Elves and Heroes [by Donald Alexander Mackenzie]

This volume describes, in verse, the mythical creatures and people of ancient Scotland. It also includes explanatory notes about about the characters and folk tales that inspired the author's poetry

Read by Matthew Reece.

link to the free audiobook

Elves and Heroes [by Donald Alexander Mackenzie]

Jasper Coal - 1000 Feet Closer To Hell

A fine Monday morning wake up call supplied by Alabama's finest Celtic sons and their excellently titled 2010 album 1000 Feet Closer To Hell.  1000 Feet Closer To Hell is a phrase used by Irish emigrants to describe their work experience as coal miners in Americas mines, As for the music it's great Celtic Traditional best described as a fine mix of Chieftains & Pogues given their own endearing spin.

Band: 
Jeremy Burns: bass, bouzouki, tenor banjo, vocals
Ian Hoppe: guitar, vocals
Miguel Martinez: drums
Ryan Morrison: bagpipes, whistle, vocals
Kevin Nicholson: fiddle, vocals
Matt Parrish: lead vocals, whistle

1 Paddy on the Railway

2 Donald MacGillavry

3 Twa Corbies

4 Finnegan's Wake

5 Raglan Road

6 Rollin' Down to Old Maui

7 The Merry Plowboy

8 Follow Me Up to Carlow

9 Paddy's Lamentation

10 O Caide Sin

11 The Moonshiner

12 The Rocky Road to Dublin

13 Boys from the County Hell [Explicit]

14 The Trooper and the Maid

15 1000 Feet Closer to Hell

16 Fionnghuala

link to the free album

Jasper Coal - 1000 Feet Closer To Hell

The Scottish Chiefs [by Miss Jane Porter] [1921]

An adventure novel about William Wallace, one of the most popular books ever written by Jane Porter. The French version was even banned by Napoleon, and the book has remained very popular with Scottish children, but is equally enjoyable for adults.

link to the free audiobook
The Scottish Chiefs [by Miss Jane Porter] [Audiobook]

The Untilled Field [by George Moore] [Audiobook]

George Moore, an Irish writer involved with the Celtic Revival. Often considered as the first modern Irish novelist he became involved with Lady Gregory and William Butler Yeats in the establishment of the Irish Literary Theatre. As part of his involvement with the Literary Revival, he wrote a set of short stories set in Ireland, drawn from his experiences growing up on his family’s estates in Co. Mayo. The stories were intended to be translated into Irish as a part of a new tradition of Gaelic Literature. The stories were later published in English as The Untilled Field, in 1903. Moore’s stories look at Irish rural life at the end of the 19th Century and examines the role that the clergy played in the lives of those who remained after mass emigration denuded the Irish countryside

Read iby Noel Badrian.

link to the free audiobook

The Untilled Field [by George Moore] [Audiobook]

Christy Moore - Live In Rome 1984 [2 CD]

Recorded directly from the soundboard so the sound quality is excellent. Live In Rome is one of the oldest solo Christy shows available and as such contains some older material hardly played nowadays.. This all adds up to a great listen foe anyone who's a fan of the great man and is not available to buy.

CD 1
01 - Before The Deluge
02 - Black Is the colour
03 - The Good Ship Kangaroo
04 - Bobby Sands
05 - Go move shift
06 - El Salvador
07 - All I Remember
08 - Lanigan’s Ball
09 - The Well Below The Valley
10 - Irish Ways And Irish Laws
11 - Don’t Forget Your (Zappa) Shovel
12 - Viva La Quinta Brigada

CD2
01 - Faithful Departed
02 - Sacco & Vanzetti
03 - The Wicklow Boy
04 - Nancy Spain
05 - Jesse James & Jesus Christ
06 - Back Home In Derry
07 - Only Our Rivers Run Free (track transition not smooth)
08 - Hiroshima Nagasaki Russian Roulette
09 - No Time For Love
10 - The Least We Can Do
11 - The Crack Was Ninety In The Isle Of Man

link to the free album

Christy Moore - Live In Rome 1984 [2 CD]

The Collected Works of Saint Patrick [Audiobook]

The Collected Works of Saint Patrick. Read by Sean McKinley.

St. Patrick's Breastplate - This prayer is attributed to St. Patrick and his diciples. It is written with some celtic pagan elements, but is definitely a Christian prayer asking God for protection through daily life.

A Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus - Patrick writes this letter to excommunicate the soldiers of Coroticus' army who pillaged villages in Ireland and forced many Christian converts into slavery.

Confession - A short autobiography by St. Patrick who tells of being abducted into slavery and taken to Ireland, the growth of his faith, his ministry as a bishop in ordaining many priests and baptising thousands of people, and a trial where he had to defend himself against his accusers.

link to the free audiobook
The Collected Works of Saint Patrick

Deiseal - Sunshine Danse

This is from the cover notes of Sunshine Dance [1996] and says all that needs saying about this very special album.

…left handed music rising out of Ireland,

dipping down through a ringing bouzouki

on a mellow bass into africa and france,

the whistle cutting up and out against

the scat singing voice,

tunes familiar turning strange

blue latenight smoke and the clear lucid light of dawn

sax and sex, the curl of it

the figure followed in and through itself

and out again, the dance of feet and thought

the soft-palmed drum leading and comforting

free mind, free pulse, the sap of tradition

strained through latenight africa, moon over

seashore ireland and the curfew calling

over neon city streets. breath it.

