Did you know that the writer of one of our most famous and joyful Christmas carols was fathered by a man called Ebenezer? He may have been Ebenezer, but was he a Scrooge?

What are your favourite sights, sounds, and smells of Christmas? What are ours?

How do you translate German songs if you don't speak German? Who is Thomas Oliphant, and how is today's song related to the early folk music of Wales? What are wax cylinder recordings and how do they work? What do they sound like?

Join Josh and Kristian for all this and more on today's episode, where we explore the first in our December Series of Winter Carols - the popular and joyful 'Deck The Halls'.

Popular Versions -

Bing Crosby - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar3iOScaFLw

Pentatonix (For a more modern flare ) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqItlHUSN-4

Nat King Cole - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1r0y59B4cc

Will you will you (will you) come back to the Toora Loora podcast!?

Welcome back! Salutations! What's the craic and how are ye getting on!? You're all very welcome back to the show after a bit of a hiatus!

Where have we been? What's been going on? How does a 19th Century war between Texans and Mexicans relate to an old Irish love song by Sir Thomas Moore? All these questions and more are about to be answered, so be sure to tune in and hear Josh and Kristian explore the old folk song 'Will You Come to the Bower'!

It's good to be back :)

Notable versions:

The Dubliners (Luke Kelly Live) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE2iM2J9byY

The Wolfe Tones - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxuKWOnPXSM

Paddy Reilly - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6j961GRfWA

Shane MacGowan and The Popes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndgBPZDWG3w

Andy Irvine and Lillebjørn Nilsen (Live in Telemark) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDxFDGOmJZo

'Tis the season to be jolly! Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!

Christmas is less than a week away, and Josh and Christy want to help you boost your holiday spirit. In this episode the lads give you their top picks for Christmas songs, both from the folk music world, and beyond.

We have received a mystery video from Kelly and the Toledo Irish American Club. Join us as we watch it for the first time.

Some of the Songs Mentioned in this Episode:

• Fairytale of New York https://open.spotify.com/track/1Y1c5pG23iZ6LK4sWU7OcV?si=0954b6867e564edc
• O Come O Come Emmanuelhttps://open.spotify.com/track/1Yqfoical6OdSyhKAPRZI3?si=25140de1647444eb
• Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
• Lully, Lulla, Lullay https://open.spotify.com/track/5IH3g2BW7Jw5yRSMPyZTL4?si=bf879f1cb8e04b02
• The Wild Wood Carol https://open.spotify.com/track/7kzaSwzOgB0m0FapI1Eh3U?si=8743b33b56094226
• The Holly She Bears a Berry
• The Wexford Carol https://open.spotify.com/track/6bGtrZ9tVVhY24QEcu2sYM?si=d7944e7520134536
• Arthur McBride https://open.spotify.com/track/1r8Wnh1b0tLzZQxDgeJ4i9?si=f2340ee9869442bc
• Soilse na Nollag (Altan and RTE Radio Orchestra)

"When First Unto This Country, A Stranger I came,

I courted a fair maid, and Nancy was her name,

I courted her for love, her love I didn't obtain,

Can you think of any reason why I should complain"

What are we thankful for? Did we buy anything nice for Black Friday? Why is Kristian putting Christmas porridge on the doorstep at night? For the what!? The Cow-Shed Elf!? Oh right....

Join us for our delayed Thanksgiving Special (well, twas as good a thing to talk about as any when it comes to today's lovely song!)

Today we discuss the phenomenon of not just songs, but entire cultures and holidays crossing the sea in times gone by before changing, adapting, evolving, and returning to their ancestral homes as completely different beasts. The correlation between people, places, histories, and songs has never been stronger!

Our song today is a very old one, first heard by us on a phenomenal Planxty Compilation album called 'Between The Jigs and Reels' and sung by the man himself, Mr Donal Lunny! Come join our chats and as always, don't be afraid to get involved on our socials!

Notable Versions:

Planxty 1973 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wS1iorel04

Crooked Still - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwhisMsFQ2Q

Jerry Garcia and David Grisman - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCUHHFrI3xM

"We will miss the great Galway bard who loved Co Clare.. Slán Sean.." Eoin O'Neill.

