Best Gaelic Language Podcasts (2025)

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Italian and Sophia Smith Galer 38:02

Play Pause

2h ago38:02

38:02

As 2025 ticks out its final hours, here’s one last episode of ALILI for the year, and it’s buonissimo! Journalist, author, content creator and linguist Sophia Smith Galer joins me to share the love for Italian. Our conversation has a focus on the sociolinguistic dynamics of Italian, namely how this national language fits into the lives of speakers …

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Celtic Christmas Carols & Songs #739 1:03:56

1d ago1:03:56

1:03:56

Celtic Christmas is here. Carols, reels, and winter warmth from Belfast to Pittsburgh. Turn it up and deck the halls...Celtic style. Do you need a soundtrack for lights, baking, or a snowy drive? This week's Irish & Celtic Music Podcast is packed with festive favorites and fresh Celtic Christmas cheer. The Gothard Sisters, Kinnfolk, Irish Christmas…

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Episode 33: Heritage for the Holidays 27:56

6d ago27:56

27:56

Gaby and Meagan share the advice they gathered from heritage speakers across languages to enjoy the holiday season and feel good in their heritage roots and language with family and friends. Wishing everyone a happy holiday season!

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Just Listening... Live Recordings from IrishFest Atlanta and More #738 1:04:08

7d ago1:04:08

1:04:08

This week, it's raw, real, and straight from the crowd. I'm sharing live recordings from IrishFest Atlanta, plus a couple gems listeners sent in. You'll hear chatter, claps, and the kind of energy you only get in the moment. Hit play and come hang out at the festival with me. Sundials, Heather Dale, Celtic Brew, Olivia Bradley, Kira Doppel, Sarah L…

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Interviews with The Gothard Sisters and The Irish Lassies #737 1:05:58

14d ago1:05:58

1:05:58

Enjoy interviews about two new albums by two amazing Celtic bands–The Gothard Sisters and The Irish Lassies–this week on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #737 - - Subscribe now! GET CELTIC MUSIC NEWS IN YOUR INBOX The Celtic Music Magazine is a quick and easy way to plug yourself into more great Celtic culture. Enjoy seven weekly news items with wh…

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Celtic Blessings for Thanksgiving 1:15:08

28d ago1:15:08

1:15:08

Celebrate a Celtic Thanksgiving with music full of blessings, homecoming, and heartfelt gratitude. From Irish blessings to Scottish toasts, this episode is a warm table filled with the musicians who've made this community thrive. Fill your cup. Let's give thanks together on show #736 of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast - - Subscribe now! Clanna Mor…

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Episode 32: Well-Being in Heritage: Healing and Forgiveness 23:13

1M ago23:13

23:13

In this episode, Meagan and Gaby explore what well-being means in the context of heritage language learning. From intergenerational trauma to compassion and forgiveness, they discuss how understanding the past can help heritage speakers and signers move toward healing and flourishing in their heritage journeys.…

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Old Norse and Jackson Crawford 34:09

1M ago34:09

34:09

'Hi, I'm Old Norse specialist Dr. Jackson Crawford' – so begin the YouTube videos with the smooth-talking, stetson-wearing scholar, discussing ancient languages in the scenic Rocky Mountains. To pay Jackson back for having me on ⁠his channel⁠ three times (most recently ⁠here⁠), I gladly hosted him on ALILI. Hence, this forty-second episode is all a…

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The Spirit of Irish Folk Music #735 1:09:45

1M ago1:09:45

1:09:45

This week, we travel from Ireland to Canada to California. Hear Gerry O'Connor, The Gothard Sisters, The Irish Rovers, and new music from May Will Bloom. Discover heartfelt songs and driving reels that keep Celtic traditions alive, on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #735 - - Subscribe now! Gerry O'Connor, Eloise & Co., The Gothard Sisters, Elizabe…

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New Irish & Celtic Folk #734 1:01:13

1M ago1:01:13

1:01:13

Enjoy an hour of Irish and Celtic folk music from today's top indie musicians. Discover new favorites and celebrate Celtic culture on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #734 - - Subscribe now! The Gothard Sisters, Nerea The Fiddler, Coastland Fair, The AML Trio, The Irish Lassies, Carroll Sisters Trio, Eddie Biggins, Cedar Dobson Music, Jeff Blaney, …

