Travel Ireland, Scotland and Beyond with Celtic Invasion Vacations

Join me as I talk with Samuel of Visite Bretagne about the history of the Celts in Brittany, France. You'll learn how the Celts got to Cornwall, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. And how they came back to Brittany. You'll find out the best places to visit while you're there, and a lot more. Brittany is a great place to visit. Subscribe to Celtfather Music & Travel at celtfather.com.

Celtfather Weekly News

• This Sunday, October 22, 2017 is my fourth annual Celtic Halloween music special. I will broadcast live on YouTube starting at 8 PM CDT. Go to the #CeltfatherLive page on my website to get a special reminder on the day of the event.

• My Celtic Halloween single can be found everywhere. Three songs for $3 bucks. If you order a copy of the album, email me your receipt and I'll send you a copy of the fourth song that was originally released on the EP for free.

• My Hobbit Music CD Collection is now on sale. You can save over 50% when you buy those CDs on my Bandcamp page. The Kilted Kings shirt and album are now available on Bandcamp as well.

• Finally, I shared my newest Travel Vlog. It's a music video from Auray, Brittany where today's interview took place.

The History of the Celts in Brittany

In the summer of 2017, I lead a Celtic Invasion Vacation to town of Carnac in region of Brittany in France. On second day of the invasion, I invited Samuel of Visite Bretagne to share his knowledge about the history of the Celts in Brittany. We sat down on a windy day in Auray to talk about it.

If you'd like to join me on the Celtic Invasion of Isle of Skye in Scotland, I still have space available and you can save money when you sign before the end of October. Go to celticinvasion.com for details.

You can support my music and travels for as little as $1 per month when you join the Gunn Runners Club and become a patron of my music. If you enjoy this show, subscribe to the podcast and my mailing list at celtfather.com.

There's a lot about the Celts that I did not realize until I went on my Celtic Invasion of Brittany. It opened a secret history that most of us don't think about. In this episode, I'm gonna share how Venice is a part of that Celtic history and lots more. Subscribe at celtfather.com.

Celtfather Weekly

• Buy my new 3-song single, Celtic Halloween, on Oct 3. You can also get my Firefly single "The Long Arm"

• The next Celtfather Live show is scheduled Sunday, October 22nd. Celtic Halloween Special on YouTube.

• This weekend, Kilted Kings are at Indiana Renaissance Festival

• Watch the new Tullamore Dew Video. It's AMAZING!

• Thanks to newest Gunn Runners: Kurt Goodyear, Jeremy Handon

• Celtic Holocaust episode from Dan Carlin's Hardcore History

• Celtic Tribes on Wikipedia

• Celtic Invasion of Isle of Skye itinerary is now online.

The Secret History of the Celts

I sent an email to the Celtic Invasion Vacations mailing list about doing a Celtic Invasion of Venice. Someone responded what does Italy have to do with the Celts. It turns out a lot.

The Celts were a group of people who shared a common tongue. They are believed to have originated around Austria between 800-450 BC. They migrated in there in every direction, fighting and conquering as they went. They were in fact one of the barbarian hordes that sacked Rome.

The Celts didn't just invade places. They also settled them. Dan Carlin's podcast Hardcore History has a brilliant 6 hour long episode called the Celtic Holocaust which describes how Caesar decimated the Celts in Europe. I highly recommend it.

What I really never thought about was the fact that the Celts were all over Europe at one point in time. There is a historical record of Celtic people BEFORE the seven Celtic nations. So Celts in Venice actually makes sense.

It was all brought home on this year's Celtic Invasion of Brittany.

One of the things I try to do on my Celtic Invasion Vacations is to provide a little history and legends into the mix. I bring in a tour guide for one day to get an overview of the region we are staying in.

This year, I brought in Visite Bretagne. They talked about the city of Vannes that we visited. It was originally founded by the Veneti, one of the Celtic tribes who settled in Northwest France. They were in fact one of the bigger tribes of the region.

We learned in the Celtic Holocaust episode that the Veneti were actually decimated by Caesar, though not before many of them migrated north to Cornwall, Wales and Scotland. This was all fascinating, but what really brought my story together was when my step-dad Tiziano shared with us a book about the Celtic Tribes that settled in Italy. They mention the Veneti as a Celtic tribe that originally settled near Venice.

At this point, I should share with you a few placenames. Venice is located in a region called The Veneto. There is a river in near Carnac and in the Veneto called the Po River. And of course Vannes, where the Veneti called home in Brittany, was located in marshy land with lots of small islands, just like a certain city that is now sinking in Italy called Venice.

Yes. It is believed that the Veneti of Veneto region in Northeast Italy migrated to Brittany and settled a similar region.

