Paul McDermott

Educator – Documentary Producer – Writer

Latest Documentary:

We'll Always Be Shouting For You – the story of The Frank and Walters

A Learn & Sing production for RTÉ Gold.

“A gripping valentine to the Franks by documentary maker Paul McDermott” Ed Power – Irish Examiner

Podcast & Further Information

Documentaries Playlist:

Documentaries: Further Information

Latest Podcast Episode:

Episode Notes, Further Details and Past Episodes

Latest Articles:

Niall Connolly: New York-based Cork musician releases 10th album

by Paul McDermott
Irish Examiner - 11 May 2026

Cork band of the 1980s Cypress, Mine! reform for unfinished business

by Paul McDermott
Irish Examiner - 27 January 2026

Archived Articles

Latest Blog Post:

Carling Rocks Cork: Gig 1

A few words on Lark By the Lee, breweries and music sponsorship, warm Canadian lager, Alsan, Paul Cleary, Cactus World News, and the story of four outdoor gigs in Cork during summer 1986.

Road Relish 7” Singles

A few words on the 14 7” singles released by Road Relish between 1999 and 2004.

Top 20 Most Valuable 7” Singles

Following my January post about my most valuable LPs, here’s a list of the Top 20 Most Valuable 7” Singles from my record collection. The order is based on Discogs’ “Median” valuation as of June 2026.

Clancy - Road to the Heart

A few words on NPB’s Paul Clancy and his 2010 album Road to the Heart. Since I published my interview with Patrick Freyne about his bands NPB and El Diablo (Episode 60 of To Here Knows When - Great Irish Albums Revisited) a few listeners have been in touch asking about Clancy.

Underground magazine (1987-1988)

A few words on Underground. A music magazine, published by Spotlight Publications in the UK, that lasted for 15 issues between April 1987 and June 1988. Including archive interviews with: The Go-Betweens’ Lindy Morrison; The Triffid’s David McComb; The Wedding Present; Depeche Mode; The Fall; New Order; Echo & The Bunnymen; Talulah Gosh; Felt; Stump; The Stars of Heaven; Microdisney; Big Black; The Chills; My Bloody Valentine; Yo La Tengo and more.

The Sentimental Tourists - Without Love We Expire

A few words on the debut album by Dave Long (Into Paradise) and Paul Page (Whipping Boy).

Featured Blog Posts:

Top 10 Picture Disc 7”s and the history of the format

A few words on Picture Discs, the history of gimmick vinyl formats, sexist Blondie advertising, Stiff Records, Britt Ekland, Lana Del Rey, Lady GaGa, The Smiths, New Order, Warren Zevon, Echo & the Bunnymen, Men Without Hats and the Apollo 8 lunar mission.

Top 20 Most Valuable Vinyl LPs

I’m been thinking about the value of records. Here’s a list of the Top 20 Most Valuable LPs from my record collection. The order is based on Discogs’ “Median” valuation as of January 2026.

Meat Loaf, an inflatable bat, Power Rangers, Pearl Jam, Van the Man, and the Green Glens Arena, Millstreet

A few words on working in the Green Glens Arena in Millstreet inspired by RTÉ’s film Meat Loaf – From Hell and to Connaught.

Top 10 Irish Albums of 2025

The third of three posts cataloguing vinyl purchases in 2025. A Top 10 of Irish Albums in 2025.

Van Morrison at 80

A few words on Van Morrison taking in: Millstreet Music Fair 1996, Stump’s Mick lynch, Cork Jazz Festival 1996, Humpers Inc and Rathmines College 2003

Record Store Day: A Top 10

“A Top 10 of Record Store Day releases” taking in: New Order, Joy Division, The Wicker Man, Alfred Hitchcock, Fontaines DC, Low, The The, Nick Cave, Pulp, Clint Mansell, and Chris Bell.

Blog Archive

Instagram

View fullsize To Here Knows When - Great Irish Albums Revisited EP60 coming soon. Patrick Freyne joins me to chat about his bands NPB and El Diablo, his new novel, and a whole lot more. Coming soon...
View fullsize 16HP, Elysée Montmartre. Last night of the reformation tour. Incredible night. Saw them twice in Dublin, Whelan’s 2001 and TBMC 2002. The Whelan’s gig is in my all time top 10. This one was really special, home town gig for Tola an
View fullsize 16HP Paris. Last night of the the tour! Excitement levels very high!
View fullsize Link in bio #whippingboy #intoparadise
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View fullsize Bonus EP10 out now on all platforms. Music journalist and author Simon Reynolds chats about his new book Still In A Dream: Shoegaze, Slackers and the Reinvention of Rock 1984-1994. My Bloody Valentine are the central group in the book, but in this co
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View fullsize Can't wait to see 16HP in a few weeks time. They played 1st gig in 21 years last night. I bootlegged their 2001 in Whelan's, must revisit.
View fullsize Low-Life #neworder #nowplaying
View fullsize Issue 47 of @thegoodublin available online now. Physical copies around Dublin soon. Features my review of @mrniallconnolly 10th album, There's So Much More To See, "easily Connolly's strongest collection of songs to date." #irishmusic #theg
View fullsize I chat to @mrniallconnolly in today's Examiner ahead of the release of his 10th album.