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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 44: Cameron Mather Interview (Banjo) Apr 08, 2020

Show notes

Cameron Mather's a Sydney based banjo player and singer. He joined us down the line to talk about the strange, difficult moment we're all facing. About isolation and its challenges; his love of Irish music; hardcore training to compete in the Fleadh; the Sydney session scene and the beauty of being a teacher.

In this episode Cameron plays:
Fredd Finn's / Brady's (Brady's from the playing of John Williams)
Peach Blossoms (Barn Dance)
The First Pint / The Flying Wheelchair (two jigs, from the playing of Kevin Crawford)
Fergal O’Gara’s / The Bag of Spuds / The Boys of ‘45

To follow Cameron on Facebook go here: https://www.facebook.com/tenorbanjocam
To follow Cameron's Sydney Irish music group go here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/435901279930266/
And to follow the Gaelic Club go here: https://www.facebook.com/gaelicclubsydney/

As always, the episode is free to listen and download online or from all podcast apps:

Our Website: https://blarneypilgrims.fireside.fm/44
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2VdCZMu
Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3cPTkis
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3aTHAKH

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

Episode 43: Jeremy Keith Interview (Mandolin) Apr 01, 2020

Show notes

Jeremy Keith is the founder and keeper of thesession.org, probably the greatest irish music resource in the world. And this episode hopefully has something of the generous essence of that archive. We flow, from The North as a different planet to Galway as the centre of the '90s slacker world. From the one-tune-a-week origin of thesession.org and managing an online community to the richness and value of constancy. AND we have the first ever Blarney Pilgrims mention of Scullion. (What took us so long?) Beautiful.

Jeremy plays the following tunes:
Junior Crehan's (Jig)
The Pipe on the Hob
The Boys of Malin
Kitty Lie Over / Munster Buttermilk

Jeremy's brilliant, build-your-own-podcast thingy is here: https://huffduffer.com/

Jeremy's website, where you'll find a load of interesting, diverse, thought-provoking treats: https://adactio.com/

And of course, everyone should also visit The Session at www.thesession.org if you haven't already.

Download and listen from the usual spots:
Website: https://bit.ly/3aMtKtD
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2X0MiCg
Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3cPTkis
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/343WZFA

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

Episode 42: Darren, Dominic, Uncle Leo and Sean Mathews Mar 24, 2020

Show notes

An unexpected journey in the company of Darren, Dom, Dom's Uncle Leo, Sean Matthews and the bean an tí in Carberry's, Drogheda.

With the world full of strangeness at the minute, it seems apt that we'd find ourselves chatting about all sorts of unexpected things in this week's episode: unaccompanied singing as Mount Kilimanjaro; the people who gave us our first taste of Irish music; searching for your own voice; Take The Floor, Bowie, Aztec Camera and The Raggle Taggle Gypsy. Sneaking the remote control away from your dozing dad. And probably the greatest heckle ever, from an Oban bar on New Years Night circa 1997.

As we mention in the second intro after our first intro to this episode, we welcome any suggestions for cool ways to keep talking to musicians over the next few months. So please drop us a line via Facebook or Patreon and we'll get right back to you. And as always, thanks to everybody for continuing to listen.

Keep in touch, and watch yourselves,

Darren and Dom

Episode 41: Emma Lewis Interview (Fiddle) Mar 17, 2020

Show notes

Emma Lewis on how tunes connect us all. On being a woman in the traditional music scene, travels in Ireland and random festival invites. On friendships and learning tunes and on returning home to Australia.

Emma plays the following tunes:
East Clare Reel / Martin Wynne's Number 4 / The Liffey Banks
Dwyer's Jig / O'Sullivan's March / untitled jig
The Old Wooden Bridge / The Road to Ballymote / The Mayo Lasses
The Drunken Tinker / Tie The Bonnet / O'Donnell's Sligo Maid (or The Glendowan Fancy)

Thanks Emma, for a great afternoon's chat and playing.
...

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.