For the past couple years, Tiziano has been researching the Celtic history of the Veneto. And there's a lot. The Celts lived in that region for several generations before moving on or being assimilated. Sure, it's not as vast is in Ireland and Scotland, but it exists. And you can find numerous festivals celebrating Celtic culture of recent times and long ago.

This is one of the reasons that CIV goes anywhere. For me, my Invasions aren't about a location. Sure, most subscribers to my list want to go to Ireland or Scotland. But many just want to see the world. My trips are more about experiencing magical moments with like-minded people, than going to the obvious destinations.

The itinerary for the Celtic Invasion of the Isle of Skye is now on the website. It is a very loose itinerary since I'm waiting on a few more people before I book the housing. It looks like there will be room for 8 people unless there's some overwhelming demand. At which point, there might be room for 10 people.

You can support my music and travels for as little as $1 per month when you join the Gunn Runners Club and become a patron of my music. If you enjoy this show, subscribe to the podcast and my mailing list at celtfather.com.

Hobbit Day is on September 22nd. We're gonna celebrate it with the true story behind my popular song and album "Don't Go Drinking With Hobbits". I'll share the origins of Hobbit Day and how I fell in love with The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings as well all of the exciting things that have happened due to my love of hobbits. Subscribe to my mailing list for a free hobbit song and to the podcast at http://celtfather.com/.

What's in this Week's Show

• Origins of Hobbit Day

• How I Discovered Hobbits

• Halflings and D&D

• Psychology of a hobbit

• The facts as I remember them of the truth behind "Don't Go Drinking With Hobbits"

• Origins of Memories of Middle earth

• How you can have a happy hobbit birthday

Hobbit Resources Mentioned

• Don't Go Drinking With Hobbits CD

• Memories of Middle earth CD

• How to Have a Hobbit Birthday eBook

• Tolkien Society

• Review of our LOTR Oscar Party. (Oh! I just saw this feature of Brobdingnagian Bards in the Austin Chronicle, but it's unrelated)

• Hobbit Birthday Song

• A Long Expected Party

• Listen to Don't Go Drinking With Hobbits on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast

• More Hobbit Songs .com

Celtfather News

• New Single: "The Long Arm" from the upcoming album As Long As I'm Flyin'.Watch the lyric video for "The Long Arm". The single is out on September 21, 2017.

• Watch The Mercenary Show on Concert Window on Thursday evening. Details here.

• One song left to finish for my Browncoat album

• Check out my Halfway to St Patrick's Day shows on the Pub Songs Podcast and the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. Also check out Dan Carlin's Hardcore History podcast where he talks about the Celtic Holocaust.

• I blogged a bunch this week. Check out what I wrote here.

• Get Brobdingnagian Bards new album Dragons and Virgins. You can only buy it in September. You can also get 5 Classic Marc Gunn CDs for just $24.

• Huge thanks to New Patrons in the Gunn Runners Club: Anita Gorrell, Raeyln Bangel, Matthew MacMillan, Linda Reynolds-Burkins, Justin Lawrence, Robyn Louise Finner, Tom Smith, Robert Eby, Evan Meehan.

You can support my music and travels for as little as $1 per month when you join the Gunn Runners Club and become a patron of my music. If you enjoy this show, subscribe to the podcast and my mailing list at celtfather.com.

Dom Duff brought his guitar and charm over to Carnac during the 2017 Celtic Invasion of Brittany. We talked and then he shared stories about Breton music and culture along with his own original songwriting. You will hear some great music by Dom Duff, learn how to say "slainte" in the Breton language, and you'll learn the twisted meaning behind a famous song of Brittany. Subscribe to Celtfather & Travel at celtfather.com.

Notes

Join me on Thursday, September 21, 2017 for the Mercenary Show on Concert Window. This is a FREE internet concert at 8 PM CDT. I'll play for 30 minutes or until the paid song requests stop coming. Get the details and get notified here.

The Brobdingnagian Bards have a new CD! It's called Dragons and Virgins. This is a live album recorded at DragonCon in 2016. We are releasing only a limited number of physical CDs. You have until the end of September to one.

While you're at it, you can also pick up 5 additional CDs in an incredible CD clearance. You'll get You'll get Kilted For Her Pleasure, What Color Is Your Dragon?, The Bridge, Happy Songs of Death, Not Every Day Is St Patrick's Day for less than the price of two CDs.

Just head on over to our store.

If this sounds like fun, then you might also enjoy joining me on the Celtic Invasion of the Isle of Skye in 2018. Details will be on the website by the end of September.

You can hear more of Dom Duff's music and find out more about him on his website.

Songs Played This Week

Coming soon!

11:13

15:26

18:58

23:12

27:19 "E Pardon Speied" by Dom Duff

32:06

35:20 How to say "slainte" in Breton

35:58

41:32

46:08

50:37

You can support my music and travels for as little as $1 per month when you join the Gunn Runners Club and become a patron of my music. If you enjoy this show, subscribe to the podcast and my mailing list at celtfather.com.

