Irish Music Stories Podcast

Why do people all around the world head out to Irish music sessions. Big-hearted session hosts Tina Lech, John Williams, Eoin O’Neill, and Brian Conway help host Shannon Heaton decode what their weekly gatherings in Boston, Chicago, Clare, and New York mean to them—and to all the regulars. Boston producer Brian O’Donovan, fiddle teacher Laurel Martin, and flute players Melissa Foster and Scott Boag also weigh in. * * * * * * * Special thanks to this month’s supporters: Patrick O’Leary, Art Costa, Paul Willson, and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Thank you to Matt Heaton for script editing and production music. And please CLICK HERE if you can kick in to support this podcast! * * * * * * * Visit IrishMusicStories.org * * * * * * * Music Heard on IMS Episode 03 all music traditional, unless otherwise indicated Tune: "The Tap Room & Galway Rambler" (reels), from rehearsal recording Artist: Dan Gurney (accordion), Shannon Heaton (flute), Matt Heaton (guitar) Song: "Sunday Bloody Sunday," from WarArtist &

 What’s it like to have a head full of songs? Waterford singer Karan Casey talks about Irish songs, and how learning a song from someone is really about making connections. This conversation urged host Shannon Heaton to listen–and sing–just a little more. There’s also a poem from Louis De Paor, and plenty of music (full playlist below). * * * * * * * Special thanks to Karan for the great chat. Thank you to Matt Heaton for script editing and production music. And please CLICK HERE if you can kick in to support this podcast! * * * * * * * Visit IrishMusicStories.org * * * * * * * Music and Poetry Heard on IMS Episode 02 all music traditional, unless otherwise indicated Song: "Sailing Off to the Yankee Land," from Exiles Return Artist: Karan Casey (voice), John Doyle (guitar) Song: guitar interlude to the Nightingale Artist: John Doyle (guitar) Song: "The Wounded Hussar," from My Name is Napoleon BonaparteArtist: Frank Harte Song: "How High the Moon," from The Legendary Decca RecordingsArtist: Ella Fitzgerald Co

This inaugural episode investigates why 400,000 people–and a band of kids from Boston–ended up at the All Ireland music competition in Sligo. With visits to Boston, Dublin, Clare, and Chicago, host Shannon Heaton digs into what the competition meant to all the kids, parents, and teachers who were involved in the qualifying round in New Jersey, and the big summer Fleadh in Ireland. Meet young piper Cormac Gaj, teachers at Comhaltas Music Schools, concertina player Mary MacNamara in Tulla, and fiddle player Liz Carroll… and there’s a Yeats poem here, too, recited by Anne Marie Kennedy. * * * * * * * Special thanks to David Laveille and the nice pals at the Sonic Soiree for encouraging Irish Music Stories. Thank you to Matt Heaton for script editing and production music. And please CLICK HERE if you can kick in to support this podcast! * * * * * * * Visit IrishMusicStories.org * * * * * * * Music and Poetry Heard on Episode 01-Trip to Sligo all music traditional, unless otherwise indicated Tune: “The Tap Room” (

Trailer for the November 2017 inaugural episode of Irish Music Stories.

A preview of the Irish Music Stories podcast, the new show about traditional music... and the bigger stories behind it. Music credits and much more at IrishMusicStories.org