donegal

It's hard to imagine what the whiskey industry would look like today, if a certain excise man had succumbed to the wounds he received in Donegal in 1810. The early 19th century was a critical time for Irish whiskey. The Acts of Union had united the country with an empire and new markets were open for spirits.

But growing pains were the rule of the day. Large distillers and the Parliament were crushing small distillers and becoming jealous of those who were making higher profits off of their illicit poitín. A war was brewing out west and something was going to give.

Also in this episode, we'll rejoin Alfred Barnard as he travels from Galway to Limerick and I'll be stopping off at the Old Bushmills Distillery in Northern Ireland.

In this delicious, philosophical conversation with James Doherty of Sliabh Liag Distilling and The Legendary Silkie Irish Whiskey, some of the topics we discuss include:

• The geography and culture of the Donegal region of Ireland, located in the far Northwest of the country, and how this elemental landscape inspires their mission and their products.
• Why James and his wife and distiller Moira consider themselves “scatterlings,” having come to Donegal after traveling and collecting flavors from around the world, and how this informs their approach to creating spirits with a sense of time and place.
• Then, of course, we explore the legend of the Silkie, a maritime yarn deposited in Ireland by the Vikings, and taste through the three primary expressions of the Legendary Silkie: the flagship product, the Dark Silkie, and the Midnight Silkie.

Along the way, we cover why Irish whiskey is beginning to return to its smoky roots, how building a blended whiskey can be like carving a block of marble, why Australians don’t understand what the world truly loves about them, and much, much more.

This episode is brought to you by Near Country Provisions. If you live in the Mid-Atlantic and want to enjoy ethically raised (and delicious) meat from local farmers delivered to your door every month, then you need Near Country in your life.

Head over to NearCountry.com and enter the code BARCART when you sign up for your subscription to receive 2 free pounds of bacon or ground beef in your first delivery.

Shaun Doherty was, for 30 years, a hugely successful broadcaster in Donegal, Ireland. Every day he presented the main talk show on Highland Radio. Over three decades he became a household name in the region and won multiple awards for his work. 

But one day, he announced live on air, that he would be leaving his job in radio, and pursuing something else. Now, in this exclusive interview, Shaun talks to Colm Flynn about why he decided to walk away from the success he had, and move to Rome in Italy, to start a new life studying for the priesthood, and how he hopes to find fulfilment in his new role. 

Every year, I take a small group of Celtic music fans on the relaxing adventure of a lifetime. Not only do we see amazing things, we also experience some incredible music.

Fidil, Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer, Gerry O'Beirne & Rosie Shipley, Gerry O'Beirne, Tania Opland, Mike Freeman, Claire Roche, Kilted Kings, Marc Gunn, Gwilym Morus, Mwnci Nel, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Dom Duff, Jimi McRae and Sam Okoo

I hope you enjoyed this week's show. If you did, please share the show with ONE friend.

The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast is dedicated to growing our community and helping the incredible artists who so generously share their music. If you find music you love, buy their albums, shirts, and songbooks, follow them on Spotify, see their shows, and drop them an email to let them know you heard them on the Irish and Celtic Music Podcast.

Remember also to Subscribe to the Celtic Music Magazine. Every week, I'll send you a few cool bits of Celtic music news. It's a quick and easy way to plug yourself into more great Celtic culture. Plus, you'll get 34 Celtic MP3s for Free, just for signing up today. Thank you again for being a Celt of Kindness.

VOTE IN THE CELTIC TOP 20
With the new year comes a new votes in the Celtic Top 20. This is our way of finding the best songs and artists each year. Just list the show number, and the name of as many bands in the episode as you like. Your vote helps me create next year's Best Celtic music of 2019 episode.  Vote Now!

THIS WEEK IN CELTIC MUSIC

00:06 - "Dinkie's: Reels" by Fidil from Fidil 3

03:48 - WELCOME

04:45 - Celtic Invasion of Donegal podcast episodes:

• Video: Dancing in Donegal
• What Is Dulse? Patrick Maloney Answers in Slieve League Interview
• Giant's Causeway Legend & Fact on a Celtic Invasion Vacation
• Breakfast with The Celtfather in Ireland
• Exploring the Titanic
• A Glimpse Inside a Donegal Vacation
• Small Tour Groups Experience Adventures Better
• Celtic music and interview from Tour Donegal in #214 of this podcast.