This is the Celtfather Marc Gunn. Today, I'm gonna share some survival tips for anyone who wants to bring their kids to Gen Con. Gen Con is the longest running gaming convention in the world. It's located in Indianapolis, IN And they are celebrating their 50 year anniversary this year. Course I've only been performing there since 2007. But I remember dreaming about going back in the 80s when I was reading Dragon Magazine and playing D&D all the time. 

If you like this podcast, make sure you share and subscribe at http://celtfather.com/ 

Now I have two daughters of my own. And I keep waiting and waiting until I feel like my oldest daughter Kenzie will be join me. So last year, I pulled aside Nykki and Matt Boersma who bring their three kids to the convention every year. I asked them for advice. And to help other parents, I recorded it.

Oh! I don't think we mention it in the interview, but Gen Con also publishes a Family Fun Guide. So make sure pick up one of those at the convention.

But before we get to my interview, I want to share a little bit of news about what I will be up to at Gen Con this year.

Oh! I don't think we mention it in the interview, but Gen Con also publishes a Family Fun Guide. So make sure pick up one of those at the convention.

Not only do I busk at the convention every day. But I also do shows. This will be my busiest year at the convention yet. I kinda went overboard with the shows I setup. Here's where you can see me perform this year:

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Comedy Cabaret
Westin - Grand V @ 8 PM
Enjoy a comedy & music concert featuring many of Gen Con's best entertainers. It's an evening of smashing laughter and fun, LIVE on one stage for your comedic convenience! TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE

Hobbit Drinking Songs with Marc Gunn @ 9 PM
Crowne Plaza - Conrail
The Celtfather presents festive & fine songs from Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit, straight from the Shire, suitable for any pub in this or any other realm. SOLD OUT! Arrive early with generics and you might still get a spot.

Friday, August 18, 2017

Firefly Drinking Songs @ 8 PM
Westin - Capitol II
Are you're a Browncoat? Do you love Joss Whedon's Firefly & Serenity? Sing-along with Gunn as he shares songs from the Verse, pub-style, like in that wee pub in Canton. SOLD OUT! Arrive early with generics and you might still get a spot.

Saturday, August 19, 2017

Silly Irish Songs for Cat Lovers with Marc Gunn @ 2pm
Crowne Plaza - Conrail
Love cats? Irish music? Drinking songs? Join Marc for a rollicking evening of hair-raising, feline fun as he shares music from his two hit CD series. 22 TIX STILL AVAILABLE

Nerd Celtic Pub Songs with Marc Gunn @ 9 PM
Crowne Plaza : Victoria Stn A
Are you a Geek? Love to sing and laugh? Join Marc Gunn for an evening of raucous, fun songs from long, long ago, at a convention near you! Firefly, Hobbits, Dragons, Star Trek, Star Wars and more! 36 TIX STILL AVAILABLE

Go to http://marcgunn.com/gencon/ for updated showtimes, news and links to other great performances at the convention.

I have a new CD that will be coming to the convention. It's called Name On My Soul and is by my band Kilted Kings. My new Firefly CD is not yet done. The album is called As Long As I'm Flyin'. However, I will have postcards with info on how you can join the Gunn Runners Club to get a digital copy of the album as one of the Patreon gifts. And on August 14th, you can buy my new single. It's called "Wherever I May Roam". It's the acoustic solo version. Watch the video on YouTube. Follow the link in the shownotes.

If you're not familiar with my Gunn Runners Club. It is my home on Patreon. 121 people generously pledge $1 per month or more to support my music. You get free albums and mp3s, early versions of songs and lyrics, behind-the-scenes podcasts, a stereo version of the Pub Songs Podcast and first look at new videos. You can see all the cool gifts you get for just $1 at http://marcgunn.com/us/.

Special thanks to Jen Wallace who upped her monthly pledge. Thank you!

Finally, if you want to learn a little bit about my D&D characters. Not only do I have a song called "Those Are Characters Who Died" on my album Sci Fi Drinking Songs.

But I also did an interview earlier this year on podcast called Tell Me About Your Character. You'll find a link in the shownotes.

Alright, on to my interview with Nykki and Matt Boersma. Here's what we talk about:

• Different layer of planning
• Pro Tip: Don't bring newborn to Gen Con!
• Kids area in the Exhibit Hall
• Kid-friendly events
• Cosplay with Kids. Halloween costume made early!
• School runs against Gen Con
• Shared babysitting with other Gen Con friends
• Taking breaks for avoiding over-stimulation
• Food trucks offer lots of food options
• Kids budgeting at con "What's my budget, Mom?"
• Pro Tip: Burner cellphones
• Gen Con Offers Underage Kids Registration
• Big Sunday discount for 4-pack of badges 
• Gen Con has had babysitting services. There are also some that work at the con like Sitters to the Rescue.
• Pro Tip: What is the Pathfinder Society?
• What's the best thing about Gen Con from the kid's perspective.

