Paul McDermott

Educator – Broadcaster – Documentary Producer – Writer

Latest Blog Post:

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.

Latest Documentary:

An Draíocht
the music of Sliabh Luachra

A Learn & Sing production for RTÉ Lyric fm.

“An Draíocht is an evocative reminder of the magical role music can play in our lives.” Mick Heaney – The Irish Times

“An Draíocht is a powerful piece on the music of Sliabh Luachra.” Declan Lynch – Sunday Independent

Podcast & Further Information

Documentaries Playlist:

Latest Podcast Episode:

Latest Articles:

Ireland in 50 Albums, No 33: …If I Die, I Die


by Virgin Prunes

by Paul McDermott
Irish Examiner - 29 January 2025

Ireland in 50 Albums, No 32: Kissing the Roof of Heaven


by Hinterland

by Paul McDermott
Irish Examiner - 15 January 2025

Featured Blog Posts:

Listen Hear Seán Ó Riada

“A few words on Danny McCarthy” taking in: sound installations, Seán Ó Riada, céilí bands and the “buzzing of a bluebottle in an upturned jam jar”.

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, 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 & 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.

The Go-Betweens, Leonard Cohen, U2 and Boston Celtics’ Reggie Lewis

“A few words on The Go-Betweens, Leonard Cohen, U2 and Boston Celtics’ Reggie Lewis” taking in: Leeside Music on Cork’s MacCurtain Street, price stickers, The Go-Betweens’ boxsets, J-1 visas, ‘Streets of Your Town’, Grant McLennan and my greatest vinyl find.

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

“Top 10 Vinyl Finds of 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.

Werner Herzog in Ireland

“Werner Herzog in Ireland” taking in: Skellig Michael and Skellig Bheag; Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry; Reek Sunday; Croagh Patrick; Popol Vuh; Joy Division; Ian Curtis; Factory Records; dead wax inscriptions; Fitzcarraldo; Aguirre; the Wrath of God; Heart of Glass; The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser; cinema lobby cards and secondhand records.

Blog Archive

Instagram

View fullsize 10 from the trunk and a new 12" This afternoon's listening pleasures. #vinylcollection #vinylrecords #seveninchvinyl #vinyl
View fullsize Lovely to get a copy of @flotsammag the magazine looks great. Congratulations to all involved 👏 🙌 Honoured to have a feature included. Screengrabs of a recent blog on the mag and its coverstars @i_dreamed_i_dream__ Link to blog in bio. #magazine #
View fullsize Wreaked after walk in the woods. Time for #sundaysounds. 10 7s from the trunk. #seveninchvinyl #vinylcollection #vinylrecords #vinyl
View fullsize Six years ago "the Groop" reformed and played in Dublin. That was a great day, the small fella brought home his Shark Attack aquarium, and I got a mug! Never thought we'd get new music from one of my favourite bands, though. The album's sou
View fullsize #nowlistening #nowplaying Currently listening to my 33 year old copies of Understand and Planes. Podcast coming soon.
View fullsize
View fullsize This evening's listening pleasures. 10 more 7s from the trunk. #vinylcollection #vinylrecords #vinyl #seveninchvinyl
View fullsize A new blog: Factory Records - “Top 10” Comps taking in: Cian Ó Cíobháin’s An Taobh Tuathail Factory special, #neworder #joydivision Section 25, Happy Mondays, A Certain Radio, Anthony H. Wilson, Ian Curtis, and a whole lot more.
View fullsize The heat is murderous... #tohereknowswhen Great Irish Albums Revisited New episode soon.
View fullsize Puglia, Easter 2025.
View fullsize 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, Freaks
View fullsize The Fall - Shift-Work Released #otd in 1991 My first Fall album purchase. Still one of my faves. Unmistakable Comet Records sticker. #thefall