Artists
Cormac Breatnach [Whistles]
Niall O Callanain [Bouzouki]
Paul O'Driscoll (Double Bass)
Richie Buckley [Saxophone]
Conor Guilfoyle [Drums]
and French jazz singer Mirabelle de Nuit

01 Sporting Nell / 8th Of October / Ali Ali

02 The Flowing Tide / Biddy Walsh’s

03 The Cup Of Tea / The Pinch Of Snuff / The Newly Mowed Meadow

04 Marbhna Luimnigh (Lament For Limerick)

05 Maiseail Ni Neill (O’Neill’s March)

06 Sunshine Dance

07 Chanson Game (De Nuit, Bernard Fontane)

08 Johnny Henry’s / The Abbey / Jimmy’s Return

09 Stepping Stones

10 Out With The Boys / Rocky Road To Dublin

11 Wind Of Rose Green

12 The Wise Maid

link to the free album

Deiseal - Sunshine Danse

Barleycorn - For Folks Sake

The Barleycorn were an Irish traditional music band who first came to my attention playing Irish rebel music in 1972. By the time this album was released in 1975 Barleycorn had polished up their act and broadened their horizons and the only track here which could be deemed a rebel song is the excelent Freedom Sons,The rest of the tunes are a finely delivered mix of evergreen traditional and folk songs.....enjoy

Musicians
Liam Tiernan: Vocals & Guitar
Brian McCormick: Vocals & Bass
John Delaney: Banjo, Mandolin & Vocals
Paul Anderson: Fiddle & Whistle

Donegal Danny

Drops of Brandy (Slip Jig)

Belfast Town

Lilting Fisherman/Sackows (Jigs)

Ireland Live On

Oh, Ro My Johnny

Easter Time/Freedom Sons

Paddy Ryan's Dream & Primrose Lass (Reels)

Buachaill On Eirne

Showman's Fancy (Hornpipe) & The Plough and the Stars (Reel)

Sing All Your Troubles Away

Farewell to Nova Scotia

link to the free album

Barleycorn - For Folks Sake

Louis Killen - Gallant Lads are We [Songs of the British Industrial Revolution]

As one of the last socialists left around here and with the election looming, i thought this fine album might help you decide what sort of values need upholding.

Louis Killen was one of the major players in the British folk music revival during the 1950s and ‘60s.  Drawing from his extensive collection of English & Celtic ballads and folk songs, Killen compiled this collection of songs from 19th century industrial Great Britain. Unaccompanied, Killen’s voice is strong and clear, as is underlying message of these songs—that "The Factory Girl" and "The Cropper Lads" would not be defeated.

The Coal Owner and the Pitman's Wife
The Banks Of The Dee
The Recruited Collier
Pit Boots
The Factory Girl
AA Cud Hew
The Dalesman's Litany
Charles Docherty
The Jolly Grinder
Paddy Works On The Railway
In The Sidings
The Four Loom Weaver
The Cropper Lads

link to the free album

Louis Killen - Gallant Lads are We [Songs of the British Industrial Revolution]

Pádraig O'Keeffe - Sliabh Luachra Fiddle Master

A deleted 1993 recording of the Sliabh Luachra fiddle player and teacher taken from RTÉ archive recordings made by Séamus Ennis between 1947 and 1949. This is absolutely brilliant Sliabh Luachra music, and the final set of tunes - a duet with Denis Murphy - is a classic.

1. Quinn's/Callaghan's [Reels]
2. Gallagher's [Jigs]
3. The Banks of the Danube [Air]
4. O'Sullivan's/O'Callaghan's [Polkas]
5. Johnny Cope [Hornpipe]
6. I'd Rather be Married than Left/Chase me Charlie/The Kilcummin [Slides]
7. The Old Man Rocking the Cradle [Air]
8. George White's Favourite/Kennedy's/The Road the Newbridge [Reels]
9. Gleanntán Frolics/The Hare in the Corn [Slides]
10. The O'Rahilly's Grave [Air]
11. The Humours of Ennistymon/I Will if I Can [Jigs]
12. John Quinn's [Hornpipe]
13. The Donaghmore [Reel]
14. Caoineadh Uí Dhomhnaill (Lament for O'Donnell) [Air]
15. The Kilcummin/If I Had a Wife [Slides]
16. As I Went Out Upon the Ice/Campdown Races/Tom Billy's/Jimmy Doyle's [Polkas]

link to the free album

Pádraig O'Keeffe - Sliabh Luachra Fiddle Master

Jerry Holland - Fiddlesticks Collection

20 tracks, 64 tunes [18 are Jerry Holland compositions] of recordings by Jerry Holland released between 1982 and 1992, including five tracks not released before. Accompanied by the terrific piano playing talents of Hilda Chiasson, John Morris Rankin and Allan Dewar. The spirited honky tonk playing these three produce provides the perfect foil for the exuberant fiddle of Jerry Holland. Cape Breton fiddlers generally go flat out but Jerry goes hell for leather and the piano players mentioned give as good as they get. Dave MacIssac puts in some solid work on the guitar on most of the tracks but the show is really stolen by the feud between the fiddle and the piano.

There's also a fantastic live track closing the album: "Sheehan's Reel/The Flowers of Edinburgh/Miss MacLeod's Reel" featuring Holland, Ralph Dillon on piano, Bruce Timmons on guitar and Berkley Lamey on bass.

