The Rolling Wave

This interview with Martin Hayes was recorded last year at the Kilkenny Arts Festival. We spoke about many things that day including his first foray into a recording studio and learning about the philosophy of music from older players. The programme was first broadcast on the 18th of August 2019.

In this episode we're looking at the life and music of the great Sliabh Luachra fiddle player Julia Clifford. This programme was first broadcast on 3rd May 2020.

In 1969 Siblings Julia Clifford and Denis Murphy from Kerry recorded an album called The Star Above the Garter for Claddagh Records. The album with it’s distinctive colourful cover painting quickly established itself as one of the classic recordings of Irish traditional music. This podcast celebrates that album- the Star above the garter.

Musician Emer Mayock takes us on a tour of the Music of Mayo. The show includes music recorded for a proejct Emer did with the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar, which resulted in a beautiful double cd of Mayo music and an accompanying website www.musicofmayo.ie. This programme was first broadcast on April 21 2019.

In 2006 RTÉ Radio 1 broadcast a series called Cherish the Ladies about women in Irish Traditional Music. One of the episodes featured Galway sisters and fiddle players Liz and Yvonne Kane who talked about the influence of grandparents on their music, writing tunes and the special musical connection they have as sisters. First broadcast in 2006.

Fiddle and concertina player John Kelly was born in West Clare in 1921 but moved to Dublin in 1945 where he opened a shop on Capel Street. He was a central figure in the music scene in Dublin from then until his death in 1988. John's grandaughter Aoife Kelly tells his story. First broadcast on 20th October 2019.

Fiddle player John Carty talks about growing up in London surrounded by music, switching from banjo to fiddle and making a life in Ireland. This programme was first broadcast on 28 July 2019.

Tom Mulligan has been running the Cobblestone Bar in Dublin for about 30 years and in that time the pub has deservedly earned a reputation as one of the best Irish traditional music venues in Dublin. This interview was recorded last summer before any of us had even imagined what was to come in 2020. First broadcast on 9th June 2019.

Liam O'Connor, fiddle player and newly appointed Director of the Irish Traditional Music Archive talks about growing up with music and his plans for this very important Irish cultural institution. This programme was first broadcast on 23 June 2019

Piper Louise Mulcahy talks about her research into the history of Women Uilleann Pipers. This programme was first broadcast on 24 February 2019