5:20 - Celtic Invasion of Wales podcast episodes:

• Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer Rock CIV Wales
• 2 Sci Fi Drinking Songs In Wales

06:32 - "Recessional - Speed the Plough/Erithway Green" by Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer from Paper of Pins

12:26 - "Gallows Tree" by Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer from Twelve Months & A Day

16:51 - Celtic Invasion of Dingle podcast episodes:

• Coming soon!

18:40 - "O'Carolan's Concerto" by Gerry O'Beirne & Rosie Shipley from Yesterday I Saw the Earth Beautiful

20:56 - "The Last King of Feothanach" by Gerry O'Beirne from Swimming with Horses

24:29 - BECOME A PATRON OF THE PODCAST

25:11 - Celtic Invasion of Galway podcast episodes:

• Where to Shop in Galway, Celtic Music News, Dance of the Midges

26:26 - "Merry Blacksmith/Heatehry Cruach/Paddy O'Brien's" by Tania Opland & Mike Freeman from Cut to Rhythms

29:54 - "Success to the Farmer" by Tania Opland from Bonnie Rantin' Lassie

31:32 - Brobdingnagian Bards 2008 Tour of Ireland podcast episodes:

• Bliss in Gougane Barra, Ireland
• Don't Quit Your Day Job, Bards Ireland Trip Wrap Up
• Seeing the Cliffs of Moher for the First Time
• Wandering Dublin with Blarney in Ireland

32:12 - "The Robin's Jaunt Set" by Claire Roche from The Lilt of the Banshee

35:58 - "Dedication" by Claire Roche from From Then Until the Here and Now

40:43 - CELTIC FEEDBACK

42:41 - Celtic Invasion of Donegal

• Videos: Travel Ireland

43:44 - "Cloghden More" by Kilted Kings from Name On My Soul

47:20 - "Sail the Sky" by Marc Gunn from As Long As I'm Flyin'

50:18 - FairPlé aims to achieve gender balance in the production, performance, promotion, and development of Irish traditional and folk music. They advocate for equal opportunity and balanced representation for all.

51:17 - Celtic Invasion of Dingle

• Photo of our Irish session

52:07 - “Polcaí / Polkas: Neily Cleere's, The Hayden Fancy, Walsh's” by Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh (Murr-en Nick OWL-ee) from Foxglove & Fuschia

55:04 - Bríd Óg Ní Mháille” by Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh from Foxglove & Fuschia

59:55 - Celtic Invasion of Wales podcast episodes:

• Final Days In Wales, Dublin Lessons
• Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer Are AWESOME!!!
• Mead, Mud, and Morte (Explicit) in Wales
• Gwilym Morus Interview and Song
• Penderyn Welsh Whisky At Watermill Cottage
• Arrived In Manchester
• More from Wales in show #183 Music of Wales

1:00:53 - "Cold City" by Gwilym Morus from Life Performance

1:04:16 - "Colli Arni" by Mwnci Nel from Gimig

1:07:52 - Celtic Invasion of Brittany podcast episodes: [FIND LINKS for live performance / video]

• Music of Brittany with Dom Duff
• Videos: Travel Brittany
• Video: Dom Duff

1:09:04 - "Buan Yann Buan" by Dom Duff from Babel Pow Wow

1:12:38 - "Brezhoneg 'Raok" by Dom Duff from Roc'h

1:16:52 - SUBSCRIBE / SHARE / SUPPORT VOCAL

1:17:28 - Celtic Invasion of Oban, Scotland

• Videos: Travel Scotland

1:18:34 - "Cullen Bay/Scottish Soldier" by Jimi McRae and Sam Okoo from Scottish Pipes and African Drums

1:22:27 - CLOSING VOCAL / Celtic Invasion of the Veneto, Italy

1:23:44 - "Songs from the Western Seaboard" by Jimi McRae from Last King of Pictland

1:29:10 - The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast was produced by Marc Gunn, The Celtfather. To subscribe, go to Apple Podcasts or to our website where you can become a Patron of the Podcast for as little as $1 per episode. Promote Celtic culture through music at http://celticmusicpodcast.com/ .

CELTIC PODCAST NEWS

* Helping you celebrate Celtic culture through music. My name is Marc Gunn. I am a Celtic musician and podcaster. This show is dedicated to the indie Celtic musicians. I want to ask you to support these artists. Share the show with your friends. And find more episodes at celticmusicpodcast.com. You can also support this podcast on Patreon.

