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 out! Patrons get:
- Early access to episodes
- Music - only editions
- Free MP3 downloads
- Exclusive stories and artist interviews
- A vote in the Celtic Top 20
Join us today and help keep the music alive, vibrant, and independent. 🍀
A special thanks to our Celtic Legends: Alan Schindler, Brian McReynolds, Bruce, Dan mcDade, Daniel Ide, Dave and Rosie Donnelly, Emma Bartholomew, Gary R Hook, Gerald F Boyle, Jeff A, John Sharkey White, II, Kelly Garrod, Lynda MacNeil, Margreta Silverstone, Marti Meyers, Mike Schock, Miranda Nelson, Nancie Barnett, Rick Boyce, Shawn Cali
HERE IS YOUR THREE STEP PLAN TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST
- Go to our Patreon page.
- Decide how much you want to pledge every month, $4, $12, $25.
- Keep listening to the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast to celebrate Celtic culture through music.
You can become a generous Patron of the Podcast on Patreon at SongHenge.com.
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 2026, we're traveling to the Celtic nation of Galicia in Spain.
We'll dive deep into the history and legends of the Galician Celts, uncovering their connections to Ireland, Scotland, and beyond. We'll walk the same lands where Celtic warriors once roamed, hear the myths passed down through generations, and experience the magic of authentic Galician Celtic music, alive with passion and history.
This isn't just a trip—it's a journey into the heart of a Celtic culture unlike any other. Will you join us?
Learn more about the invasion at http://celticinvasion.com/
#celticmusic #irishmusic #celticmusicpodcast
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.
Woodland Folk sent some photos: "Hello my friend.... I do not have an album though would like to snd a recording for u to consider...this could be considered"amateur"& would take time before I snd as the fiddle is not an easy thing to record(I have an old style go mic)also my ability would mean a fair amount of preparing & practice before hand...
save for a drop in my case should anyone wish & were passing im not at a point were I would need to be promoted just yet...
Preparing anything to snd u would in itself be a privilege & learned experience though I understand if a band with a presence would appreciate the space u give them & need that space more...
Would a show from a street performance angle be a poss,maby a podcast dedicated to the more transient path...?"
Patrick Rieger emailed some photos: "Hi Marc, Yes, more feedback. I love letting you and your audience know about the incredible musicians my family and I get to see, and I hope they get to see them as well.
Labor Day Weekend, the three of us were joined again by our Chenna from Nashville for three days at the Ohio Renaissance Festival. The weather was perfect! As you undoubtedly know, ren faire garb can be quite uncomfortable when the weather is hot and humid, but not that weekend.
The first show of the weekend for us was The Lady Victoria, hammered dulcimer player. During the depth of the pandemic, I was posting photos of faire on Instagram to help remind people we would eventually get back to the fun, and found someone called The Lady Victoria was liking some of my photos. Then I learned we had had about a dozen mutual friends, and she had played at my home faire of Pittsburgh, which led to a friendship.
In the afternoon, Victoria leads a group called The Medieval Minstrels, including The Toasted Clover on ukulele and Seán Nós on flute.
Captain John Stout leads everyone in A Health to the Company at the end of the day. The captain and I first met back in 2008 at Pittsburgh when he was part of Porter & Stout. Great music and also lots of great stories.
We also saw the Queen's Choice Singers for the first time.
The Summer isn't over, we still have another faire to go to, and we'll be seeing other celtic musicians, so be on the lookout for more feedback.
Joseph F. Dumond emailed photos: "What am I doing while listening to the latest Celtic Music podcast?
Hello Marc, the last time I wrote to you, I explained how my walking distance increased as I walked while listening to the best Celtic Music from Marc Gunn. And when I was not listening to your show, my pace slowed. I then urged you to call it something like the Irish Celtic Weight Watchers walking show. LOL I forgot.
I decided to do some of my work from an all - inclusive resort, Sol Melia Carib, in the Dominican Republic. The all - inclusive is killing my weight goals. So naturally, I began to walk on the beach with the ocean lapping along the shore during my walk. And, of course, I am listening to "The Best Celtic Music from the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast" by Marc Gunn.
I have got to tell you that no matter which Celtic music you play, whether fast Jigs or slow tunes, my pace in the sand or along the shoreline does not change. The rhythmic tune of the waves crashing ashore is incredibly strong and soothing, and it alone decides my pace.
While watching the entertainment here, I saw a lady playing a host of music on an electric violin. It was very beautiful. I asked her for her website or where I could get more of her music, but she had none. I will attach the short video so you can see her. But as she played, I was thinking of you. This would be a great place with international guests from around the world, where you and your daughter could introduce them to the great Celtic Music you play. And if you contact the resort or many of the other resorts, you could play and stay for next to nothing—just a suggestion.
Loving the latest shows from the beaches of Punta Cana. The pictures are to show you where I'm listening to your show. It is not meant to make you jealous, although it might."
