbour Bar, Ballycastle sessions at The House of McDonnell. The snug. Athlone. The borderlands of Fermanagh, Coleraine and Ceili House. And Coronation Street even gets a mention. As in - and I'm paraphrasing - 'Now and again something might have been taped over with an episode of Coronation Street.'

Ciaran's archive, which he shares on a daily basis, is astonishing. A seemingly endless treasure trove of clips featuring startling hair from the 1980s, large spectacles, fancy shirts and amazing players. Here's a typical example. Give it a whirl - but don't expect to get any work done. This is the original internet rabbit hole:

https://www.facebook.com/100010917466155/videos/1092797731094132

Ciaran, thanks again for a really thoughtful conversation, and a great set of tunes:

The Four Courts and Paddy Taylor
Polkas
Sport Jig (Peadar O'Riada)
The Bucks of Oranmore
The Showman's Fancy and The Galway Hornpipe.

To follow Ciaran on Facebook go here:https://www.facebook.com/ciarank1
To follow Ciaran on Instagram go here: https://www.instagram.com/ciaranckp/
Or look for @ciaranckp

Darren mentions 'Disintegration Loops' by William Basinski. Completely hypnotic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjnAE5go9dI

This episode is our 50th - and like the 49 before it, it's free to download or stream from everywhere you get podcasts:

Our website: https://blarneypilgrims.fireside.fm/50
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/36t2q2d
Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3cPTkis
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2TrpEQL

We'd also like to say a huge thank you to today's episode sponsor, Ceol.fm. This is a bloody brilliant service. So do yourself a favour and head over there and check it out.

Until next week,

Darren & Dom

...

We know it's a tough time so we hope you can hang in there with us. If you liked this episode and think you got some worth from it, then please pledge at any level over at www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims.

If you can't afford to pledge on Patreon, and we totally understand if you can't, all is not lost. You can still support the show by sharing it on your socials, posting about it in your favourite forums or simply by telling your mates about it down the pub.

www.blarneypilgrims.com
www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims
www.facebook.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast
www.instagram.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast
www.twitter.com/BlarneyPodcast

Episode 49: Ewen Baker Interview (Fiddle) May 12, 2020

Show notes

'When you're playing with other people...and you get that feeling that is above and beyond life, in a sense. Where you just go, this is why I exist. This is as happy as this bunch of cells can be, right now, on this planet.'

If there’s a better way to spend an hour and a bit of your day than listening to this week's episode with Ewen Baker, I’ve not heard of it.

Ewen’s a fiddle player, arranger, multi instrumentalist and teacher, and he takes us on a journey to find the music-induced tingly feeling, via The Oils, J. S. Bach and Kerry Slides; St Anne’s Reel and The Bushwhackers; collaboration and individualism; coming to terms with our own imperfections but still getting stuff done. And we don’t even get around to talking about working with songwriters, at which Ewen’s an acknowledged master. Still, it gives us an excuse to do a second episode down the line.

In this episode Ewen plays the following tunes:

Merrily Kissed the Quaker’s Wife
Brian Boru's March
St Anne’s Reel
Sheehan's Reel
The Australian Waters
Mama's Reel

Ewen’s collaborated with a huge range of musicians over the course of his career, but it was only a couple of years ago that he released his first CD, ‘The Inch Before The Saw.’ As in, the only thing in life you really need to be worrying about is…’the inch before the saw.’ You can find the CD here, and as we say in the episode, it’s a cracker:

https://ewenbaker.com.au/store

'It's a session in your speakers.' Ewen’s collaboration with Paddy Fitzgerald, Jack Brennan and Geoff McArthur is called Lisnacrieve, and you can find the gofundme page here:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/paddy-fitzgerald-cd

As always, the episode is free to download or stream from everywhere you get podcasts:

Our website: https://blarneypilgrims.fireside.fm/49
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3fM61MG
Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3cPTkis
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2T1il26

We'd also like to say a huge thank you to today's episode sponsor, Ceol.fm. This is a bloody brilliant service. So do yourself a favour and head over there and check it out. www.ceol.fm

Ewen, thanks for a cracking chat.
And with that, we’re away.

Darren & Dom

...

We know it's a tough time so we hope you can hang in there with us. If you liked this episode and think you got some worth from it, then please pledge at any level over at www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims.