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Celtic Adventure: Songs and Stories of the Isles #733 1:05:06

2M ago1:05:06

1:05:06

Get ready for a musical adventure across the Celtic world. From wild reels to heartfelt ballads, these artists capture the spirit of the isles. Celebrate Celtic music and culture before IrishFest Atlanta on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #733 - - Subscribe now! Blame Not The Bard, The Gothard Sisters, Jesse Ferguson, Eloise & Co., The Far North, …

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Episode 31: Heritage in Pop Culture Series: One Day at a Time 19:57

2M ago19:57

19:57

Starting out a series on heritage languages in pop culture, Meagan and Gaby comment on themes from the popular Latinx remake of One Day at a Time, starring Rita Moreno and Justina Machado. Topics include cultural heritage, mental health, and language use within Spanish heritage communities, as they come up in the episode.…

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Celtic Songs of Samhain and the Faerie Folk #732 1:10:03

2M ago1:10:03

1:10:03

Step into the twilight of the Celtic year with songs and stories of magic and mystery. From faerie dances to ghostly gatherings, celebrate Samhain with the spirit of Celtic song On the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #732 - - Subscribe now! Téada, Banshee in the Kitchen, Bealtaine, Open The Door For Three, The Darkeyed Musician & Grimwater, Jared Bogl…

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SPECIAL: Exclusive clip from my new book 'Why Q Needs U'! 34:06

2M ago34:06

34:06

Hot on the heels of Episode 40 (American Sign Language with Aidan Elliott-McCrea), I can release a special episode of ALILI, showcasing the audio edition of my new book! 'Why Q Needs U: A history of our letters and how we use them' was published on October 2nd, before which I undertook both its writing and its narrating as an audiobook. For this sp…

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Voices of Celtic Song #731 1:10:26

2M ago1:10:26

1:10:26

This week, we're turning up the voices that define Celtic music. From Niamh Dunne's haunting "Ballyneety's Walls" to Mànran's fiery "Mire," from timeless ballads to modern folk songs—every track in this episode is sung from the heart. Discover the storytellers and voices that keep Irish and Scottish tradition alive, on the Irish & Celtic Music Podc…

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American Sign Language and Aidan Elliott-McCrea 45:37

2M ago45:37

45:37

The ALILI podcast has reached forty episodes! As a fitting start to this fourth decade of language love, we have a first for the show: its first sign language. It was a privilege for me to talk to Aidan Elliott-McCrea, an expert linguist and online etymologist (through ⁠Word Family Friday⁠), about not just American Sign Language but sign languages …

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Open the Door for Three Interview #730 1:31:03

2M ago1:31:03

1:31:03

We have an interview with Open The Door For Three today on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #730 - - Subscribe now! Open The Door For Three, Fir Aida, Billy Treacy & the Scope, Adam Young, Willowgreen, Thom Dunn, Dublin Gulch, Chance the Arm, The Inland Seas GET CELTIC MUSIC NEWS IN YOUR INBOX The Celtic Music Magazine is a quick and easy way to pl…

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Celtic Folk Songs & Fiddle Tunes #729 1:02:38

3M ago1:02:38

1:02:38

Hear the lively hooley of The Drowsy Lads, the poetry of Yeats set to song by Dave Curley, and the timeless tradition of Bua's ballads—on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #729 - - Subscribe now! The Drowsy Lads, Hanneke Cassel, The Ciderhouse Rebellion with Molly Donnery, The Homespun Ceilidh Band, Ed Miller, Bua, Seán Heely, Dave Curley, Tami Curt…

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Episode 30: Scottish Gaelic with Paul Meighan-Chiblow 42:04

3M ago42:04

42:04

Join us for a new season with Paul Meighan-Chiblow, Indigenous heritage speaker of Scottish Gael. Paul tells us about his journey learning his heritage language, and the emotional ups and downs of maintaining an Indigenous language, including working through historical traumas, celebrating family support, and connecting to the land.…

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Strange Affairs & Irish Traditions #728 1:11:28

3M ago1:11:28

1:11:28

From barndances with Téada to soulful ballads by Niamh Dunne, and a Donegal homecoming with The Byrne Brothers—this week brings songs and tunes to move your feet and your heart, on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #728 - - Subscribe now! Téada, Eimear Arkins & Eileen Gannon, Niamh Dunne, Faoileán, Ashley Davis, Adrianna Ciccone & Ellen Gibling, The…

