Blog
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
The Sentimental Tourists
A few words on The Sentimental Tourists taking in: Dave Long, Paul Page, Into Paradise and Whipping Boy.
Michael O’Shea - Listen Back
A talk from February 2025 about Michael O’Shea’s 1982 self-titled album as part of Cork City Library’s “Listen Back” series in the Rory Gallagher Music Library.
Top 10 Movie 7” Singles
A Top 10 of movie 7” singles taking in: Irish pressings, Czechoslovakian New Wave cinema, film noir, folk horror, a flea market in Brussels, Venice’s side streets, Doris Day, Sly Stone, Brian Wilson and “the worst song ever written”.
Flotsam: Cork’s Old Venues
A few words on arts magazine Flotsam taking in: “sean-nós noise makers” I Dreamed I Dream, the continuing saga of Cork’s Event Centre, and what can be learned from old Cork venues and some of the legendary gigs they hosted.
Listen Hear Seán Ó Riada
A few words on Danny McCarthy, sound installations, Seán Ó Riada, céilí bands and the “buzzing of a bluebottle in an upturned jam jar”.
Martin Barry: 20th Anniversary
Last week was the 20th anniversary of the passing of my great friend Martin Barry.
Factory Records: Top 10 Comps
Factory Records - Top 10 Comps, taking in: Cian Ó Cíobháin’s An Taobh Tuathail Factory special, New Order, Joy Division, Section 25, Happy Mondays, A Certain Radio, Anthony H. Wilson, Ian Curtis, Martin Hannett and a whole lot more.
The Fall at Sir Henry’s
A few words on The Fall taking in: The Fall at the Arcadia in 1980, The Fall at Sir Henry’s in 1997. Mark E. Smith, Dave Simpson’s The Fallen, Freakscene and Gigantic at Sir Henry’s, The Beatles, Freakscene flyers, Uaneen Fitzsimons and No Disco, The Fall at The Pavilion in 2012, and Rob Anthony’s Number One Fan comic strip.
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.
Peace Together
A few words on Peace Together, a 1993 benefit album, taking in: Sinéad O’Connor, Peter Gabriel, New Order, My Bloody Valentine, The Fatima Mansions, Cocteau Twins, U2, Lou Reed, Andrew Weatherall, Baywatch, President Mary Robinson and Mother Teresa.
Zerra One and The Cure
A few words on 80s Irish band Zerra One and their 1982 tour of the UK and Europe supporting The Cure taking in: the kindness of Robert Smith, John Peel sessions, producer Todd Rundgren, U2, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Simon Price’s Curepedia and a whole lot more.
Robbie Coltrane’s 50th birthday, Dan Aykroyd, Badly Drawn Boy and Twisted Nerve Records.
A few words on Robbie Coltrane’s 50th birthday party, Dan Aykroyd, Badly Drawn Boy and Twisted Nerve Records taking in: Rough Trade Records, Bends For 166 Miles, Andy Votel, Alfie, Dave Tyack’s Dakota Oak, Aidan Smith, Delia Smith, Voice of the Seven Woods, Twinkranes, John Peel, On the Nose, Brenda Blethyn, Harry Potter, Rubeus Hagrid, Elwood Blues, The Blues Brothers, Don Baker and Dan Aykroyd’s House of Blues.
Songs to Learn and Sing: EP 1000 - the final episode
A few words on Episode 1000 of Songs to Learn and Sing taking in: Cork Campus Radio, West Dublin Access Radio, Dublin City FM, 30 years of community radio, Echo & the Bunnymen, and more.
Robert Forster – Interview
From the Archives - 2017 Robert Forster interview taking in: Grant & I, The Go-Betweens in Dublin, Cathal Coughlan & Microdisney and more.
The Go-Betweens, Leonard Cohen, U2 and Boston Celtics’ Reggie Lewis
A few words on The Go-Betweens, Leonard Cohen, U2, Boston Celtics’ Reggie Lewis and my greatest vinyl find.
Top 10 Reissues of 2024
The third and final Top 10 of 2024. This one is a countdown of my favourite reissues from 2024, including three collections of previously unreleased songs.
Songs to Learn and Sing: Christmas 2004 Compilations
I found two old compilations from 2004. A few words on Songs to Learn and Sing taking in: Christmas 2004 compilation mix CDs, 20 years of tunes, streaming, and more.
Top 10 Irish Albums of 2024
Top 10 Irish Albums of 2024. Best Irish Compilation of 2024, Best Irish Single of 2024 and two Special Mentions. Songs from all ten of these albums were featured on Songs To Learn And Sing on 103.2 Dublin City FM throughout 2024 and Episode 990 featured some of my favourite songs from these albums.
Top 10 Vinyl Finds of 2024
A Top 10 of secondhand #VinylFinds I purchased in 2024. These were picked up in record shops in Manchester, Sydney, Tarragona, Dublin and Cork. There are a couple rare collectables here but mostly it’s just a bunch of records I couldn’t leave behind.