Of course, you don't have to become a patron to listen, but we guarantee you'll enjoy each episode more because you'll be safe in the knowledge that you're a deadset legend.

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

Episode 40: Rob Zielinski Interview (Fiddle) Mar 10, 2020

Show notes

Today's episode is, in part, the story of Rob's friendship with the Donegal fiddle player, Mick Doherty. It's the story of Rob's quest to both learn the music and preserve something of Mick's playing for posterity. It's about playing with sweetness and 'thundering out the tunes.' About accidental discoveries and epiphanies. And it's about learning and teaching with generosity in your heart.

It's a beautiful story from Perth to Donegal and back again.

In this episode Rob plays:

Black Mare of Fannett / The Yellow Heifer
Mickey Mor's March / Corn Rigs
Brays of Mass / Untitled Mick Doherty Tune
Bush On The Hill / Jackson's Morning

As mentioned in the interview, Kevin Bradley of The National Library of Australia recorded over 5 hours of interviews with Mick Doherty back in 2008. You can listen to the 5 interviews in full here: https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-211708617/listen

You can buy Mick and Rob's album "Out West" here: https://www.robertzielinskimusic.com/shop

Also thank you to Boxwood Australia 2020 for bringing Rob's to Victoria. You can find out more about Boxwood Australia here: www.boxwood.org. Boxwood Australia was made possible with support from Culture Ireland, promoting Irish arts worldwide.

Enjoy!
Darren & Dom
...

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.

Of course, you don't have to become a patron to listen, but we guarantee you'll enjoy each episode more because you'll be safe in the knowledge that you're a deadset legend.

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

Episode 39: Catherine McEvoy Interview (Flute) Mar 03, 2020

Show notes

On Growing up in Birmingham, on the Sligo-Roscommon style, on slowing down Seamus Tansey records, on the Birmingham Ceili Band and Táin Ceili Band, on Peig McGrath, on women in traditional Irish music, on piano accompaniment and on Michael Grinter and Rudall and Rose flutes.

In this episode Catherine plays:

East of Glendart / The Green Fields of Woodford
The Boys Of The Lough / The Devils of Dublin
Grace's Hornpipe (Original)
The Lad from Mt Kisco / Dominic's Farewell to Cashel
Bánchnoic Éireann Ó

Thanks you so much Catherine for your time and your tunes.

To follow Catherine go here:
https://www.facebook.com/catherine.mcevoy.376

To buy Catherine's CDs go here:
https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/CatherineMcEvoy

Also thank you to Boxwood Australia 2020 for bringing Catherine to Australia. You can find out more about Boxwood Australia here: www.boxwood.org. Boxwood Australia was made possible with support from Culture Ireland, promoting Irish arts worldwide.

Enjoy!
Darren & Dom
...

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.

Of course, you don't have to become a patron to listen, but we guarantee you'll enjoy each episode more because you'll be safe in the knowledge that you're a deadset legend.

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

Episode 38: Joe Fitzgerald Interview (Accordion, singing) Feb 26, 2020

Show notes

The great Joe Fitzgerald, of east Clare and Melbourne. On first hearing his mother play the melodeon. On drovers, the bush, and working with his father. On lost players: Mick Minogue, Mrs Brady, Mrs Purcell and Frank MacNamara. Growing old and the curative power of music and song. 'Strange thing I have...I was born in Galway. I was raised in Clare. We lived just inside the parish of Ogonnellow, but I went to school in the parish of Bodyke and played my hurling there...and I have Ireland and Australia. So I have two of everything, and I love them all.'

Joe plays two reels to start:
The Stone of Destiny and The Trip to Cullenstown.
Then, Miss McLeod's Reel, the first tune he heard his mother play.
Then, The Foxhunter's Reel.
He sings 'Andy's Gone With Cattle' and finishes with a slow air which we don't have the name of.