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From Dublin To Glencoe #727 1:04:34

3M ago1:04:34

1:04:34

Fiddles fly, voices soar, and traditions come alive on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #727 - - Subscribe now! Jigjam, Téada, Jeff Blaney, Norse Gael, Bealtaine, Goitse, Dan Possumato, Crikwater, Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira, Golden Bough, Brobdingnagian Bards, Enda Reilly, Tartanic, Caliceltic, Liz Carroll GET CELTIC MUSIC NEWS IN YOUR INBOX The C…

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177. Speaking Igbo With Tochi Precious of Igbo Wikimedians User Group 1:08:23

3M ago1:08:23

1:08:23

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we have the pleasure of speaking with Tochi Precious, a dedicated program manager and language advocate with a wealth of experience in the Wikimedia movement. She is the co-founder of the Igbo Wikimedians User Group and currently serves as a Wikimedian in Residence at Wikitongues, where sh…

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Téada Interview #726 1:00:26

4M ago1:00:26

1:00:26

Interview with Teada today on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #726 - Subscribe now! Teada, Ryan Mccombe, Eimear Arkins, We Banjo 3, Caliceltic, Wylde Nept, No Murder No Moustache GET CELTIC MUSIC NEWS IN YOUR INBOX The Celtic Music Magazine is a quick and easy way to plug yourself into more great Celtic culture. Enjoy seven weekly news items with …

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Scottish Gaelic and David Adger 1:01:16

4M ago1:01:16

1:01:16

Episode 39 is a return to Scotland! After Scots, way back at the start of the whole podcast, this next journey into Scottish speech explores Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig), the Insular Celtic language that's for centuries played a big part in the country's history, ever since it first arrived from Ireland. It was the choice of my guest, the linguist Da…

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176. Speaking Ukrainian with Katerina Manoff, founder of ENGin 1:00:34

4M ago1:00:34

1:00:34

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are excited to welcome Katerina Manoff, founder and CEO of ENGin, a global nonprofit dedicated to connecting Ukrainian English learners with volunteers for meaningful conversation and cultural exchange. Katerina shares her inspiring journey from her early life in Kyiv, where she grew up…

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Celtic Women at the Heart of the Tradition #725 1:06:29

4M ago1:06:29

1:06:29

Celtic music isn't just a heritage—it's alive through the women who sing, play, and share it. From harps and fiddles to pipes and song, hear their strength and beauty on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #725 - - Subscribe now! Olivia Barrett, Carroll Sisters Trio, Eimear Arkins & Eileen Gannon, Scottish Fish, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Niamh Dunne, Ol…

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Whiskey, Slides & Standing Stones #724 1:04:50

4M ago1:04:50

1:04:50

From the standing stones of Carnac to the wild roar of the March of Cambreadth, Celtic music carries us across oceans, centuries, and imaginations. Discover fiddles, flutes, and fiery voices from around the globe… on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #724 - - Subscribe now! Andrew Finn Magill, On the Lash, The Sternwheelers, DRD, Jocelyn Pettit & El…

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175. Speaking Swedish with Katrin of Slow Swedish 1:03:51

4M ago1:03:51

1:03:51

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, I’m thrilled to welcome Katrin, the creator behind Slow Swedish, the #1 Swedish language account on Instagram. As the host of the Learn Swedish and Slow Swedish with Katrin podcasts, she bridges the gap between traditional language learning apps and authentic spoken Swedish. Katrin shares …

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Tulua Interview in County Wexford #723 1:35:33

4M ago1:35:33

1:35:33

You'll enjoy an interview with Tulua this week on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #723 -- Subscribe now! Tulua, Sarah Copus, Carroll Sisters Trio, Sybil and Sorley, Scottish Fish, Chloe Matharu, Eimear Arkins & Eileen Gannon, Ockham's Razor, Nathan Gourley, Joey Abarta, and Owen Marshall GET CELTIC MUSIC NEWS IN YOUR INBOX The Celtic Music Magazin…

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174. Speaking Khmer with Ryan Samn of All Things Cambodian🇰🇭 1:17:06

5M ago1:17:06

1:17:06

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues we're having a joyous and heartfelt conversation with Ryan Samn, the writer, creator, and educator behind the Instagram account All Things Cambodian. Ryan talks with us about his multicultural background,he reflects on the complexities of language and culture,and we discuss his experiences …