If you can't afford to pledge on Patreon, and we totally understand if you can't, all is not lost. You can still support the show by sharing it on your socials, posting about it in your favourite forums or simply by telling your mates about it down the pub.

www.blarneypilgrims.com
www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims
www.facebook.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast
www.instagram.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast
www.twitter.com/BlarneyPodcast

Episode 48: Merran Moir Interview (Smallpipes, Whistle) May 06, 2020

Show notes

On ABC song books, on the south-western coast of Victoria, on Scottish cèilidhs, on the highland pipes, on learning and teaching and on the understanding of air.

This interview has been a long time coming and it was everything we hoped it would be. Thanks so much for your time, your patience and your beautiful tunes Merran.

If you'd like to contact Merran about lessons or having a tune down Warrnambool way then please follow her here:
https://www.facebook.com/merran.moir

In this episode Merran plays:
Sound of the Sun / Vivian's Jig
The Family Set - Kyle's Waltz / Margaret McLachlan / New Year in Noosa
Devil in the Kitchen / The Fairy Dance / Humours of Tulla
Unnamed Air (Merran's original composition)
The Longford Collector / Castle Kelly / name missing

As always the episode is free to download or stream from everywhere you get podcasts:

Our website: https://blarneypilgrims.fireside.fm/48
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/35CprPF
Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3cPTkis
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3caCZnT

We'd also like to say a huge thank you to today's episode sponsor, Ceol.fm. This is a bloody brilliant service. So do yourself a favour and head over there and check it out. www.ceol.fm

Right that's it, see you next week.

Enjoy!

Darren & Dom

...

We know it's a tough time so we hope you can hang in there with us. If you liked this episode and think you got some worth from it, then please pledge at any level over at www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims.

If you can't afford to pledge on Patreon, and we totally understand if you can't, all is not lost. You can still support the show by sharing it on your socials, posting about it in your favourite forums or simply by telling your mates about it down the pub.

www.blarneypilgrims.com
www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims
www.facebook.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast
www.instagram.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast

Episode 47: Mick Doherty Interview (Fiddle) Apr 29, 2020

Show notes

There's a single story or a thousand stories in this week's episode. The story of Mick Doherty, Donegal fiddle player of the famed Doherty family of tinsmiths, travelers and musicians. The story of his father's music, and of his grandfather's music. And woven in and around it all the figure of Johnny Doherty - Mick's uncle - one of the iconic Irish fiddle players, a tinsmith himself, and traveling man.
Johnny was the subject of a documentary in 1972, a film called Fiddler on the Road. Produced by Ulster Television, it's a fascinating document of a moment in his life and, like all the best documentaries, it shifts a little each time you watch it. In fact, if you watch really closely, you'll notice how with the passing of time the film itself has assumed a strange, elastic quality. So the background behind Johnny as he plays seems to sway in places and elongate and contract, as if it's about to come loose from its moorings. Listen to Mick speaking of his uncle Johnny, and that effect is amplified.

Fiddler On The Road:
https://bit.ly/3bMLQfx

Mick Doherty recorded his one and only CD in partnership with his student and friend Rob Zielinski, of Perth, Western Australia. Mick lived in WA until his death in 2014, and we have Rob to thank for the tunes preserved on that CD, the echoes of Mick's father and grandfather in the playing, and for the recordings that make up today's episode.

In collaboration with Rob, in 2009 Kevin Bradley at the National Museum in Canberra recorded five separate sessions in conversation with Mick, sessions covering his life story, family history and musical lineage. It's thanks to them we have this treasure to share with you today. Truth be told, Mick's speaking voice is a long, unspooling melody itself, with a cadence and rhythm that carry within them the man as he was in 2009 and the lives he had lived up to that point.

We've re-arranged some segments of the original archive recordings so they play sequentially in this episode. And we feel it's true to the spirit of Mick's story, his voice and his playing. If you'd like to dive into the entire series of recordings, go here:
https://bit.ly/3bZ1dBi

And please check out Mick Doherty's CD recorded with Rob Zielinski. It's essential listening really:
https://www.robertzielinskimusic.com/shop

And as we mention during the show, our heartfelt thanks to Kevin Bradley and Rob Zielinski for all their help with this episode.

We hope you're all keeping well, and we'll see you next week.