TRAVEL WITH CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS
Every year, I take a small group of Celtic music fans on the relaxing adventure of a lifetime. We don't see everything. Instead, we stay in one area. We get to know the region through it's culture, history, and legends. You can join us with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts and videos. Join the invasion at http://celticinvasion.com/

THANK YOU PATRONS OF THE PODCAST!
There are many ways to support the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. You can make a donation through our website. You can buy a bumper sticker to show your support. You can buy an Irish & Celtic Music Podcast t-shirt or get the Sainted Song Henger Collection to tell the world you support Celtic culture through music. The best way is to become a Patron of the Podcast.

This show exists because of the kind patronage of people like you. You can make a pledge of a dollar or more per episode and cap how much you want to spend each month. Your generosity funds the creation, promotion and production of the show. It allows us to attract new listeners and to help our community grow. And you also get episodes before regular listeners.

You can become a generous Patron of the Podcast at http://patreon.com/celticpodcast.

I want to thank our newest patrons: Brian M, Jennifer, Robyn, Joyce, Rebecca H, BassPipes, Murray F.

I WANT YOUR FEEDBACK

What are you doing today while listening to the podcast? You can send a written comment along with a picture of what you're doing while listening. Email a voicemail message to celticpodcast@gmail.com

Natalie Huber-Rodriguez emailed: "Hello! I just wanted to reach out and say how much I love your Podcast. I'm a folklorist and ethnomusicologist who specializes in Irish and Celtic folk music. After returning from living in Ireland a little while ago, I've found myself really missing the trad performances of Irish pub culture and thus, it's really been wonderful to have your Podcast to listen to as a reminder of my home away from home.

Part of my career has been seeking out some of the best traditional Irish and Celtic music performers in the DC metropolitan and greater mid-Atlantic, where I currently live and work, and your Podcast has been great in discovering new and exciting artists from all over. I'm currently working working on a compilation of some of the best and most popular Irish Rebel and IRA songs as part of the upcoming anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising and the significance that such songs still hold for the people of Ireland and their descendants abroad today. Should you ever need any assistance with anything on your Podcast or would like some additional resources, I'd be more than happy to oblige! Keep up the great work! :) Slainte!"

Ali Sherief emailed a photo: "Hi Marc my name is Ali I’m a freshman I enjoy your podcast. I’m also a member of the cat lovers podcast and a fan of your Irish drinking songs for cat lovers album and I love listening to Celtic music. It helps me through the near death fight between me and cars while riding the bike and good day from California!"

We are winding down Trout of Control April but not before Uncle Buck has his first chance to experience the tradition of a PA Opening Day of Trout Season.  What an epic day.  We also learn about Miss Leanna's big archery win, Will & DK's day at a 3D Tournament, and Kyle's rainy surf fishing attempt.     

For more In The Currents go to www.rutandriverpusuits.com

Instagram: @rutandriverpursuits 

Brought to you by Fins Fishing, be sure to check out everything available by visiting www.finsfishing.com.  

As Trout of Control April rolls on we check get more updates from Brandon Crouser with the Donegal F&C Association.  Kyle gives us a breakdown of his opening day & then we head to 'live' on remote Shad Trip from the Delaware River.  We round out the episode with some Archery League updates from Will and DK.      

For more In The Currents go to www.rutandriverpusuits.com

Instagram: @rutandriverpursuits 

Brought to you by Fins Fishing, be sure to check out everything available by visiting www.finsfishing.com.  

This week the crew dives into trout season.  We check in with Brandon Crouser from the Donegal F&C Association.  Uncle Bucks tells us about his day spent at Underhill Forge and Will gives us a rundown of his trip to Utah, while Catfish takes a trip down memory lane.    

For more In The Currents go to www.rutandriverpusuits.com

Instagram: @rutandriverpursuits 

Brought to you by Fins Fishing, be sure to check out everything available by visiting www.finsfishing.com.  

This week's In The Current opens Trout of Control April.  Join the crew as we introduce the new topic, recap ice fishing season with Gus from Western PA Hardwater Series, and speak with Brandon Crouser from the Donegal Fish & Conservation Association.  Will and Bucky also talk about filming with Mike Miller from 83 Media.  

For more In The Currents go to www.rutandriverpusuits.com

Instagram: @rutandriverpursuits 

Brought to you by Fins Fishing, be sure to check out everything available by visiting www.finsfishing.com.