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Old South Arabian and Imar Koutchoukali 57:11

4M ago57:11

57:11

At last, dear language lovers, Episode 38 is here. To make up for my podcasting tardiness, this episode stars not just one language, but rather a whole group of them! Following Akkadian in Series 1 and Biblical Hebrew in Series 2, I'm glad to offer you another audio trip into ancient Semitic languages. Old (or Ancient or Epigraphic) South Arabian l…

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Sparks in the Cabin #722 1:03:39

4M ago1:03:39

1:03:39

On fire with the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #722 - Subscribe now! Tulsa, Carroll Sisters Trio, Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Giro, Scottish Fish, McFloosey, Melanie Gruben, Eimear Arkins & Eileen Gannon, Crikwater, DRD, Bealtaine, Jaywalkers, Andrew D. Huber + the Gecko Club, Jiggy, Willowgreen GET CELTIC MUSIC NEWS IN YOUR INBOX The Celtic Music Magazi…

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173. Speaking Dominican Spanish & "The Grand Paloma Resort" with author Cleyvis Natera 1:13:57

5M ago1:13:57

1:13:57

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are so thrilled to welcome Cleyvis Natera, the acclaimed author of "Neruda on the Park" to talk about Dominican Spanish language and her latest novel "The Grand Paloma Resort" which is out August 12! Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York City, Cleyvis shares her journey …

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Farewell To Belfast #721 1:01:34

5M ago1:01:34

1:01:34

You say farewell to Belfast. I say hello on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #721 - - Subscribe now! Andrew Finn Magill, Adam Agee & Jon Sousa, Willowgreen, Ghost Of A Banshee, The Gothard Sisters, The AML Trio, The Lilies of the Midwest, McFloosey, Celia Farran, The Langer's Ball, Chloe Matharu, Austral, Jaywalkers, Journey North, The Friel Sister…

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172. Speaking Manx Gaelic with Dr. Erin McNulty 1:11:09

5M ago1:11:09

1:11:09

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, I’m so excited to welcome Dr. Erin McNulty, a researcher specializing in the sociolinguistics of minoritized languages at the University of Glasgow. I’m so excited that we’re finally getting a chance to talk about Manx and I hope you are too because this is a very linguistics & language re…

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Sailing Across the Ocean #720 1:05:17

5M ago1:05:17

1:05:17

We're sailing across the ocean on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #720 . Subscribe now! Lussa, Tulua, Chloe Matharu, Andrew Finn Magill, Doolin', Marc Gunn Fir Arda, The Irish Lassies, Natalie Padilla, Jaywalkers, Brynmor, Wooden Legs, Celtica Pipes Rock, Moher - BZH GET CELTIC MUSIC NEWS IN YOUR INBOX The Celtic Music Magazine is a quick and easy…

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171. Speaking Taino with Ra Jikotea Niaku'no of Wuru Taino Tekiro’uo 1:06:40

5M ago1:06:40

1:06:40

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, I am so very honored to talk with Ra Jikotea Niaku'no, a Taino Boricua artist and educator, about Taino language, culture, and heritage. Ra shares her journey, rooted in the islands of Borikén (which you also may know as Puerto Rico), as she navigates the complexities of identity and langu…

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20 Years of Irish & Celtic Music! #719 1:41:39

5M ago1:41:39

1:41:39

20 years of podcasting and sharing music on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #719 . Subscribe now! The Gothard Sisters, Albannach, Brobdingnagian Bards, The Drowsy Lads, Alexander James Adams, Poitín, Ed Miller, Matt & Shannon Heaton, Heather Dale, Sharon Shannon, Wolf Loescher & Mark Kenneth, Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer, The Merry Wives of Windsor, An…

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170. Speaking Syrian Arabic with Paul Nabil Matthis 59:14

5M ago59:14

59:14

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are thrilled to welcome Paul, a Syrian-American author and musician based in Philadelphia. In this episode, we’re talking about his fascinating journey navigating his cultural identity through language, music, and food. Paul shares his experiences growing up in Texas’s linguistic landsc…

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Irish Rebellion in Wexford #718 1:05:42

