These are the songs you loved most in 2025. The votes are in. The stories are written. From powerful folk anthems to driving reels and unforgettable voices, these tracks defined the year in Irish & Celtic music. Welcome to the Top 20 Irish & Celtic Songs and Tunes of 2025 as chosen by fans, fueled by community, and celebrating Celtic culture through music on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #740 - - Subscribe now!

Kinnfolk, Niamh Dunne, Natalie Padilla, Socks in the Frying Pan, Scottish Fish, Kyle Carey, The Drowsy Lads, Heather Dale, Sheridan Rúitín, The Ciderhouse Rebellion with Molly Donnery, The Gothard Sisters, Screaming Orphans, Doolin', Fialla, Jigjam, Eimear Arkins, Austral, Ed Miller, Arise & Go, Willowgreen

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VOTE IN THE CELTIC TOP 20

This is our way of finding the best songs and artists each year. You can vote for as many songs and tunes that inspire you in each episode. Your vote helps me create this year's Best Celtic music episode. You have just three weeks to vote this year. Vote Now!

You can follow our playlist on YouTube to listen to those top voted tracks as they are added every 2 - 3 weeks.

THIS WEEK IN CELTIC MUSIC

0:12 - Kinnfolk "The Triple Crown Set" from Star Above The Mountain

5:10 - WELCOME

10:08 - Niamh Dunne "Ballyneety's Walls" from Portraits

13:27 - Natalie Padilla "Balsamroot" from Montana Wildflower

17:25 - Socks in the Frying Pan "Irelands Struggle" from Waiting for Inspiration

21:47 - Scottish Fish "Annie's" from Currently

26:37 - FEEDBACK

30:35 - Kyle Carey "Nach Muladach, Muladach Duine Leis Fhèin" from The Last Bough

33:32 - The Drowsy Lads "Lost and Found Hooley" from Time Flies

38:56 - Heather Dale "Weaver" from The Green Knight

42:20 - Sheridan Rúitín "Dean McLeod" from Only Savage

45:52 - The Ciderhouse Rebellion with Molly Donnery "Murphy's Running Dog" from A Little Bit Slanted

50:43 - FEEDBACK

53:47 - The Gothard Sisters "Adventurer" from Moment in Time

56:56 - Screaming Orphans "This Is the Life" from Paper Daisies

59:31 - Doolin' "Mary's Jigs" from Doolin'

1:03:56 - Fialla "The Road to Drumleman" from A Rare Thing

1:08:48 - THANKS

1:11:53 - Jigjam "Red Paddy on the Ridge" from Phoenix

1:16:30 - Eimear Arkins "Téir Abhaile Riú (Song)" from Here & There

1:20:03 - Austral "Woodford Nights" from Thylacine

1:26:55 - Ed Miller "The Wide Rio Grand" from Many's The Fine Tale

1:31:26 - Arise & Go "The Dirty Bee: La Grondeuse / Mutt's Favourite / Break Yer Bass Drone /

The Dirty Bee" from Meeting Place

1:36:36 - CLOSING

1:38:25 - Willowgreen "Walking on the Waves" from Sheila's Brush

1:42:40 - CREDITS

Support for this program comes from International speaker, Joseph Dumond, teaching the ancient roots of the Gaelic people. Learn more about their origins at Sightedmoon.com

Support for this program comes from Cascadia Cross Border Law Group, Creating Transparent Borders for more than twenty five years, serving Alaska and the world. Find out more at www.CascadiaLawAlaska.com

Support for this program comes from Hank Woodward.

Support for this program comes from Dr. Annie Lorkowski of Centennial Animal Hospital in Corona, California.

The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast was produced by Marc Gunn, The Celtfather and our Patrons on Patreon. The show was edited by Mitchell Petersen with Graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. Visit our website to follow the show. You'll find links to all of the artists played in this episode.

Todd Wiley is the editor of the Celtic Music Magazine. Subscribe to get 34 Celtic MP3s for Free. Plus, you'll get 7 weekly news items about what's happening with Celtic music and culture online. Best of all, you will connect with your Celtic heritage.

Please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor.

Finally, remember. Clean energy isn't just good for the planet, it's good for your wallet. Solar and wind are now the cheapest power sources in history. But too many politicians would rather protect billionaires than help working families save on their bills. Real change starts when we stop allowing the ultra - rich to write our energy policy and run our government. Let's choose affordable, renewable power. Clean energy means lower costs, more freedom, and a planet that can actually breathe.

Promote Celtic culture through music at http://celticmusicpodcast.com/.

WELCOME THE IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST

* Helping you celebrate Celtic culture through music. I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Celtic musician and also host of Pub Songs & Stories. Every song has a story, every episode is a toast to Celtic and folk songwriters. Discover the stories behind the songs from the heart of the Celtic pub scene.

This podcast is for fans of all kinds of Celtic music. We are here to build a diverse Celtic community and help the incredible artists who so generously share their music with you. If you hear music you love, please email artists to let them know you heard them on the Irish and Celtic Music Podcast.

Musicians depend on your generosity to release new music. So please find a way to support them. Buy a CD, Album Pin, Shirt, Digital Download, or join their community on Patreon.

You can find a link to all of the artists in the shownotes, along with show times, when you visit our website at celticmusicpodcast.com.

Email follow@bestcelticmusic to learn how to subscribe to the podcast and you will get a free music - only episode. You'll also learn how to get your band played on the podcast. Bands don't need to send in music, and you will get a free eBook called Celtic Musicians Guide to Digital Music. It's 100% free. Again email follow@bestcelticmusic

IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODFEST

Today's show is brought to you by Irish & Celtic Music PodFest. Our first ever festival will feature three Celtic bands, including yours truly, Marc Gunn. It's happening Sunday, March 8, 2026 at The Lost Druid Brewery in Avondale Estates, GA. Follow our event page on Facebook for more details. Or even better, Follow us for Free on our Patreon page.

While you're there, you'll also find out about the Kickstarter we're launching for an album of the Best Celtic Music of 2025. And you can find out how You can get involved.

ALBUM PINS ARE CHANGING THE WAY WE HEAR CELTIC MUSIC

I got an email from Discmakers, my CD manufacturer, saying they were forced to raise their prices because of tariffs by our president. This is a tax on Americans. So if you love CDs, remember that the prices will go up. So please support those higher priced CDs.

But there is an option for those who don't want to buy CDs and for those who want a better alternative for the environment. It's the Album Pin.

Album Pins are lapel pins themed to a particular album. You get a digital download of the album. Then you can wear your album. All of my latest Album Pins are wood - burned and locally produced. This makes them better for the environment. And they are fun and fashionable. If you want to learn more about Album Pins, you can read more about them on my celtfather.Substack.com or just buy one at magerecords.com

THANK YOU PATRONS OF THE PODCAST!

Because of generous patrons like you, the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast releases new episodes nearly every single week. Your support doesn't just fund the show—it fuels a movement. It helps us share the magic of Celtic music with thousands of new listeners and grow a global community of music lovers.

Your contributions pay for everything behind the scenes: audio engineering, stunning graphics, weekly issues of the Celtic Music Magazine, show promotion, and—most importantly—buying the music we feature from indie Celtic artists.

And if you're not yet a patron? You're missing...