Ramble with us through the valley on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #698. Subscribe now!

Maggie’s Wake, Lúnasa, Sassenach, Louise Bichan, Toby Bresnahan, Kinnfolk, Ironwood, Michael Darcy & The Atlantic Tramps, Altan, Strings & Things, Firinn, Faoileán, Bonhomme Setter, Stout Pounders, Eimear Arkins

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VOTE IN THE CELTIC TOP 20 FOR 2025

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 of 2025 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

0:07 - Maggie’s Wake "Harrison’s Way" from Maggie’s Wake

1:45 - WELCOME

3:58 - Lúnasa "Bal Loudieg" from Live in Kyoto

7:26 - Sassenach "My Lagan Love" from Passages

11:21 - Louise Bichan "CBC Winnipeg" from Out of My Own Light

17:37 - Toby Bresnahan "Lord Randall" from All In Good time

22:14 - FEEDBACK

26:43 - Kinnfolk "Song for the Valley" from Star Above The Mountain

28:29 - Ironwood "Trip to Goa" from Gretna Green

31:28 - Michael Darcy & The Atlantic Tramps "The Ballad of Uncle Frank" from Down to the Roots

36:34 - Altan "An Gasúr Dána/An Ghirseach Dholba/Ríl na mBreac Beadaí (Reels)" from Donegal

40:35 - Strings & Things "Sweet Daisy" from The Unsolicited Dance

44:49 - THANKS

47:42 - Firinn "Al's Reel, The Poor Excuse" from The Long Lunch

51:31 - Faoileán "Here I Am Amongst Ye" from Far Hills

53:58 - Bonhomme Setter "Green Ramble" from Colors of Time

57:39 - Stout Pounders "Shipwrecked Souls (Live)" from Liver Let Live

1:00:19 - CLOSING

1:02:08 - Eimear Arkins "Tuttle's / Hanging On Halliday (Reels)" from Here & There

1:06:36 - CREDITS

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.

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WELCOME THE IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST

* Helping you celebrate Celtic culture through music. I am Marc Gunn. I’m a Celtic musician and host of Folk Songs & Stories. This podcast is for fans of Celtic music.

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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.

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THANK YOU PATRONS OF THE PODCAST!

I am in awe of your generosity. You are the heartbeat of this podcast—the reason I bring you fresh, captivating episodes every single week. And you make it all possible.

Your support isn’t just appreciated—it fuels everything. It covers our brilliant engineer, the talented graphic designer, the dedicated Celtic Music Magazine editor, and the promotion that helps this music reach more ears. Your kindness lets me buy the music you love, and it gives me the time to craft each episode just for you.

And as a patron, you don’t just support the show—you step into the heart of the music. You get exclusive, ad - free, music - only episodes before anyone else. You shape the Celtic Top 20 with your votes. You unlock free music downloads, sheet music, and your own private feed to listen your way—whether through Patreon or your favorite podcast app.

All of this, for as little as $3 a month. Three dollars. That’s less than a cup of coffee, yet it keeps the music alive. It keeps this community thriving. And it keeps you at the center of it all.

Join us today. Let’s make this music last forever.

A special thanks to our new and continued Patrons of the Podcast: Mohammad Ouranos, Shannon

HERE IS YOUR THREE STEP PLAN TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

Go to our Patreon page.
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TRAVEL WITH CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS

Every year, I take a small group of Celtic music fans on the relaxing adventure of a lifetime. We don't see everything. Instead, we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. You can join us with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts and videos.

In June 2025, we are going on a Celtic Invasion of Wexford, Ireland as we explore Ireland’s southeast corner. We’ll visit a whiskey distillery. We’ll see castles and a windmill. We’ll see ocean life on a ferry, visit a heritage center and see the beauty of the Wicklow mountains. This is a trip you will remember.

Learn more about the invasion at http://celticinvasion.com/

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I WANT YOUR FEEDBACK

What are you doing today while listening to the podcast? I’d love to see a picture of what you're doing while listening. Is there a new Celtic CD or Celtic band that you heard of or saw? Send a picture.

Email me at follow@bestcelticmusic.

David Kennis emailed a photo: "It was a pleasure to hear my first episode tonight why walking our dogs Bella the Great Dane and Thorin the Great Pyrenees Mix. The episode was #684. The Friel Sisters were the focus. Here in Ames, Iowa it happens that we have a Friel Drive. It isn't as lovely as the Friel Sister's voices and the instrumentation which accompanies them.

You asked for a picture of what we are doing while listening. Mine is attached."

Mike Sigler emailed a couple photos: “Hi Mark, Mike Sigler here. I’ve been listening to your podcast regularly for a while now and have been meaning to write for almost as long.

So what have I been up to: I’ve been running sound for a little Celtic music dinner concert series at The Old Brogue Falls Church Virginia, one of the several Irish pubs in the Washington DC area. The series runs in the Fall and the Spring and consists of two dinner seatings and a wonderful performance of Celtic music. I’ve been running sound for them for about two years (a new skill for me) and have been having a blast.

I’ve attached pictures of the groups from the last two concerts, one by Jug of Punch (Pat Egan (Guitar), Sharon Knowles (Harp), Tabby Finchan (Key Board), John Knowles (Fiddle)) and the other by Charlie Zahm and Tadd Marks. We’ve got three more concerts coming up this fall and I’m very much looking forward to them.

Thanks for all you do – your show keeps reminding me to play and engage where I can (even if I seem to always find out about the local festivals only after they are over!). Best,"

Jeremiah Donier emailed ...

Ramble Through the Valley #698