Darren and Dom

...

Well, we know it's a tough time so we hope you can hang in there with us, and we'll do the same for you. So if you liked this episode and think you got some worth from it, then please pledge at any level over at www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims.

If you can't afford to pledge on Patreon, and we totally understand if you can't, all is not lost. You can still support the show by sharing it on your socials, posting about it in your favourite forums or simply by telling your mates about it down the pub.

www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims
www.blarneypilgrims.com
www.facebook.com/BlarneyPilgrimsPodcast
https://www.instagram.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast/

Episode 46: Hannah Harris Interview (Fiddle) Apr 21, 2020

Show notes

On the Swannanoa Gathering with Finn Magill, on ethnomusicology, on the difference between Irish and Celtic, on her time in Cork and finding lock-down inspiration in Quarantunes.

Hailing from North Carolina and now residing in North Michigan, Hannah Harris is a wonderful fiddle player and ethnomusicologist. Hannah recently recorded her first album which hopefully will be released in the coming weeks.

In this episode Hannah plays:

Alice's Reel / Maudabawn Chapel
Citi na gCumman
The Blarney Castle Hotel Set (If someone knows the names please send them in thanks)
John Brosnan's Reel / Martin Wynne's No 2
Sunday's Well

To keep up to date and follow Hannah go here:
https://www.facebook.com/hannahharrisceol

To follow Hannah on Instragram go here:
https://www.instagram.com/hannahharrisceol/

As always the episode is free to download or stream from our website or any podcast app:

Our website: https://blarneypilgrims.fireside.fm/46
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2KlfSuH
Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3cPTkis
Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2XVl68c
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2KoNQhL

Right that's it, enjoy!
Darren & Dom

...

Well, it's a tough time, so we hope you can hang in there with us, and we'll do the same for you. So if you liked this episode and think you got some worth from it, then please pledge at any level over at www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims.

If you can't afford to pledge on Patreon, and we totally understand if you can't, all is not lost. You can still support the show by sharing it on your socials, posting about it in your favourite forums or simply by telling your mates about it down the pub.

www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims
www.blarneypilgrims.com
www.facebook.com/BlarneyPilgrimsPodcast
https://www.instagram.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast/

Episode 45: Darragh Ó Héiligh Interview (Uilleann Pipes) Apr 16, 2020

Show notes

On the creation of Ceol FM, on equal access; on finding the pipes, on creating community and space for upcoming players, and on seeing a need and acting on it.

Darragh Ó Héiligh is a phenomenal uilleann pipe player from Drogheda. He has tirelessly worked to grow and share Irish music, not only within his town with Music At the Gate, but also nationally and internationally with his innovative digital radio station Ceol FM.

As you'll hear in the episode Darragh is a great man for playing the tunes but the names escape him. So with that said, a huge thank you to Paddy Cummins for sending us the names of these via our website.

In this episode Darragh plays:

Ormond Sound / The Merry Blacksmith - the first tune was composed by Tipperary's Paddy O'Brien and the second is traditional.

The Rambling Pitchfork / O'Sullivan's March - two traditional tunes.

Chief O'Neill's Favourite / Kenmare Bay - the first is traditional and the second was composed by John Dwyer of Co. Cork.

An t-athair Jack Walsh / Speed the Plough / The Coalminer - all of these are traditional tunes. There is another reel also called Speed the Plough and is not related to this one. This one is often called Cronin's too.

To follow Darragh go here:
https://www.facebook.com/DarraghPipes/

Visit his website go here:
https://www.darraghpipes.ie/

To keep up to date with Music At The Gate go here:
https://www.facebook.com/MusicAtTheGateDrogheda/

And to get lost in the wonderful world of Ceol.fm go here:
www.ceol.fm

Right that's it, enjoy!
Darren & Dom

...

Well, it's a tough time, so we hope you can hang in there with us, and we'll do the same for you. So if you liked this episode and think you got some worth from it, then please pledge at any level over at www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims.

If you can't afford to pledge on Patreon, and we totally understand if you can't, all is not lost. You can still support the show by sharing it on your socials, posting about it in your favourite forums or simply by telling your mates about it down the pub.

www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims
www.blarneypilgrims.com
www.facebook.com/BlarneyPilgrimsPodcast
@BlarneyPilgrimsPodcast

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