Irish Festival shows increase in numbers

Broadcaster Ciaran Mac Mathuna’s contribution to Irish music was invaluable.

Pádraig O’Keeffe was born in October 1887 in Glounthane, near Scartaglen and Castleisland, Co Kerry. His father, John, was a school principal and he was the eldest of nine children. His mother, Margaret O’Callaghan came from a musical family and his uncle, Cal O’Callaghan, was a well-known fiddler.
After training in Dublin he became a schoolmaster [...]

Carey Parks of Cape Coral plays Irish music on his own tin whistles …

Interview with Joanie Madden of Cherish the Ladies …

Donal Lunny talks about university life in Limerick …

After a decade and a half and seven studio albums, Solas … Read More

Neck have a new album of songs based on the Granny link … Go to http://www.irishpost.ie/tabId/310/itemId/6655/Sticking-their-necks-out-for-music.aspx

Al Barr of the Dropkick Murphys interviewed as they prepare to tour …
Go to http://www.sfstation.com/al-barr-of-dropkick-murphys-a23331

Detailed interview with the man at the heart of the Pogues at http://blogs.pitch.com/wayward/2009/10/wayward_qa_interview_with_philip_chevron_the_pogues.php

In a rare American appearance, the Pogues still fill a venue with charged energy More at http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/uponsun/2009/10/concert_review_the_pogues_more.php

This is a tale of the unexpected insofar as nothing about it – except maybe the lyrics – conforms to the stereotype.
The song Danny Boy was written by an Englishman. Barrister Frederick Edward Wheaterly (1848 – 1929) wrote the lyrics in 1910. However his original air was so poor, the song was destined for obscurity.
It was [...]

There is only one Galway Bay – but there are two songs of that name. The first, known to many as The Old Galway Bay was written by-
Francis Fahy (1854-1935).
Born on September 29, 1854, into a family of 17, eight of whom survived. Francis Fahy’s father, Thomas, came from the Burren area and his mother [...]

Being Canadian lends a touch of the exotic to Enter the Haggis … More at TheUnion.Com

McAlpine’s Fusiliers is a lively, successful Australian Celtic Rock group … More at  http://www.myspace.com/mcalpinesfusiliers

Attendances were up on last year at Muskegon for the Michigan Irish Festival…

Opening of new Comhaltas centre is boycotted by [More]

For his new album, fiddler Kevin Burke teams up with composer Cal Scott

Alan Gilsenan’s frank and intimate film about the life and stage career of Liam Clancy goes on general release in Ireland. It is a portrait of what’s behind the performer’s mask and where he is today. Review at culch.ie

USA women musicians were winning more All-Irelands than men … Read More