Episode 50: Ciaran Kelly (Accordion and Melodeon) The Blarney Pilgrims Traditional Irish Music Podcast

On accordions, melodeons, the push draw and The Pure Drop; Portrush sessions at the Harbour Bar, Ballycastle sessions at The House of McDonnell. The snug. Athlone. The borderlands of Fermanagh, Coleraine and Ceili House. And Coronation Street even gets a mention. As in - and I'm paraphrasing - 'Now and again something might have been taped over with an episode of Coronation Street.'

Ciaran's archive, which he shares on a daily basis, is astonishing. A seemingly endless treasure trove of clips featuring startling hair from the 1980s, large spectacles, fancy shirts and amazing players. Here's a typical example. Give it a whirl - but don't expect to get any work done. This is the original internet rabbit hole:

https://www.facebook.com/100010917466155/videos/1092797731094132

Ciaran, thanks again for a really thoughtful conversation, and a great set of tunes:

The Four Courts and Paddy Taylor
Polkas
Sport Jig (Peadar O'Riada)
The Bucks of Oranmore
The Showman's Fancy and The Galway Hornpipe.

To follow Ciaran on Facebook go here:https://www.facebook.com/ciarank1
To follow Ciaran on Instagram go here: https://www.instagram.com/ciaranckp/
Or look for @ciaranckp

Darren mentions 'Disintegration Loops' by William Basinski. Completely hypnotic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjnAE5go9dI

This episode is our 50th - and like the 49 before it, it's free to download or stream from everywhere you get podcasts:

Our website: https://blarneypilgrims.fireside.fm/50
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/36t2q2d
Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3cPTkis
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2TrpEQL

We'd also like to say a huge thank you to today's episode sponsor, Ceol.fm. This is a bloody brilliant service. So do yourself a favour and head over there and check it out.

www.ceol.fm

Until next week,

Darren & Dom

...

We know it's a tough time so we hope you can hang in there with us. If you liked this episode and think you got some worth from it, then please pledge at any level over at www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims.

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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.