Irish Music Magazine - March 2025 Issue

COVER STORY

DANÚ AT 30
Seán Laffey takes a drive to rural Waterford and meets Benny McCarthy at Doon Studios.

FEATURES

FRANCES BLACK ANTHOLOGY
To mark Frances Black’s 30th year as a recording artist, Dolphin Music Group have released a 52 track triple-CD, Anthology.
Seán Laffey calls Frances to discover more.

ALLTA IS A TOUCH OF WILDNESS FROM FOURWINDS
The new album Allta from the augmented trio FOURWINDS was released in early November 2024. Seán Laffey interrupted piper Tom Delany as he was making dinner; let’s find out what’s been cooking with Allta.

MUSIC NETWORK INVITES GRADAM WINNERS TO COLLABORATE IN CONCERT
Seán Laffey talks to a quartet of TG4 Gradam Ceoil winners who are set to tour this February as part of Music Network’s Spring concert season.

HOMERIQUE FROM GROSSE ISLE
Seán Laffey has a transatlantic call with Fiachra O’Regan, the piper with the Quebec based trio Grosse Isle.

TIME FOR LA FAMILLE LeBLANC
The current generation of La famille LeBlanc band are the sixth to carry the precious mantle of traditional music in New Brunswick. Anne Marie Kennedy spoke to Robin LeBlanc about their achievements.

THE FAMINE FIELD HAUNTING
A new series of stories Let The Memories Be brought to you by the legend of Irish Music that is Johnny McEvoy.

A NEW ERA AT MULLIGANS OF AMSTERDAM
John O’ Regan talks to Michael Sweeney, the new man at the helm of the Netherlands’s iconic Irish music bar.

BRIAN HUGHES : WHEN THE WIND BLOWS WILD
Brian Hughes talks to Seán Laffey about his new album played exclusively on Wild Irish tin whistles.

THE MIDNIGHT
Fans rally round to help a fantasy folk band from Tuscany, writes John O’ Regan for Irish Music Magazine.

FESTIVALS

A selection of wonderful Festivals and Summer Schools from Ireland and abroad.
MEITHEAL 2025
Meitheal to run in Limerick and Ennis this year PLUS Meitheal na Gaeilge Irish language College!

MAURICE O’KEEFFE ANNUAL FESTIVAL
Kiskeam and Ballydesmond, County Cork. Easter: April 16th-21st, 2025. Seán Laffey talks to Festival organiser Pat Fleming.

FÉILE ORIEL RETURNS
Gráinne McCool writes it was a delight to find out more about this Féile Oriel from organiser Elizabeth McGuinness

REGULARS

UILLEANN PIPES TECHNIQUE with Mikie Smyth
Brought to you in association with the Online Academy of Irish Music (OAIM).

STORY BEHIND THE SONG
White or Blue Cockade? Seán Laffey clears up a bit of colour confusion.

LIVE REVIEW

THE HAAR IN LONDON
Hammersmith Irish Cultural Centre, Saturday December 14th 2024. Heather Laffey reports for Irish Music Magazine.

BOOK REVIEW

CORK FOLK FESTIVAL 1979 to 2024 : Reeling Down the Years
William Hammond. Hard Cover, 384 Pages. Cork Folk Publications 2024 ISBN 09526081 38. Seán Laffey reviews.

FEADAÍL : The Whistling Tradition in Ireland c.1800-2021.
Robert Harvey Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. 592 Pages. 2 CDs. ISBN 978-1-80517-875-0. Seán Laffey reviews for Irish Music Magazine.

CD REVIEWS

Another selection of CD Reviews from the International World of Folk and Traditional Music.