Matt and Shannon Heaton – Lovers’ Well – songs and tunes which invite you to reflect on love as both fleeting and eternal

Tommy Sands with Fionan and Moya Sands – Let the Circle Be Wide – justice, history, landscape, and family ties from top poet and singer from County Down, with his son and daughter

Liz Carroll and John Doyle – Double Play - fiddle and guitar in good conversation

Stephanie Makem and Tiarnan O Duinchinn - Ceol Is Píob – elegant uillean pipes from O Duinchinn, fine singing from Makem, who is, yes, part of that well known musical family from Armagh

The Unwanted – Music from the Atlantic Fringe - Ireland and America meet in music in well chosen set of tunes and songs

Bua – An Spealadoir – high energy and spot on playing from Irish American quintet from the US midwest

The Green Fields of America – The Green Fields of America – Athena Tergis, Mick Moloney, John Doyle — those are just three of the fine and unique talents who trade tunes and songs. melody lines and harmony, on this recording

Bonus Albums
You may have seen Hanneke Cassel or Sara Milonovich backing up top Irish musicians out on the road, or heard them on studio recordings by artists ranging from Cathie Ryan to Pete Seeger. Each has a new solo album out now, well worth your consideration. Milonovich’s recording, Daisycutter, tends toward Americana and showcases her strengths as a singer. Cassel’s latest disc features her always adventurous and fiery take on fiddle tunes, be they her own, ones from Scottish tradition, and on this album one she learned on her travels to China. The recording is called For Reasons Unseen.

Kerry Dexter writes about the arts at Music Road. and is an independent writer, editor, and photographer in the US and Ireland. She’s music editor at WanderingEducators.com, long time contributing writer to world music magazine Dirty Linen, and former folk music editor at VH1. Her work has appeared in Strings, Ireland and the Americas, Symphony, Songwriters Market, and The Dictionary of American History, among other publications.

Click for More Info

In the last few months, Kerry Dexter has told us about Three Irish & Celtic Albums You Should Experience and Three MORE Irish & Celtic Albums You Should Experience.

Clearly, she’s got an ear for great music because several of her picks have gotten some big attention recently.

Dual with Julie Fowlis and Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh’s is up for a Scots Trad Award. This is a notable honor, and you can help choose the winner. See all the nominees and vote at www.handsupfortrad.co.uk/tradmusicawards/nominations2009_info.htm.

Click for More Info

Word also has it that Tommy Sands‘ Let the Circle Be Wide is on the shortlist for a Grammy nomination! You can listen to an interview with Tommy over at www.EngagingIreland.com.

While we’re at it… I should mention that the 2010 Songwriter’s Market: Where & How to Market Your Songs includes interviews with Cathie Ryan and Matt and Shannon Heaton… they were on Kerry’s recommendations as well!

Keep up the good work, Kerry!

Our visit with Anne Roos from www.celticharpmusic.com.

Anne had so many good bits to share, we’ve also got an Extended video that includes Liam singing along with Anne’s playing. Good stuff.

Anne Roos Celtic Harp CD &
24-Page Hardcover Book
“Mermaids & Mariners”

Today’s prize features the beautiful Celtic Harp music of Anne Roos and her CD/Book “Mermaids & Mariners.”

Tunes about the mysterious draw that mermaids and the sea have on mariners. Traditional and original music arranged by Anne for both solo Celtic Harp and Celtic Harp within a small ensemble of instruments. This beautiful CD filled with sea ballads and shanties is packaged inside a 24-page, hardcover book containing a bounty of illustrations and tales about life at sea and the lost loves of those who sail on its waves and swim at its depths.

This recording also features Dorothy A. Hawkinson on fiddle, Alan Fuller on guitar, Michael Frost on viola, and Riggy Rackin on concertina.

It’s available at www.celticharpmusic.com for $17.95.

This prize goes to Maggie Hume from Clifton Park, NY! We’ll be seeing a few other gifts from Anne later in the month, so if you weren’t picked, there’s still another chance to win.