1. Reichswall Forest, Easter Elachies, Winston In The ’50s, Mrs Gordon Of Knockespoch
2. Andy DeJarlis', Ingonish Jig, Mrs. McGhee
3. Cutting Ferns, Alex Dan MacIssac's, Brenda Stubbert’s, Mutt’s Favorite, Bernadette’s, Lady Gordon Of Gordonstown
4. Jenny's Wedding, Drowsy Maggie, The Shaskeen Reel
5. The Hearty Boys Of Ballymote/Dan Collins' Fathers
6. Cranking Out, Lifely Steps, Garmont Smiddy's Reel
7. Reel For Carl
8. Beautiful Lake Ainsliel Miss Grace Menzie's, Mr. Bernard.
9. Arthur Muise, Buddy In Big Pond, Mary Cotter's
10. Souter Johnny, Irvine Steeple, O'Corse
11. Alex Menzie's, Lad O'Bryne's, Dublin Porter
12. The Ashokan Farewell
13. The MacDonalds Of Hamilton, Danny Big Alec MacDonald, Big Alec’s
14. The Old Boar, My Old Fiddle, Fiddle On Fire
15. Fr. John Angus Rankin, Trip To Dublin, Aoife’s, Harry Bradshaw’s, Johnny Muise’s
16. Sweet Journeys
17. Mrs. Crawford, Over The Moor Among The Heather, Kiss The Lass Ye Like The Best, Uist Lasses, Sir David Davidson Of Cantry, Celtic Ceilidh
18. Memories Of Elmer Briand, Hughie Johnny Angus Of West Mabou, An Old Inverness County, The Cross Of Inverness
19. Drummond Castle, What'll Be King But Charlie, Jerry’s Pipe
20. Sheehan's Reel, The Flowers Of Edinburgh, Miss MacLeod’s

link to the free album

Jerry Holland Fiddlesticks Collection

The Princess And The Goblin [by George Macdonald] [Audiobook]

The Princess and the Goblin is an enthralling fantasy tale written by George MacDonald. Her nurse Lootie raises the princess Irene in a house on a mountain, it is here that she meets her mysterious great-great-grandmother, and her friend the minor boy Curdie. Things are peaceful for Irene until the hideous race of goblins that live beneath the mountain start planning something big…

link to the free audiobook
The Princess And The Goblin [by George Macdonald] [Audiobook]

Clancy Brothers And Tommy Makem - Recorded Live In Ireland 1964

This album was recorded as  a souvenir of the groups 1964 tour of Ireland, and is the first stereo album ever recorded there. It was made on the evenings of August 21 and 22, 1964, on the stage of Ulster Hall in Belfast. It must have been wonderful to be there on those joyous nights in Ulster Hall with the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem but you can't have everything; and we are fortunate to have this live recording to tell us what it was like. It was something very special, just as this album is.

Wild Rover

Maid of Fife

Butcher Boy

Wella Wallia

Lament for Brendan Behan

New Finnegan's Wake [Each singer has solos]

Beggar Man [with part of Galway Races]

Ar Fol Lol La Lo

Rocks of Bawn

Nightingale

The Curlew's Song

They're Moving Father's Grave to Build a Sewer [with My Old Man (Said Follow the Van)

link to the free album

Clancy Brothers And Tommy Makem - Recorded Live In Ire;and 1964

Dan Milner - Irish Pirate Ballads And Other Songs Of The Sea

Pirates, shanghaiers, slavers, and smugglers are just some of the central characters in this album of lusty, authentic maritime songs; others are ardent patriots, hard-pressed immigrants, and weathered sailors sheltering in the taverns of the seven seas. All are midway between some dicey spot in life and an uncertain future. Among the mighty crew are Joanie Madden of Cherish the Ladies, John Doyle of Solas, Tim Collins of the Kilfenora Ceili Band, All-Ireland champion fiddler Brian Conway, Robbie O'Connell and Susan McKeown.......Enjoy

1. Ten Thousand Miles Away [Dan Milner, John Doyle, Robbie O'Connell]
2. The Ballad of Ó Bruadair/Out on the Ocean [Dan Milner, Gabriel Donohue, Joanie Madden, John Doyle, Mick Moloney, Robbie O'Connell, Susan McKeown, Tim Collins]
3. Saucy Ward [Dan Milner, Gabriel Donohue] 
4. Captain Coulston [Dan Milner, Gabriel Donohue, Joanie Madden]
5. Granuaile [Dan Milner, Gabriel Donohue, Susan McKeown]
6. Get Up Jack, John, Sit Down/Miss Thornton's [Dan Milner, Gabriel Donohue, Joanie Madden, Mick Moloney, Robbie O'Connell, Susan McKeown, The Johnson Girls, Tim Collins]
7. The Flying Cloud [Dan Milner]
8. Larry Maher's Big Five-Gallon Jar [Bob Conroy, Dan Milner, Mick Moloney, Robbie O'Connell, Tim Doyle]
9. Bold McCarthy [The City of Baltimore] [Dan Milner, Gabriel Donohue, Mick Moloney, Tim Collins]
10. All for Me Grog/Parnell's March [Dan Milner, Gabriel Donohue, Mick Moloney, Robbie O'Connell, Tim Collins]
11. Castle Gardens [Sixty Years Ago] [Dan Milner, Gabriel Donohue, Joanie Madden] 
12. The Lowlands Low [Brian Conway, Dan Milner, Gabriel Donohue, Joanie Madden, John Doyle, Mick Moloney, Robbie O'Connell, Tim Collins] 
13. The River Lea [Dan Milner, Gabriel Donohue, Joanie Madden, Mick Moloney, Robbie O'Connell, Susan McKeown]

link to the free album

Dan Milner - Irish Pirate Ballads And Other Songs Of The Sea

The Canterville Ghost [by Oscar Wilde] [Audiobook]

The American Minister and his family have bought the English stately home Canterville Chase, complete with the ghost of Sir Simon de Canterville - blood-stains, clanking chains and all. But these modern Americans will have no truck with ghostly goings-on, and set out to beat the spectre at his own game.

