Episode 42: Darren, Dominic, Uncle Leo and Sean Mathews

An unexpected journey in the company of Darren, Dom, Dom's Uncle Leo, Sean Matthews and the bean an tí in Carberry's, Drogheda.

With the world full of strangeness at the minute, it seems apt that we'd find ourselves chatting about all sorts of unexpected things in this week's episode: unaccompanied singing as Mount Kilimanjaro; the people who gave us our first taste of Irish music; searching for your own voice; Take The Floor, Bowie, Aztec Camera and The Raggle Taggle Gypsy. Sneaking the remote control away from your dozing dad. And probably the greatest heckle ever, from an Oban bar on New Years Night circa 1997.

As we mention in the second intro after our first intro to this episode, we welcome any suggestions for cool ways to keep talking to musicians over the next few months. So please drop us a line via Facebook or Patreon and we'll get right back to you. And as always, thanks to everybody for continuing to listen.

Keep in touch, and watch yourselves,

Darren and Dom

Om Podcasten

The Blarney Pilgrims Podcast is a weekly journey to the heart of Irish music. We interview players of Irish music about how they first came to the music and the place it occupies in their lives now. We use the word ‘heart’ intentionally, because heart is what this music, and the people who play it, are all about. It’s a funny, warm and often unexpected journey – and the tunes are crackin' too. NOTE: Hey there - it's Darren and Dom here. So...we want to let you know that last week was the last episode (Ep 94) of the Blarney Pilgrims Podcast for now. We've come to a point where we've both decided to take a long pause and focus on a few other things. Knowing how much the podcast means to you all, it's a decision we've been really reluctant to take. What we DO know is how massively grateful we are for every text, every thumbs up, every raised eyebrow of support we've had over the past two years. You are all legends, and we're forever in your debt. Thanks especially to everyone who's become a Patron Saint and supported us through the toughest of economic times, and thanks most especially to the musicians. To those who have been so generous to share their tunes and stories with us, and to those who've welcomed us into pub sessions and festival gatherings and house sessions and campsite sessions. Wherever in the world we've chatted with players of the music, we've been made to feel like lifelong pals. It's a testament to the open heartedness of the communities who keep the music going wherever they are, and we can't thank you all enough. We hope this archive will remain of use to people even as we're taking a pause. So - please do stay in touch, don't be a stranger, and if you see us out and about, do say hello. And we'll see you when we see you. Dom and Darren.