5M ago1:05:42

1:05:42

Learn more about the Irish Rebellion in Wexford in 1798 on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #718 . Subscribe now! Maggie's Wake, Marc Gunn, The Almost Irish Band, Avourneen, Téada, The Ciderhouse Rebellion, David Pedrick, Kennedy's Kitchen, Pipedance, Robert Zielinski, Sheridan Rúitín, River Drivers, Emerald Rose, The Bloody Irish Boys, Kilmaine Sa…

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169. Speaking Thai, Tigrinya, French & Portuguese with Languages Through Music 1:05:32

6M ago1:05:32

1:05:32

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are thrilled to welcome back the endlessly talented and effortlessly cool Desta Haile, founder and director of Languages Through Music. With a rich background in music and multicultural experiences, Desta shares how her journey through various languages has shaped her identity and teach…

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Only the Highlights, Please! #717 1:20:39

6M ago1:20:39

1:20:39

This is the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #717. Today, I'm sharing the very first Highlight Reel we released over on Patreon. Highlight Reels are music-only episodes. They feature some of the best tracks, as voted on by fans of the show, from the 5-7 previous episodes. So these were all from the beginning of 2022. Patrons of the Podcast get Highligh…

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Proto-Indo-European and Laura Spinney 42:46

6M ago42:46

42:46

Episode 37's star language is another 'proto'-tongue, arguably the most famous of all reconstructed prehistoric languages: Proto-Indo-European. This ancient language, whose linguistic descendants can now be found across the world, has long been the goal of an intellectual quest. The task of identifying the facts of PIE began in the realms of philol…

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168. Speaking Tyap 1:12:10

6M ago1:12:10

1:12:10

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we’re so excited to be talking with Kambai about the Tyap language. Kambai hails from the Middle Belt (central) of Nigeria. He is a minoritized language advocate and speaks the Tyap language. Between 2007 and 2020, he developed a writing system called the Akai script for the Nenzit languag…

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Celtic Pub Songs #716 41:49

6M ago41:49

41:49

Folk Songs & Stories Flashback episode on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #716. Subscribe now! This is an off-week for the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. I was not planning to schedule any episodes here. But then I remembered that I have a whole bunch of Celtic music episodes that I play on our companion podcast Folk Songs & Stories. Those episodes…

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167. Speaking Korean, Latin, & Ancient Greek 1:02:30

6M ago1:02:30

1:02:30

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we’re so excited to welcome language enthusiast, teacher, freelancer and card game extraordinaire Tiara to talk about her language journey through Latin, Ancient Greek & Korean. For this conversation, Tiara joined us all the way from Daegu in South Korea. Tiara discusses the challenges and…

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We're Only Mortal #715 1:04:05

6M ago1:04:05

1:04:05

We're only mortal but the music lives on with the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #715. Subscribe now! The Rogues, Joseph Carmichael, Willowgreen, Robert Zielinski, The High Kings, Katie Jane Band, Open The Door For Three, The Secret Commonwealth, Ryan Dunne, The Lilies of the Midwest, Olivia Barrett, Ruth Keggin & Rachel Hair, Fidra, Ghost Of A Bansh…

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166. Speaking Parisian French, Martinican Creole & The Art of Songwriting with Mike Ibrahim 1:02:10

6M ago1:02:10

1:02:10

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are SO thrilled to welcome French singer-songwriter Mike Ibrahim, a multifaceted artist whose work intertwines the intimate and the political. With a poetic lens, Mike discusses his upcoming LP, La Ballade de Salvatore Lupo, which explores themes of memory, belonging, and the coexistenc…

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St. Patrick's Day Favorites #714 1:14:41

6M ago1:14:41

1:14:41

We're revisiting some of the most - popular songs from our St Patrick's Day episode today on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #714. Subscribe now! Fialla, Goitse, Mànran, Larkin & Moran Brothers, River Driver, Mac and Cheese, David Mitchell, Bealtaine, Conamara Chaos, Brobdingnagian Bards, On The Lash, The Friel Sisters, Runa, Willowgreen, Charlie …

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How Gaelic Languages Carry Celtic Traditions #713 1:00:36

7M ago1:00:36

1:00:36

Shannon Heaton of Irish Music Stories presents "Ancient Tongues, Modern Times: How Gaelic languages carry tradition" on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #713. Subscribe now! This Irish Music Stories episode aired October 13, 2020. Find the transcript for that show here. GET CELTIC MUSIC NEWS IN YOUR INBOX The Celtic Music Magazine is a quick and ea…