Librivox recording of The Canterville Ghost [by Oscar Wilde] read by David Barnes

link to the free audiobook

The Canterville Ghost [by Oscar Wilde] [Audiobook]

Dubliners [by James Joyce] [Audiobook]

Dubliners is a collection of 15 short stories by James Joyce, first published in 1914. They form a naturalistic depiction of Irish middle class life in and around Dublin in the early years of the 20th century. The stories were written when Irish nationalism was at its peak and a search for a national identity and purpose was raging; at a crossroads of history and culture, Ireland was jolted by various converging ideas and influences. They centre on Joyce's idea of an epiphany: a moment where a character experiences self-understanding or illumination. Many of the characters in Dubliners later appear in minor roles in Joyce's novel Ulysses. The initial stories in the collection are narrated by child protagonists, and as the stories continue, they deal with the lives and concerns of progressively older people. This is in line with Joyce's tripartite division of the collection into childhood, adolescence, and maturity. (Summary from Wikipedia)

LibriVox recording read by Tadhg Hynes.

link to the free audiobook

Dubliners [by James Joyce] [Audiobook]

Johnny Wilmot - Another Side of Cape Breton

Another Side of Cape Breton presents Johnny Wilmot's early recordings [1951-64]. Johnny was a true master of both Cape Breton Irish and Cape Breton Scottish traditional styles. In addition to fiddle and piano selections [with Margaret MacPhee or Mildred Leadbeater] there are tracks with tin whistle [Chris Langan] and others with harmonica [Tommy Basker]. These extraordinary examples of Cape Breton fiddle tradition are rooted in the house parties and dances of Cape Breton’s Northside. Wilmot’s music is driving, emotional, and absolutely unbeatable. These cuts are a rare and terrific find.

Artists
Johnny Wilmot ~ fiddle
Mildred Leadbeater ~ piano
Margaret MacPhee ~ piano
Tommy Basker ~ harmonica
Chris Langan ~ whistle
Bill Legere ~ upright bass
Bill MacDonald ~ guitar
John Angus Kennedy ~ guitar

01-Tom Ward's Downfall, Jackson's Reel

02-Baddeck Gathering Medley

03-Dr. Gilbert's Reel, The Queen Of May

04-Jug Of Punch Medley

05-Lord Gordon's Reel

06-An Inverness Jig.

07-Basker's Rambles

08-Maid Behind The Bar, Flax In Bloom

09-Maids Of Tramore

10-Orange And Blue, Kitty Of Oulart

11-Jackson's Polka

12-King's Jig, An Irish Jig

13-Boys Of The Loch Medley

14-Geese In The Bog

15-Woman Of The House

16-Old Grey Goose, The Clay Pipe

17-Nova Scotia Barn Dance Medley

18-Frost Is All Over, Lark In The Morning

19-Bird In The Tree, The Mourne Mountains

20-Devine's Favourite, The Rambler

21-Flannel Jacket

22-Cape Breton Favourite, Whiskey Jig

23-Hughie Shorty's Reel, Walker Street Reel

link to the free album

Johnny Wilmot - Another Side of Cape Breton

Various Artists - Ayrshire Folk

A fine and long forgotten example of Scottish folk history and local enterprise this collection was paid for from the door receipts of the Ayr folk club. Released in 1973. The album features close harmony group Tanninzie [Fiona Campbell, Ken Lorimer, Mik Shaw and Geoff McColm], Alec "Speedy" Simpson and Ian McKinnon, John Clegg and Dave Strathie, Pete and Heather Heywood and Dougie Bell. Tanninzie are the stand out act for me, both their tracks are excellent, closely followed by John Clegg who was the organiser of the Ayr Folk Club.

01 Speedy & Ian:-Me and Bobby McGhee
02 Pete & Heather Heywood:-Land o' the Leal
03 Dougie Bell:-Steamboat Row
04 John Clegg & Dave Strathie:-Wild Flying Dove
05 Tanninzie:-Step It Out Mary
06 Speedy & Ian:-John Henry
07 Pete & Heather Heywood:-He Wears a Bunnet for a Hat
08 Dougie Bell:-Christian Island
09 John Clegg & Dave Strathie:-Bonnie George Campbell
10 Speedy & Ian:-Little Tin Soldier
11 Tanninzie:-Three Score and Ten
12 Pete & Heather Heywood:-Busk Busk
13 Dougie Bell:-To Each and Everyone
14 John Clegg & Dave Strathie:-There Ya Go

link to the free album

Various Artists - Ayrshire Folk

Mary Bergin - Feadóga Stáin

Feadóga Stáin, Mary Bergin's 1979 debut album, has been credited with establishing the tin whistle as one of first tier among the standard instruments of Irish Traditional Music. Members of De Dannan contributed accompaniment and the album is mostly a trio of tin whistle, Irish bouzouki and Bodhrán. This album is generally considered by critics and scholars as a "definitive" or milestone album.