Tomorrow’s gift: somethings for you to wear. Not signed up? Visit http://irishfireside.wordpress.com/free-stuff/

Episode Guide – Podcast #59 Irish Turf & Free Stuff

We’re giving away FREE STUFF and chat with the master of Irish Turf Incense. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are available on iTunes

Show Notes

00:00
Intro – Opening song: “The Devil’s Bit” Theresa Larkin and Noel McQuaid

00:22
Visit www.podcastawards.com and vote for the Irish Fireside for favorite Travel Podcast and the Irish and Celtic Music Podcast for best Podsafe Music. You can vote once every 24-hours, so visit every day until Thursday, Nov 6.

01:21
FREE Stuff – Sign up for our drawing for all kinds of great FREEBIES at www.irishfireside.wordpress.com/free-stuff

01:35
Irish Fireside Holiday Gift Guide – send us your ideas for great Irish and Celtic gifts – www.irishfireside.wordpress.com/2008/10/28/its-holiday-gift-guide-time/

02:08
Support the Irish Fireside – We need help paying for shipping on the all the free stuff we’re giving away. Make a contribution at www.irishfireside.com/contribute.html

03:13
TravelBlog Headlines at www.irishfireside.wordpress.com: Ryan Air €10 flights across the Atlantic (www.ryanair.com) and Magners Irish Film Fest (www.irishfilmfestival.com/BIFFhome.html)

05:13
Interview with Joannes Berkery: Gifted Hand: Irish Turf/Peat Incense at www.turfpeat.com

12:47
Bostrom Brothers play “Be Thou My Vision” from their album “Electric Stew” at www.thebostrombrothers.com.

We keep you dreaming about Ireland by telling you about a special coach tour of Ireland, several downloable resources, our comment line and music by Culann’s Hound. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

Show Notes

00:00
Introduction – Just Corey today, Liam is out of town.

01:10
Marc Gunn makes his dream trip to Ireland a reality, and he’s inviting everyone from around the fireside to join him. Trip runs June 7-15 and reservations are due  by February 23rd.

• Marc’s website www.marcgunn.com
• Trip Info www.thebards.net/ireland
• Irish & Celtic Music Podcast www.celticmusicpodcast.com

03:48
Rough Guides FREE Eating and Drinking Dublin Guide for you iPod – includes cafes, restaurants and pubs in 13 sections of Dublin. You just follow the simple instruction to load the Rough Guides Podscroll to your iPod.

• www.roughguides.com

04:22
Tourism Brochure Downloads. We’ve been hearing that Tourism Ireland has been a bit slow lately sending out their free information packets, so we’ve found a few helpful brochures you can download today.

• Discover Ireland Booklet http://discoverireland.com/us/ireland-plan-your-visit/VacationPlanner2006/
• Cork Kerry Tourism http://www.corkkerry.ie/?id=383
• VisitDublin City Maps http://www.visitdublin.com/travel/maps
• VisitDublin Video http://www.visitdublin.com/multimedia

05:14
Tell us your favorite sites for dreaming about Ireland

05:37
The Irish Fireside Comment Line is ready to take your call. This is a chance for you to share your comments about your trip to Ireland give us feedback or ask any burning questions you might have.  Just call us at 414-455-5473 and leave your message.

If you’re not sure what to say, how about you let us know how you envision your trip to Ireland …or you can just let us know what keeps you listening to our podcast. We’re really interesting in testing this comment line out, so please…please, please, please, give us a call. If you happen to have a Skype account, you can Skype us at irishfireside for FREE.

• 414-455-5473

06:35
Culann’s Hounds are our musical guest playing Hagshole

• www.garageband.com/artist/culannshounds

Sites Our Listeners Have Bookmarked

http://www.shannonheritage.com

http://www.lakehotel.com/dingle_tour1.htm

http://discoverireland.com/us

http://www.escapeartist.com/ireland/resources.html

http://www.townandcountry.ie

http://www.ireland-bnb.net/

http://www.ireland.ie/

http://www.anirishvacationsite.com

http://www.meteireann.ie

http://www.theaa.com/travelwatch/planner_main.jsp?database=I

http://www.irishtourism.com

http://www.spirited-ireland.net/map/_counties/

http://www.shannonregiontourism.ie/content.asp?id=7

http://www.lookaroundireland.com/

http://www.castlesireland.com/main/map.html

A special thank you to Chris, Nancy and Mike for adding to our list. If you have some sites you think belong on this list, email us at corey@irishfireside.com.