You can support my music and travels for as little as $1 per month when you join the Gunn Runners Club and become a patron of my music. If you enjoy this show, subscribe to the podcast and my mailing list at celtfather.com.

Phil Duckworth loves Celtic Punk. When I want that music for the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, I call Phil, aka Grinning Beggar. You'll meet a man who started off in metal, found his way to Celtic and roots music. He listens to music with passion. He hosts Grinning Beggar's Paddy Rock Podcast and will be my guest host this week on my Celtic music podcast.

Find out more at

• Paddy Rock Radio

• Irish & Celtic Music Podcast

You can support my music and travels for as little as $1 per month when you join the Gunn Runners Club and become a patron of my music. If you enjoy this show, subscribe to the podcast and my mailing list at celtfather.com.

May and June are always a tough time of year for me. I have so much to do to get ready for my Celtic Invasion Vacations and never enough time. I find myself frantically trying to keep up with the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast during this time period. It's frustrating.

This year, I have special guest hosts planned for the show. Steve Behrens runs 67music.net, a Celtic music promotions company. He also hosts the Celtic Music Journal, a show on YouTube highlighting Celtic musicians. He has graciously offered to host the podcast while I'm in Brittany during the first week of June.

We talk about The Corrs, Celtic metal, how different styles of Celtic music bring new fans of the genre into the fold.

If you enjoy this podcast, make sure you subscribe at celtfather.com.

I realized I hadn't shared the latest itinerary for the Celtic Invasion of Brittany. How else am I gonna make you jealous and long to join me on one of my Celtic Invasion Vacations if I don't talk more about it? So you will hear about some of the oldest and most-condensed standing stones in the world in Carnac, Brittany. Plus, we'll explore the Broceliande and Arthurian legend as well as other great legends and history from Brittany. It's gonna be an exciting trip. Look for more podcasts and videos in the weeks to come.

Celtfather Music & Travel News

I had a great turnout at the earlier hours of Johnnie MacCracken's Celtic Pub. I plan to talk to the pub owner see if I can keep those hours in the future.

There are just 3 days Left on Kickstarter for As Long As I'm Flyin', my Browncoat album. We're $984 away from 3rd stretch goal. Please keep telling folks about it.

My new Video Strategy is working well. I release new music videos weekly and other videos more frequently as well. My latest video, "Wear the Brown with Pride" is from my upcoming album and was recorded live in the studio.

The final migration of MarcGunn.com takes place this week. Look for downtime on the website.

Don't Go Drinking With Hobbits - How Did It Do?

Did you notice I rebranded this podcast title...again? It's now called "Celtfather Music & Travel". That's the name and what it will be about.

I'm brainstorming additional trips to exotic locations, maybe even a music retreat. But I could use your feedback. What would excite you in a retreat to Venice? Or Dingle? Would you like to learn some session tunes? Maybe learn some Irish songs? Learn to play the autoharp? Or perhaps you'd like to play D&D? LOL. All in an exotic location with good food, good drink and good company.

If you enjoy this podcast, please sign up to the mailing list and subscribe at http://celtfather.com

• I'm at Johnnie MacCracken's on May 13 from 7 - 11 PM. This might be the last. Please help spread the word.
• Paolo Garbanzo
• Ren Adventures
• Rebel Pub Songs on the Pub Songs Podcast
• May the Fourth Be With You Special of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast 
• Nerd Pub Songs Video
• 10 Days Left for the Kickstarter for As Long As I'm Flyin'

As Long As I'm Flyin', my album inspired by Joss Whedon's Firefly, just hit $6,000 on Kickstarter. I'm not even halfway through the campaign. I'd say that's a great start!

Last week, I added some new rewards to the campaign. I added a couple more today. As I was creating them and getting ready for my daughter, Inara's birthday, it got me thinking about what makes great Kickstarter rewards. And also, what makes a great present?

I'm not good at creating either. But each time I hold a Kickstarter, I learn. And each time the opportunity to give another present appears, I get a little better too.

You can hear a solo recording of "Hero of Canton" and "The Long Arm" on the Kickstarter page. Here are some other great bits I share in this week's podcast.

• As Long As I'm Flyin' Kickstarter
• Get a digital-only copy of the album on Patreon when it is released. Become a Patron of the Arts
• 2 New Reward Levels: Name On My Soul and Keep Flyin' Gift Box
• Tim Ferris Podcast episode mentioning gift giving
• Irish & Celtic Music Podcast has moved! Shouldn't affect you. But FYI.

If you enjoy this podcast, please LIKE and SHARE. You can then subscribe at celtfather.com.