1. Rileanna (Reels): Ril Gan Ainm/Cinnte Le Dia (Ah, Surely)/The Union Reel
2. Rileanna (Reels): Inion Mhic Sheain (Miss Johnson's)/Mike Russell's
3. Portanna (Jigs): Tom Billy's/The Langstern Pony
4. Rileanna (Reels): Sean Reid's / The Drunken Landlady
5. Fonn Mall (Slow Air): Liam O Raghallaigh
6. Rileanna (Reels): Bean Ui Chroidheain (Mrs. Crehan's)/Gearoid O Comain (Gerry Commane's)/An La Baisti (The Rainy Day)
7. Portanna (Jigs): Port Sean Seosamh/Sean Tiobrad Arann/The Rothai An Tsaoil (Wheels Of The World)
8. Rileanna (Reels): The Blath Na Smeire Duibhe (Blackberry Blossom)/Maud Miller/Mo Thrua Go Bfaca Me Ariamh Thu (I Wish I Never Say You)/Chuig Na Gluine I Ngaineamh Thu (Up To Your Knees In Sand)
9. Cornphiopai (Hornpipes): Garrai Na Bhfeileoig/Miss Galvin
10. Rileanna (Reels): The An Bhean Ar An Oilean (Lady On The Island)/The Ril Na Ceolchoirme (Concert Reel) / The An Bothan Sa Phortach (Hut In The Bog)
11. Fonn Mall (Slow Air): Mo Mhuirnin Ban
12. Rileanna (Reels): Mick Hand's / The Reel Of Mullinavat
13. Portanna (Jigs): The Port Mhuineachain (Monaghan Jig)/Nora Crionna
14. Rileanna (Reels): Ta Citi Ar Shiuil Ag Cru Lei (Kitty Gone A Milking)/Scleip Na Hoiche Areir (Last Night's Fun) / The An Ghaoth A Bhogann An Eorna (Wind That Shakes The Barley)

link to the free album

Mary Bergin - Feadóga Stáin

Eddy Poirier - Fiddling In The Irish, Scottish And Cape Breton Style

Eddie Poirier, born and raised in the Maritimes is well acquainted with the regional music of the area. The proof of which lies within this 1970;s album. On the album, you'll find Eddy Poirier at his fiddlin' best. A truly fine selection of tunes including one of Eddy's own compositions "Lord Albert Jig" written especially for this album.

01-Pet Of The Piper, Harper's Fancy
02-Donigal Hornpipe, Sandhill Hornpipe
03-Seige Of Innis
04-Lord Albert Jig
05-Moon Coin, Paddy Cronin's Reel
06-Hughie Shortie's Reel, Walker St. Reel
07-Sheehan's Reel, Patty On The Turnpike
08-French Reel
09-Reeve's Reel
10-When The Kettle Boils Over, The Lark In The Morning
11-The Tea Tottler Reel
12-Mora Shein Reel, Capre Phe

link to the free album

Eddy Poirier - Fiddling In The Irish, Scottish And Cape Breton Style

 

Ewan MacColl & Isla Cameron - Still I Love Him

Scottish folk singer turned actress Isla Cameron teams up with Ewan MacColl for this classic 1958 folk revival album. MacColl has long been associated with the resurgence of  folk music in the British Isles in the late 1950's and early 1960's and Cameron became one of the most popular woman folk singers of her day. The two sing separately on all tracks with Ewan MacColl being accompanied by his wife Peggy Seeger on Banjo and Guitar. Isla Cameron is accompanied on all her tracks by his wife Ralph Rinzler on Banjo and Guitar.

Whistle, Daughter, Whistle [Isla Cameron]

Once I Had A True Love [Isla Cameron]

The American Stranger [Ewan MacColl]

My Bonny Miner Lad [Isla Cameron]

Let No Man Steal Your Thyme [Isla Cameron]

Geordie [Ewan MacColl]

Buy Broom Besoms [Isla Cameron]

Geordie [Isla Cameron]

The Maid On The Shore [Isla Cameron]

Are Ye Sleeping Maggie? [Ewan MacColl]

Still I Love Him [Isla Cameron]

The Water Of Tyne [Isla Cameron]

The Bleacher Lass Of Kelvinhaugh [Ewan MacColl]

Bobby Shaftoe [Isla Cameron]

link to the free album

Ewan MacColl & Isla Cameron - Still I Love Him

The Wanderings of Oisin [by William Butler Yeats] [Audiobook]

This narrative poem is composed in three parts, and consists of a dialogue between the aged Irish hero Oisin and St. Patrick.

Oisin relates his three-hundred year sojourn in the immortal isles of Faerie [Tir Na Nog]. In the isles, Oisin married the beautiful Sidhe Niamh: together they traveled, feasted, and quested. At last Oisin succumbs to the temptation to return and visit the lands of mortal men: inadvertently slipping from his faerie horse, his body touches the ground and instantly puts on the flesh of a decrepit old man.

link to the free audiobook
The Wanderings Of Oisin [by William Butler Yeats] [Audiobook]

Dan Stacey - Crank It

Crank It was the first solo album from Dan Stacey, the fiddle player in the very popular and stylish Celtic rock band, Seven Nations. Released in 2003 and no longer available this much sought after collection showcases Dan in full swing. He plays allot of variations on traditional Celtic tunes as well as many of his own. A very enjoyable recording with some great jigs and scorching reels.

