Episode 94: Nuala Kennedy Interview (Flute, whistle, singing)

An absolute stoater! A Great Session = 'The maximum fun possible, every night!' From Dundalk to Belfast, and finding freedom in Edinburgh. Hamish Henderson and the wild nights in Sandy Bell's. Mike One-Shirt and Luke Plumb; Deaf Shepherd and the great encouragers like Cathal McConnell. The consolations of music. House sessions in Venice Beach, meeting the daughter of the man who wrote Thíos Cois na Trá, and so much more. Awesome. In this episode Nuala plays and sings... Kitty Gone A Milking Táimse Im' Chodladh The King's House (Scottish retreat march) The Flower of Magherally (from the singing of Cathal McConnell) Onwards and Upwards and Thíos Cois na Trá You can find Nuala's music here: https://www.nualakennedy.com/store And since we were talking about it - here's a link to Sandy Bell's in Edinburgh: https://sandybells.com/ Nuala mentioned meeting the poet (critic and activist) Hamish Henderson there once night. Here's a great bio of him from the Scottish Poetry Library: https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poet/hamish-henderson/ Maybe his best known work is The Freedom Come All Ye - a great (GREAT) anti-imperialist song. Peformed here by (who else) Dick Gaughan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nLGKFTH5sw ...So come all ye at hame wi’ Freedom, Never heed whit the hoodies croak for doom. In your hoose a’ the bairns o’ Adam Can find breid, barley-bree and painted room. When MacLean meets wi’s freens in Springburn A’ the roses and geans will turn tae bloom, And a black boy frae yont Nyanga Dings the fell gallows o’ the burghers doon. Dick Gaughan, who I once saw play in the old BBC concert hall at 5 Queen Street, Edinburgh. Around the time when Nuala was hanging out just across town in Sandy Bell's. We seem to say this every week, but what a treat, this episode. Thanks Nuala. -- To listen, stream or download simply click a link below: Our website: https://blarneypilgrims.com iTunes: https://apple.co/2A6tUPm Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3cPTkis Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3eIwBFy Or alternatively, simply search your favourite podcast app for the Blarney Pilgrims. -- Become a Patron Saint of the Blarney Pilgrims Irish Music Podcast. We want the podcast to be free to listen to for as many people as possible. But without the support from at least some of you we couldn’t keep putting out an episode a week. That’s why we’re asking you to become a Patron (Saint) of the podcast. www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims So, for the price of a pint, or a half pint for that matter, you can help keep this show on the road and be safe in the knowledge you have a halo above your head. For your good deed you will secure your place in traditional Irish music podcast heaven. But most importantly, you’ll have helped pay for the other 99% of listeners that don’t or can’t chip in. And that, my friend, is a hell-of-a-nice thing to do. Darren & Dom www.blarneypilgrims.com www.patreon.com/blarneypilgrims www.facebook.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast www.instagram.com/blarneypilgrimspodcast www.twitter.com/BlarneyPodcast

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.