You can hear Paddy, Joe's brother, talk about their childhood and the role of music in their household here, in Episode 14:

https://blarneypilgrims.fireside.fm/14

And Eileen O'Brien and Mary MacNamara's full episode here:

https://blarneypilgrims.fireside.fm/4

Beautiful stuff. Thanks to Joe, and to Chris and Bryony Fitzgerald and the staff at The Last Jar in Melbourne.

Enjoy!
Darren & Dom
...

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.

Of course, you don't have to become a patron to listen, but we guarantee you'll enjoy each episode more because you'll be safe in the knowledge that you're a deadset legend.

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

Episode 37: Hajime Takahashi and Kaoru Sumitomo Interview (Guitar and Fiddle) Feb 18, 2020

Show notes

The Mountains of Pomeroy with Eileen O'Brien at 4 in the morning, the session as a conversation, finding your own style, Junji Shirota, Japanese folk songs and Good Times in O'Hara's

In this episode Hajime and Kaoru play:

The Mountains of Pomeroy
O'Carolins Dream
Rolling In The Ryegrass / Dairy Maid / Heather breeze
Slieve Russell / Munster Jig
Bonny Blue Eyed Nancy / untitled
(Untitled set to end)

To keep up to date with Hajime go here:
https://www.facebook.com/hajime.takahashi.108
https://twitter.com/hajimeruhajime?lang=en

To keep up to date with Kaoru go here:
https://www.facebook.com/kaoru.sumitomo

To find out what's happening at Seamus O'Hara go here:
https://www.facebook.com/seamus.ohara.irishpub/

Thanks so much for your time and tunes Hajime and Kaoru.

Enjoy!
Darren & Dom

...

If you liked this episode and think you got some worth from it, then please pledge $2 over at www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims.

Of course, you don't have to become a patron to listen, but we guarantee you'll enjoy each episode more because you'll be safe in the knowledge that you're a deadset legend.

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

Episode 36: Sean Lally Interview (Uilleann Pipes) Feb 11, 2020

Show notes

Floating Tionóls, learning traditional Irish music, temperamental reeds, South American Shaman, growing up in Manchester, the importance of learning on a good instrument and carrying on a cultural tradition.

In this episode Sean plays:

The May Morning Dew / Humours of Ballyloughlin
The Blackbird / Colonel Fraser
Statia Donnelly
The Maid of Mt Cisco

As mentioned, Sean has shared many great docos and links with us over the last few months. You'll find the ones mentioned in this episode here:

COPPERS AND BRASS: The Piping Tradition of Irish Travellers: https://vimeo.com/131638804

TG4 - Na Píobairí Uilleann: https://www.tg4.ie/en/player/categories/top-documentaries/play/?pid=6070299965001

Tunearch: https://tunearch.org/
(Sorry we got the name wrong in the episode intro)

Thanks so much for your time and tunes Sean.

Enjoy!
Darren & Dom

...

If you liked this episode and think you got some worth from it, then please pledge $2 over at www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims.

Of course, you don't have to become a patron to listen, but we guarantee you'll enjoy each episode more because you'll be safe in the knowledge that you're a deadset legend.

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

Episode 35: Cathy Custy Interview (Concertina) Feb 05, 2020

Show notes

Concertina player Cathy Custy on quietly slipping into a session after not playing in public for many years. On gently making a space for music in her life again. On growing up, leaving Ireland and making a home elsewhere. On the challenges of teaching adults to play simple tunes well, and how a teacloth covering the sandwiches in a cafe in Palmerston North nearly changed her life.

From Dominic: Cathy and me sat in a darkening room in the Melbourne twilight as we recorded this chat, after a long, sunny summer's day. I don't know if anything of that atmosphere comes through on the audio, but afterwards we both went down to the pub and had a drink and were kind of knackered, but in a good way. Like we'd been for a long, long walk. I hope you enjoy it.

--
If you liked this episode and think you got some worth from it, then please pledge $2 over at www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims.

Of course, you don't have to become a patron to listen, but we guarantee you'll enjoy each episode more because you'll be safe in the knowledge that you're a deadset legend.

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.

Enjoy!
Darren & Dom

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

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