French Reels
Peacock's Feathers
Worst Foot Forward?
Jolly Kate's Money
Rosebud of Avondale
The Lady Chooses Denis
Kid on the Moon to Buy Judith
The Road Is Gettin' to Me
Polka With Pat the Budgie Martin
Thirteen Arches / The Highest Hill in Sligo / Patrick's Night
College Cup of Tea
Simply Jigs
I Will Always Remember You
Cavan's Black Haired Sean Drinking Jack Daniels

link to the free album
Dan Stacey - Crank It

Golden Bough - Kids At Heart [Celtic Songs For Children]

Golden Bough are a Celtic music band, based in California, who have been performing together for more than 30 years. The band describes their music as "rooted in" the traditional music of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, The Isle of Man, French Brittany and Spanish Galicia. This 1993 album combines traditional tunes such as The Tailor & the Mouse and The Rattlin' Bog with originals like Rain & Thunder and the beautifully performed Wee Jack.  The band's playing is flawless, the harmony is perfect, and the songs are wonderful. A real change from so much of the bland music produced for children

1. Frog in the Well

2. Rain and Thunder

3. Fair Haired Child/Garden of Butterflies

4. The Rattlin' Bog

5. Dilly, Dilly/Sir Sidney Smith's March

6. Little Lizzie

7. Wee Jack

8. Monday, Tuesday

9. Crabs in the Skillet

10. The Tailor and the Mouse

11. The Fiddler/Dalamarsch

12. All God's Creatures

link to the free album

Golden Bough - Kids At Heart [Celtic Songs For Children]

Aoife Ni Fhearraigh - Loinneog Cheoil

Loinneog Cheoil was the début album by Irish singer Aoife Ní Fhearraigh. The albums features mainly Traditional Celtic material from the Gweedore and Rosses area of County Donegal. Aoife is best known for her later release on Gael-Linn, but this album was made earlier than that, in 1991. Released only on tape, this is a collection of accompanied song in Gaelic. The singing is magical and the instrumentation is provided by the then new outfit Dervish.

Ar A Ghabhail 'n A Chuain Domh [As I Went To The Harbour]
Neansaí Mhíle Grá [Nancy, My Precious Love]
Fuígfidh Mise An Baile Seo [I Shall Leave This Place Now]
Fill, Fill A Rún Ó [Return, Return, My Darling]
Cianach Corrach [Lonesome And Troubled]
Dónall Óg [Young Donall]
Seachrán Charn tSiail [Carn Tsiail Delusion]
An Mhaighdean Mhara [The Mermaid]
Cuaichín Ghleann Néifín [The Little Cuckoo Of Gleanna Neifin]
Úrchnoc Chéin Mhic Cáinte [Urchnoc Chein Mhic Cainte]
An Chéad Mháirt Den Fhómhar [The First Tuesday Of Autumn]
Caidé Sin Don Té Sin [It's Not Their Concern]

link to the free album

Aoife Ni Fhearraigh - Loinneog Cheoil

Waterboys - Windmill Lane Sessions [1987-1988]

The recording sessions for the Waterboys Fisherman's Blues, a transition album taking the band from rock music to folk music were lengthy and produced a great deal of music. The sessions began at Windmill Lane Studio in Dublin and lasted from 1986 to 1988. Mike Scott describes the process; "We started recording our fourth album in early '86 and completed it 100 songs and 2 years later". This is a splendid selection taken from these mammoth and otherwise unavailable sessions.

Stranger To Me

Girl from the North Country

Wayward Wind

I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight

I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry

Drunken Head Blues

Death is Not the End

Blowin´ in the Wind

Sugar Baby

Meet You at the Station

May the Saints and Angels Watch Over You

Long Long Way From Home

Except You

Forever Young

The Passenger

Isis

My Mafia

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Waterboys - Windmill Lane Sessions [1987-1988]

Various Artists - SNP Folk

Bit of a rarity this one released as far as i know in 1969 when Scottish nationhood was only a dream. Various groups contributed to this surprisingly good fundraising LP sponsored by the Midlothian Constituency Association of the Scottish National Party. The Livingstones from the Blantyre area supply three fine tracks but sad to say the other bands involved The Albanachs, The Newcomers, and Lallans.are unkown to me.

01 The Livingstones:-Scotland Free
02 The Livingstones:-Because and the Reason
03 Albanachs:-The Boys of Cardonald
04 Newcomers:-Scotland Stand Up
05 Lallans:-Legend of Scotland
06 Newcomers:-The SNP
07 The Livingstones:-Parcel of Rogues
08 Lallans:-Bonny Seat o' Hamilton
09 Newcomers:-Freedom
10 The Albanachs:-Scots Wha Hae

link to the free album
Various Artists - SNP Folk

Ron Gonnella - Fiddle Gems

Ron Gonnella was without doubt a very fine fiddle player and his 1976 album Fiddle Gems is one of his best. The tune selection here is very interesting and includes tracks i had never heard before. Top Scottish fiddlers such as Duncan Wood and Gregor Borland have spoken of their admiration for Ron Gonnella;s skills and techniques.