Josh and Kristian take a trip down down the spice trading routes of India to the "Coast of Malabar" in this episode, as they talk about the legendary Irish bard Sean Tyrrell, who past away Saturday October 30.

Follow us on Instagram @tooraloorapodcast

Find us on Facebook.com/tooraloorapodcast

Email us at [email protected]

Sean Tyrrell - Coast of Malabar: https://open.spotify.com/track/61qIX246NWPWGwBwrs1vxQ?si=b741c8fa6649473f

It's all Hallow's Eve - Oíche Shamhna, The Festival of Samhain - The night when the Ancient Celts believed that the old spirits came back to walk the face of the Earth once a year! Tonight explore the witchy song 'Burning Times', and discuss the burning of witches in the Middle Ages!

What did they do about it? Who is Darby O' Gill? Why is Kristian cursing in the Church!? What did Sean Connery sound like with an Irish accent? And wtf is going on with Mr. Jack O' Lantern!?

Tune into our 'Toora Halloween Loora' Special for Banshees, Ghosts, Norwegian Leprechauns, lilting, and above all a bit of craic!

Try not to be too scared by the two lilters from Clare, Ireland and Horten, County Norway ;)

Happy Halloween Everybody!

Some Honourable Mentions:

Darby O' Gill and The Little People (Trailer) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X86llfo2Aoo

Burning Times (Christy Moore Version) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASORLE6dPYU

All Soul's Night (Loreena McKevitt) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RooTTuLCfNM

"Father Murphy from old Kilcormack spurred up the rocks with a warning cry!"

'Boolavogue' tells the story of the fighting priest of the 1798 rebellion in Ireland, and has become somewhat of a Wexford Anthem. And who better to talk about it than Wexford native, uilleann piper, guitarist and member of The Kilkennys, Mick Martin.

Check out Davy Spillanes rendition of the tune here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlegEH9PmVM

Spooky ghost-women crying over graves - Murder Most Foul - Hollywood Actors and their ghostly stalkers - Mistaken Identity - October Vibes!

Since when is Mick Jagger a member of The Chieftains!?

Come and join the lads this week as they discuss all the mad themes and topics surrounding 'The Long Black Veil', and we'll ring in Spooktober with style!

Notable versions:

Mick Jagger + The Chieftains - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F-4rY4g4Do

Johnny Cash - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pYA46dyKh4

The Band - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KOEEQttjI8

We realise that we've passed the six month mark, and have published a total of 28 episodes. Not too bad for two procrastinators!

We thought that this would be the perfect time to take a breather, and talk about the things we've done so far and the future!

We want to invite you to help us shape the Toora Loora road ahead. What do you want us to do more of? What hasn't worked? New ideas we could incorporate in the podcast?

Contact us on our email [email protected]

On facebook.com/tooraloorapodcast

Or on Instagram @tooraloorapodcast

Thank you for listening, for your support and feedback. We're looking forward to the next six months!

Music, Shite Talk, Special Guests, Singing, Dancing, Drinking, Fighting, Smoking - Our Special Live Launch Night in March 2021 had a little bit of everything, and if you missed it, today's your lucky day!

With Josh being away on tour we've decided to have a bit of a throwback to our first ever episode of Toora Loora, which until now was only available on Facebook! Tune in and have a listen!

Special Guests on the evening included:

Colum King (of Ceolplay on Charity Radio Ireland)

Camillus Hiney (of 'The Fureys')

Davey Cashin (of 'The Kilkennys')

The Finns (of 'The Finns')

Hughie Kennedy and Pearse McGuinness (kind of!)

Mick Martin (of The Kilkennys)

Rory Costello (of The Boxty Gang - As seen/heard last week!)

Sit back and relax with this deepdive into the early vaults of Toora Loora history, and as always don't forget to get in touch at all the usual platforms -

[email protected]

facebook.com/tooraloorapodcast

Instagram - @tooraloorapodcast