Blarney Pilgrims Irish Music Podcast artwork

Music Interviews · Darren O'Mahony, Dominic Black

Blarney Pilgrims Irish Music Podcast

by Darren O'Mahony, Dominic Black

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

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

Episode 94: Nuala Kennedy Interview (Flute, whistle, singing)

An absolute stoater! A Great Session = 'The maximum fun possible, every night!' From Dundalk to Belfast, and finding freedom in Edinburgh. Hamish Henderson and the wild n

Mar 23 2021
1 h 44 min

Episode 93: Jimmy Mullarkey (Accordion)

'I could play reels all night if I knew enough of them.' Country Sligo in the '50s and '60s, to London then Sydney. Father, mother and uncle playing the fiddle, learning

Mar 15 2021
1 h 03 min

Episode 92: Gráinne Brady Interview (Fiddle)

From Cavan to Glasgow. Party houses and late night tapes. Finding your feet in sessions that suit. Creating your own space to play. The Navvy poet Patrick MacGill, The Ro

Mar 5 2021
1 h 14 min

Episode 91: Angela Usher Interview (Banjo, whistle, tenor guitar)

Tin whistle with Marian Egan (Flannery) in Hulme. Touring New Zealand and Australia. First banjos and joining Curragh. Toss the Feathers and choosing work over the road.

Mar 1 2021
1 h 32 min

Episode 90: Enda Murray Interview (Songs of the Last Convict Ship)

Irish Fenian rebellion prisoners and the songs of the last convict ship to Australia. Ned Of The Hill, John Boyle O'Reilly and Exile In The Kingdom. The Stardust Hotel an

Feb 22 2021
2 h 09 min

Episode 89: Maċa Interview (Fiddle, guitar, bodhran)

Buying your first guitar with your confirmation money. Playing 182 tunes in two hours. Winning Réalta agus Gaolta. Cutting your teeth in Raglan Road Orlando. Finding a me

Feb 15 2021
1 h 32 min

Episode 88: Shane Lestideau Interview (Fiddle, baroque violin, violin d'amore)

Finding Michael Jackson in the Blue Mountains after ten years in a Buddhist Bush community. A year of four hour nights. Mozart with a Sligo lilt. Ten hour train trips for

Feb 7 2021
2 h 04 min

Episode 87: Aidan Crossey Interview (Mandolin)

Stiff Little Fingers, punk rock, rebel songs and finding your tribe. Getting your head shard. Good listening makes good music. An Achill Island session and a musical awak

Feb 1 2021
1 h 50 min

Episode 86: Rus Bradburd Interview (Fiddle)

Digging into tunes. Paddy Jones. The Draoicht. Sports and music, and finding your place in both. Coaching basketball in Ireland and the Tralee Tigers. Carl Hardebeck, The

Jan 22 2021
2 h 10 min

Episode 85: Barry Kerr Interview (Uilleann pipes, flute, singing)

The Liam O'Flynn Award. Digging into the Irish Traditional Music Archive. Ulster hunting songs and mummers. Hare coursing. Life in Lurgan County Armagh. The Ceili House a

Jan 17 2021
1 h 19 min

Episode 84: Aoife Kelly Interview (Concertina)

We ARE the source.' John Kelly of Capel Street and Scattery Island. Hiding the fiddle under your jacket in Dublin in the rare oul times. Strange hornpipes, slip jigs, sli

Jan 6 2021
1 h 49 min

Episode 83: SMASH HITS 2020 (PART 3)

A bit of beach time, and the third of our compilations from the year of 2020. Featuring Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, Una Monaghan, Jason Rouse, Emma Lewis, Joanie Madden, Rita

Jan 4 2021
1 h 25 min

Episode 82: SMASH HITS 2020 (PART 2)

Ahh, the week between Xmas and NYD. Sure what else would you be doing but watching classic TV and making best of 2020 lists. Here's part 2 of our SMASH HITS 2020 to hel

Dec 22 2020
1 h 27 min

Episode 81: SMASH HITS 2020 (PART 1)

All the best of the tunes and songs from the last year of Blarney Pilgrims Podcast. And by way of thanks, the conferring of titles on the Patron Saints who've supported t

Dec 20 2020
1 h 09 min

Episode 80: Joanie Madden Interview (Whistle)

The legend. 'We just kept climbing up that mountain.' The hardest working woman in folk music. Hearing Mary Bergin and the beginnings of a career in the entertainment bus

Dec 13 2020
1 h 28 min

Episode 79: Rita Farrell Interview (Uilleann pipes, flute)

So much in here: piping as meditation and not setting fire to the old Ganley flute. Starting on the whistle but falling for the pipes despite the danger. The eternal conv

Dec 7 2020
1 h 59 min

Episode 78: Liam Thomas Bailey Interview (Fiddle, five-string banjo, singing)

Stories of a life in music, so far. Ancient tunes and new ones, losing a loved one and finding her again through tunes. The Irish connection. Out of The Wind, Into the Su

Nov 30 2020
2 h 21 min

Episode 77: Darren O'Mahony, Dominic Black, Gerry McKeague and a Huge Thank-You (5-string banjo, guitar, singing)

A chat to mark passing the 100K download mark, with Gerry McKeague of Belfast and Geelong. About what we've learned so far and where we're going. Seriously great fun, and

Nov 23 2020
1 h 54 min

Episode 76: Tara Howley Interview (Whistle, concertina and uilleann pipes)

Kilfenora; the nervous you get playing in front of ten people, worse than playing in front of a thousand. Leaving your ego at the door. Being happy with what you're doing

Nov 16 2020
1 h 58 min

Episode 75: Michael Walsh Interview (Flute, whistle, singing)

" 'England gave me everything I ever wanted.' " The Quarehawk. Big Tom, Margo, the Manchester scene; Irish, English, and in-between. A love of England and making a whole

Nov 9 2020
1 h 55 min

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