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
Documentaries: Further Information

Latest Podcast Episode:

Episode Notes, Further Details and Past Episodes
Episode Notes, Further Details and Past Episodes

Latest Articles:

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

by Paul McDermott
Irish Examiner - 27 January 2026

Ireland in 50 Albums, No 37: A Tonic For the Troops


by The Boomtown Rats

by Paul McDermott
Irish Examiner - 19 January 2026

Archived Articles
Archived Articles

Latest Blog Post:

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.

Featured Blog Posts:

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 How about every Smiths song but a cappella? In 2011 Janice Whaley released The Smiths Project - all 70 Moz/Marr songs + Golden Lights. Each song is built up using 20 or 30 layers of vocals, entirely a capella, taking up to 30 hours per song. A brilli
View fullsize The In-Kraut Vol. 1, 2 & 3. Hip Shaking Grooves made in Germany 1966-1974 from Marina Records. #SundaySounds #nowplaying🎧
View fullsize 1986 reissues purchased secondhand in early 00s. Shop was busy, after I examined the records the shop assistant handed me my bag. At home I discovered that instead of # 1 Record I had a Trance 12". It got sorted a few days later. I reckon the gu
View fullsize North by North West. Peggy Suicide send me back to this 2006 boxset. Liverpool x Manchester, from punk to post-punk and beyond. Departure 1976, arrival 1984. "A particularly interesting local history" compiled and sleeve notes by Paul Morle
View fullsize Cope's Notes No. 8 Peggy Suicide. A 52-page A5 book and cover-mounted CD. The Peggy Suicide story. No. 8 in the essential series. Sent me back listening to one of my favourite albums of the 1990s. Blog on Julian Cope's postcards in bio. #juliancope #
View fullsize La Comedienne. Audrey. Few days in Bruxelles with some of my Politics and Media students. Found a record shop. As you do😉 First time seeing an orig Ghostown, will go lovely with my repress.
View fullsize EP59 To Here Knows When - Great Irish Albums Revisited. In this episode I’m joined by Andy White, to chat about 1986's Rave On Andy White, his debut album which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. We chat about living in Dún Laogh
View fullsize Asha Bhosle RIP #ashabhosle #nowspinning
View fullsize
View fullsize No. 2 yesterday, No. 1 today. Thanks to all who listened.
View fullsize #sundaysounds #vinylrecords tunes on Easter Sunday: Zombies, Madra Salach, Lovers & Giants. Seefeel, Dean Wareham, ex Magician, Trashcans, Icicle Works and Jayhawks.
View fullsize The rabbit killer left his home... #nowspinning #nowplaying🎧 #thefall