01 Well May My True Love Arrive/Glenmorriston/Northern Racecourse

02 Rbel War Song/Belladrum House/The Favourite Dram

03 Well May Charlie Wear the Crown/Northern Meeting/Sprightly Minikin

04 Sitting In the Stern of a Boat

05 The Beauty of the North/Stranger in Place of the Worthies/Inauspicious Wedding Day

06 Good Wife, Admit the Wanderer/The Maid That Made the Bed to Me

07 The Fall of Foyers/The North Side of the Grampians/In Dispraise of Whisky

08 Archibald MacDonald of Keppoch/The Expert Dancer/The Merry Making

09 Huntly's Wedding Medley/General Gathering 1745/The Shepherdess/My Ain, Kind Deary

10 Hymn to the Saviour

11 My Wife Is Forever Storming At Me/The Hawthorn Tree of Cawdor/Come Lads, Now Be Ready

12 Caledonia's Wail for Niel Gow/Angus Fraser's Strathspey/Three Sheep's Shanks

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Ron Gonnella - Fiddle Gems

United Celtic Bards - The Highland Clearances [Songs For The Children Of The Gaels]

The Highland Clearances ["Fuadach nan Gàidheal" the expulsion of the Gael] was the forced displacement during the 18th and 19th centuries of Highland Celts from their ancient traditional land tenancies. United Celtic Bards recorded this impressive charity double CD  in 2003 with contributions of music, song & poetry coming from all over the world. Profits from sales went to charities and events that support either the promotion of Gaelic Language or for the betterment of the Highlands & Islands of Scotland.

Intro - John Vize

Weeping Still ( ES Parker ) - Blue Bonnets, White Cockades ( JG McCloskey )

Sail On Rolling Seas - Brian Heron

Hearts & Lives - Jocelyn Chawner

The End Of A Dream - B McArthur

Weeds O' The Sea - Emily Sharon Parker ( USA )

Bliandha nan Caorach ( Year Of The Sheep ) - Stevie Love

Walk Upon The Moon - B MacDonald

To Whom It May Concern Pt1 - DS McCormack

Bound For Americae - John Vize

Turning Of The Tide - Joe McMahon

Spiritual Homeland - Stuart Anderson

Unknown Shore - DS McCormack

Shell Pink, Ocean Grey Pt1 - Melanie Dolinski ( Au )

Bonnie Soldier Theme - BHS MacDonald

Sgt David MacKay - Ian Davison

The Devil To Pay - Joe McMahon

The Great & The Good - Thomas Cameron

Bring Them Home - JG McCloskey

Soft Tears - Tina McFarlane ( Canada )

Mo h-eileanan - BA Lawrence

Intro - John Vize

Raise Your Glass High - Emily Sharon Parker ( USA )

The Children Return - JG McCloskey & JP McStravick ( USA )

Nova Scotia - Brian Heron

I Will Always Love You - John Vize

Shell Pink, Ocean Grey Pt2 - Melanie Dolinski ( Au )

Immigrant Wind - J McMahon

City Of Angels - Stuart Anderson

Home Country - Craig Mills

Leave My Scotland Alone - Stevie Love

Words From The Past - Iain Gostelow

From A Waking Dream - Emily Sharon Parker ( USA )

To Whom It May Concern Pt2 - D S McCormack

Freedom & Liberty - Jocelyn Chawner

Highland Amen - DS McCormack

You Are Home - JG McCloskey

Walk With The Brave - Melody Summers ( Canada )

Bonnie Soldier - BHS MacDonald

links to the free album

United Celtic Bards - The Highland Clearances [Songs For The Children Of The Gaels] CD1

United Celtic Bards - The Highland Clearances [Songs For The Children Of The Gaels] CD2

Skara Brae - Skara Brae

Released in 1971, the self-titled album contains beautifully performed Celtic Traditional songs and is considered one of the most important albums in its genre, notable as the first recording to include vocal harmonization in Irish language songs. The short lived band had in its ranks brother and sister Mícheál Ó Domhnaill and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, who would later go on to form The Bothy Band

Band
Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill – vocals,
Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill – vocals,
Mícheál Ó Domhnaill – vocals, guitar,
Dáithí Sproule – vocals, guitar,

"An Cailín Rua" (The redhead)

"Suantraí Hiúdaí" (Hiúdaí's lullaby)

"Bánchnoic Éireann Ó" (The fair hills of Ireland)

"Angela" (instrumental)

"Táim Breoite go Leor" (I am quite sick)

"Inis Dhún Rámha"

"An Saighdiúir Tréigthe" (The deserted soldier)

"Cad é sin don té Sin" (To whom it does not concern)

"An Chrúbach" (The troublesome cow)

"Casadh an tSúgáin" (instrumental)

"Caitlín Óg"

"Airdí Cuan"

"Tá mé 'mo Shuí" (I am sitting up awake)

"An Buinneán Buí" (The yellow bittern)

"Caitlín Tiriall"

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Skara Brae - Skara Brae

Kila - Tog E Go Bog E

Tog E Go Bog E [meaning Take It Easy or Take It Softly] hardly fitting for such an energetic band. Kila's special blend of Irish music brings a new meaning to the genre. Their innovative use of traditional instruments makes them seem almost new. The album is fantastic, giving you the feel for what must be one of the hottest acts to come out of the Irish music scene in many years.

