Category Archives: News

A Few St. Patrick’s Day Gigs from Celtic Bands Around the World

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Long ago, in a dark period of human history, St. Patrick’s Day was not celebrated at all.  Soon small gatherings grew into large ones.  Large ones turned into parades.  Parties coursed through civilizations around the globe.  Now you can find St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in every nook and cranny of our world. I asked members of my Celtic Musicians News to tell me where you could hear them.  Here are a few responses: Cookstown, Ontario, Canada The Sheridan Band www.thesheridanband.com … Continue reading →

You are invited to use any or all of these articles on the Celtic Music Magazine in your publication or website. The only requirement is that you include the by-line of the author including the name, website, and an active link to the Celtic Music Magazine at www.celticmp3s.com.

“Just T’inkin’” a Celtic Music Blog by Jim O’Connor of Boston Blackthorne

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Hello Celtic Music lovers, Jim O’Connor of Boston Blackthorne back with a March installment- “Ghosts of St. Patrick’s Days Past.” My first gigs playing on St. Patrick’s Day were in the beautiful city of Northampton, MA in the late 1970′s.  I was playing with a trio called St. James Gate (what Irish band in that era didn’t use that name?  But we were the first!)  Tom Murphy, now a dairy farmer in upstate New York played mandolin and double bass.  … Continue reading →

You are invited to use any or all of these articles on the Celtic Music Magazine in your publication or website. The only requirement is that you include the by-line of the author including the name, website, and an active link to the Celtic Music Magazine at www.celticmp3s.com.

5 Great Celtic CDs You Can Enjoy for St. Patrick’s Day

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St Patrick’s Day is nearly here.  Every year, I compile two special episodes of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast.  I also offer a free CD of great indie Celtic music that you can download via the Celtic Music Magazine’s “17 Free Celtic Music Downloads for St. Patrick’s Day“.  I am hard at work compiling this year’s special. In the meantime, I recorded a video to highlight five great indie Celtic CDs that I’m listening to right now. 5 Celtic … Continue reading →

You are invited to use any or all of these articles on the Celtic Music Magazine in your publication or website. The only requirement is that you include the by-line of the author including the name, website, and an active link to the Celtic Music Magazine at www.celticmp3s.com.

The South Wind

photo by Bob Vest, 1 Shot Productions

I played a festival in Monroe Louisiana a few years ago. I believe it was the Northeast Louisiana Celtic Festival, run by my friend Doyle Jeeter. During a concert at the festival I played a song about a young girl who was killed accidentally by cannon fire during the Civil War and about the black nanny who cared for her. The story was told by an Irish immigrant soldier. He was broken hearted by the incident, though he knew none … Continue reading →

You are invited to use any or all of these articles on the Celtic Music Magazine in your publication or website. The only requirement is that you include the by-line of the author including the name, website, and an active link to the Celtic Music Magazine at www.celticmp3s.com.

Spotlight on Celtic Music: Burning Bridget Cleary

Band Name: Burning Bridget Cleary Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Called “the Allman Brothers of Celtic fiddle bands, only prettier, Burning Bridget Cleary perform high-energy, traditional Celtic music with a twist of folk. Kat Watson just joined the band on fiddle.  We asked lead singer, Rose Baldino, and her to answer a few questions to get to know them better. What Celtic countries have you visited or do you dream of visiting? We have been to Ireland and Canada, and want to … Continue reading →

You are invited to use any or all of these articles on the Celtic Music Magazine in your publication or website. The only requirement is that you include the by-line of the author including the name, website, and an active link to the Celtic Music Magazine at www.celticmp3s.com.

Many Counted Blessings

Posted by JM on January 27, 2012 from Dallas TX, USA I wrote the story below some years back, remembering my mother’s mother, Agnes Harrop. It retells the the tale of my last visit with her in Fall River MA and it provides the backdrop for my love of Celtic music; my family history. I learned to love the songs my parents and their parents loved. I learned to sing the songs that crossed the ocean with them, from Ireland on my … Continue reading →

You are invited to use any or all of these articles on the Celtic Music Magazine in your publication or website. The only requirement is that you include the by-line of the author including the name, website, and an active link to the Celtic Music Magazine at www.celticmp3s.com.

“Just T’inkin’ ” a Celtic Music Blog by Jim O’Connor of Boston Blackthorne- February 2012

Hello Celtic Music lovers, Jim O’Connor, lead singer and songwriter for the band Boston Blackthorne here. This month I am going to tell you the back stories behind my song “Back When the Craic was Grand” from Boston Blackthorne’s album “Better Late than Never”. You can find the song in the podcast archives (#21) or on iTunes or just email me and I will send it to you. The song won the International Narrative Songwriting Competition a few years back … Continue reading →

You are invited to use any or all of these articles on the Celtic Music Magazine in your publication or website. The only requirement is that you include the by-line of the author including the name, website, and an active link to the Celtic Music Magazine at www.celticmp3s.com.

How to Find and Share Celtic Music in Your Town

A Song Henger found a cool resource for Celtic music in D.C. at www.celticdistrict.com.  However, he lamented that there wasn’t a mailing list to notify him about all the cool Celtic bands that came into his area.  He’s right to lament it.  Celtic mailing lists and non-profits are an invaluable service.  Most communities don’t have them. Even worse, most indie Celtic bands like Rambling Sailors and Rising Gael (two that he listed), don’t have the manpower to adequately promote their … Continue reading →

You are invited to use any or all of these articles on the Celtic Music Magazine in your publication or website. The only requirement is that you include the by-line of the author including the name, website, and an active link to the Celtic Music Magazine at www.celticmp3s.com.

This Week in Celtic Music: Celtic Invasion of Galway, Leaving of Liverpool, Murder the Stout and More

It was a busy week in my Celtic music world with new podcasts, store updates, new music, a new video and news at last about the latest Celtic Invasion Vacation.  Let’s get started. Celtic Invasion of Galway, Ireland 2012 Since 2007, I have taken Celtic music fans to see and explore Ireland.  In 2009, I established Celtic Invasion Vacations as your connection to the Celtic world.  These aren’t like other trips to Ireland.  Other trips, pile you on a bus … Continue reading →

You are invited to use any or all of these articles on the Celtic Music Magazine in your publication or website. The only requirement is that you include the by-line of the author including the name, website, and an active link to the Celtic Music Magazine at www.celticmp3s.com.

Uncle Joe – an Irish Story

SANDS Cover - web

Uncle Joe and I had spent the better part of two weeks working together at a variety of excavation jobs around the towns of Sudbury, Concord and Wayland Massachusetts. I worked in those days for Joe’s nephew Mike, operating a backhoe, shovel dozer and a dump truck. Joe had been around that summer for an extended visit – his first time to America and the first time in about 60 years that he’d seen his younger sister, Mike’s mom. Uncle … Continue reading →

You are invited to use any or all of these articles on the Celtic Music Magazine in your publication or website. The only requirement is that you include the by-line of the author including the name, website, and an active link to the Celtic Music Magazine at www.celticmp3s.com.