Irish Music Magazine - Annual 2025 Issue
COVER STORY
FORTY YEARS TO CHERISH
Seán Laffey talks to Joanie Madden about four decades of Cherish the Ladies.
FEATURES
SOLAS ARE BACK
Seán Laffey talks to Seamus Egan about the rebirth of Solas, introduces the band to younger readers and looks at what lies ahead.
SEAN McGUINNESS STILL RAMBLING AFTER ALL THESE YEARS
Mark Lysaght was delighted to catch up with Sean McGuinness shortly after The Ramblers played to a sold out Vicar Street.
FORTY YEARS OF DONEGAL MUSIC
Seán Laffey talks to Altan’s Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh.
SOCKS IN THE FRYING PAN
Shane Hayes was back in Ireland competing in the World Handball Championships when he took a call from IMM’s Seán Laffey.
DAMIEN DEMPSEY : HOLD YOUR JOY
It’s been seven years since Damien Dempsey last made a studio album, and the wait, as you’d expect, has been worth it, writes Seán Laffey.
MAKING IT AT RAGLAN ROAD
Seán Laffey had a zoom call with John Cooke, director of Great Irish Pubs Florida, which operates the Raglan Road entertainment bar at Disney World Orlando.
THE MUSIC OF COSCÁN
Robert Heuston catches up with the group COSCÁN for Irish Music Magazine.
A YEAR IN THE LIFE
Sina Theil chats to Robert Heuston about her 2024 experience in the United States, which was kindly funded by Culture Ireland.
58 EIMEAR QUINN SONGS OF WINTER DREAMING
With a new album Songs of Winter Dreaming recently released, Eimear took time out of her busy schedule to talk to Gráinne McCool.
JOHNNY DUHAN REMEMBERED
Frank Greally pays a warm tribute to his friend Johnny Duhan, who he spoke with the day before Johnny’s tragic passing while swimming in the sea at Silver Strand.
LYNN HILARY’S SACRED SONGS
Lynn Hilary, singer, songwriter, producer, arranger, guitarist, pianist and teacher has now added published poet to her accolades, writes Gráinne McCool.
ONWARDS WITH ONÓIR
Seán Laffey talks to Tom McHugh and Diarmaid McGee of Onóir in an online zoom call for an end of year catch up.
SHEILA’S BRUSH FROM WILLOWGREEN
Anne Marie Kennedy spoke to Jim Ofsthun about their long history, breaks in the story and their recent reunion.
JOSEPH CARMICHAEL’S DESIDERIUM
Anne Marie Kennedy asked Joseph about his artistic, creative development & the making of a new album Desiderium.
FIACH MORIARTY
Mark Lysaght spoke with Fiach via Zoom to find out more about his new album for the purposes of Irish Music Magazine.
BEHIND THE SCREENS WITH TON SCHERPENZEEL
John O’Regan in conversation with Ton Scherpenzeel for Irish Music Magazine.
LEE MATTHEWS IS BACK HOME
Lee Matthews has a penchant for country songs with a distinctive Irish flavour, writes Seán Laffey.
A MUSICAL JOURNEY THROUGH OLD & NEW TUNES
Seán Laffey talks to box player Dan Possumato about his latest single and his carefully curated retrospective album, An Teachín Gorm, or The Blue Cottage.
ROCKING CELTIC MUSIC IN HAWAII
John O’Regan talks to Chris Carr of The Kilt Lifters.
SINGING IN THE CITY OF PARIS
Nora Hickey from the Gaulín Traditional Singers Club, Paris in conversation with Michael Walsh.
WAKE THE BLUE SLEEPER WITH RANDALL STEPHEN HALL
It’s always a pleasure talking to Randall Stephen Hall, writes Seán Laffey.
THE HAAR REVELLING IN THE LIVE MOMENTS
Seán Laffey takes a series of calls from the Haar, who tell him about playing live and growing into their repertoire.
CLOVER’S REVENGE
John O’Regan talks to John Barron about a band who have embraced Celtic music in the sunshine state.
AN IRISH DUO IN BRITTANY
Philippe Cousin met the duo formed by two musicians from Monts d’Arrée, Kevin Camus (uilleann pipes, whistles) & Yann Gourvil (guitar and vocals).
THE SCOTTISH FISH SWIM INTO BIGGER WATERS
Michael Lange catches up with the rising young Boston band through Zoom.
FESTIVALS
A selection of wonderful Festivals and Summer Schools from Ireland and abroad.
TULSA IRISH FEST
Gráinne McCool spoke to Don Burdick, festival organiser about the 2025 festival, which takes place March 7-9 in Dream Keepers Park.
WOMEN TAKE CENTRE STAGE at TradFest 2025
There’s an incredible array of women led performances on display at next year’s TradFest.
REGULARS
THE LEGENDS SERIES
Chapter 43: Randal Bays. An appreciation from Mark Lysaght for Irish Music Magazine.
LOW WHISTLE FOUNDATIONS with Tom Delany
Brought to you in association with the Online Academy of Irish Music (OAIM).
MUSIC & HEALING
In Part 11 of the series, Bruce S. Victor MD, DLFAPA discusses Music and Healing in ancient and contemporary Ireland.
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
Ned of the Hill. Seán Laffey looks at the true story behind this rapparee ballad.
LIVE REVIEW
RETURN TO LONDON TOWN FESTIVAL
Seán Laffey experienced the past, present and future of Irish music in London this past October.
BOOK REVIEW
MÍCHEÁL Ó SÚILLEABHÁIN : A LIFE IN MUSIC
Seán Laffey digests for Irish Music Magazine.
CD REVIEWS
Another selection of CD Reviews from the International World of Folk and Traditional Music.
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