1. Gwerzy
2. On Taobh Tuathail Amach
3. Rusty Nails
4. Oh To Kiss Katie
5. Tog E Go Bog E
6. Jasmine
7. The Seige Of Carrickfinn International Airport
8. Dusty Wine Bottle
9. Bi Ann
10. Leanfaidh Me
11. Crann Na Bpingini
12. Double Knuckle Shuffle
13. Ril A Do
14. Tip Toe

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Kila - Tog E Go Bog E

Séamus Ennis - Wandering Minstrel

James Ennis, Séamus's father was in a pawn-shop in London in 1908 where he bought a bag containing the pieces of a set of old uilleann pipes. They were made in the mid nineteenth century by Coyne Pipemakers of Thomas Street in Dublin. These self same pipes are the ones used to great effect on this superb 1977 album. Take my word, this is an absolutely marvellous album primarily of Ennis' piping (he plays whistle on a couple tracks). Unaccompanied, he frequently makes full use of the regulators in his very rhythmic, utterly unique style. Séamus Ennis is also recognised for having preserved almost 2,000 Irish songs and dance-tunes as part of the work he did with the Irish Folklore Commission.

1. The Wandering Minstrel/Jackson's Morning Brush

2. The Boys Of Bluehill/Dunphy's Hornpipe

3. The Glen-Nephin Cuckoo/The Little Fair Cannavans

4. The Frieze Britches

5. The Flags Of Dublin/The Wind That Shakes The Barley

6. The Little Stack Of Barley/Cronin's Hornpipe

7. The New Demesne

8. The Blackbird

9. Gillan's Apples/The Walls Of Liscarroll/The Stone In The Field

10. Molly O'Malone

11. Kiss The Maid Behind The Barrel

12. Happy To Meet And Sorry To Part

link to the free album

Séamus Ennis - Wandering Minstrel

Bobby Casey - Taking Flight

Taking Flight is an absolute classic. Recorded in 1977, this was the one and only commercially available studio album made by the master fiddler from West Clare.  It is difficult to do justice to Casey's absolute mastery of the instrument: the complexity of his ornamentation, intonation, rhythmic control, the deftness of his improvisation, and simultaneously, his absolute fidelity to the melody of the dance tune or air. This is one of the best fiddle albums ever recorded.

1. Tuttle's/The Ragged Hank of Yarn [Reels]
2. Seán Ó Duibhir a Ghleanna [Set Dance]
3. Rakish Paddy [Reel]
4. The Drunken Gauger [Set Dance]
5. Down the Back Lane/Donnybrook Fair/Scully Casey's [Jigs]
6. The Graf Spey [Reel]
7. Poll Ha'penny [Hornpipe]
8. The Porthole of the Kelp/The Connaught Heifer [Reels]
9. The Dear Irish Boy [Air]
10. The Garden of Daisies [Set Dance]
11. The Nightingale/The Pipe on the Hob [Jigs]
12. The Old Bush/My Love is in America [Reels]

link to the free album
Bobby Casey - Taking Flight

Various Artists - Folk Song Tradition

Tradition Records was started in the 1950's by folk song collector Diane Hamilton and Patrick Clancy of the Clancy Brothers, initially as an outlet for Clancy's group, but the label eventually recorded all manner of traditional artists and folk revival musicians, and even issued a few LPs of field recordings gathered by Alan Lomax. This Tradition sampler, suggests the wide range of folk material the original label featured, all of it recorded simply and with few or no embellishments Highlights include Seamus Ennis rendition of The Fairy Boy the great Etta Baker's slide guitar instrumental version of John Henry, and Whiskey You're the Devil by Liam Clancy.There are also sea shanties, flamenco guitarists, and brass bands on this diverse and intriguing collection.

1 The Bird's Courtship [Erik Darling/Ed McCurdy]

2 O Donnell Aboo [The Clancy Brothers/Tommy Makem]

3 John Henry [Etta Baker]

4 The Hearse Song [Colyn Davies]

5 Rodenos [El Nino de Ronda]

6 Johnny's Gone to Hilo [Paul Clayton]

7 Dark as a Dungeon [Glenn Yarbrough]

8 Johnny Lad [Ewan MacColl/Peggy Seeger]

9 Ha-Na-Ava Ba-Ba-Not [Hillel & Aviva]

10 I Was Born About 10,000 Years Ago [Oscar Brand/Fred Hellerman]

11 Keel Row [Isla Cameron]

12 The Fairy Boy [Seamus Ennis]

13 The Gambling Suitor [Paul Clayton/Jean Ritchie]

14 Spiritual Trilogy [Odetta]

15 South Australia [A.L. Lloyd]

16 Lulle Lullay [John Jacob Niles]

17 Whiskey You're the Devil [Liam Clancy]

18 I Loved a Lass [Ewan MacColl]

19 Carraig Donn [Mary O'Hara]

20 Rosie [C.B. And Ten Others With Axes From Mississippi State Penitentiary]

21 Sail Away Ladies [Odetta]

Ain't No More Cane on This Brazis [Alan Lomax]

23 Railroad Bill [Etta Baker]

24 Billy Boy [Ed McCurdy]

25 When I Was Single [David Hammond]

26 Donna, Donna [Italian Brass Band And Chorus]

link to the free album

Various Artists - Folk Song Tradition