September 2025 Issue

COVER STORY

GADAN ADDS MORE SEASONING
Michael Lange catches up with Gadan by Zoom for Irish Music Magazine.

FEATURES

KÍLA RETURN WITH ‘RAISE THE ROAD’
Seán Laffey talks to Rónán Ó Snodaigh about Kíla’s new album, Raise the Road, which presents a new collaboration with an 8-piece brass band, arranged by trombonist Paul Frost.

MUSIC NETWORK CURATES A NEW TAKE ON SEAN-NÓS
Seán Laffey has a Zoom call with siblings Séamus Ó Flatharta and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta, and Ryan Molloy, who will be touring with Music Network this September.

BILLY McCOMISKEY RECEIVES TIMES AWARD
Billy McComiskey, the 2025 recipient of the Irish Artist in America Achievement Award, talks to Ken Fleming about his journey with the button accordion and his lifelong love of, and devotion to, Irish traditional music.

THREE MUSICIANS MAKE A RADIANT TRIO
Seán Laffey talks to Emilie and Nora Carroll about their new trio album Radiance.

CHILLING WITH HARALD THE HANDPAN MAN
Harald Juengst or Harald “Mór” as he’s known by the locals in Gweedore, shares his time between Ireland’s Northwest and Duisburg in his native Germany. He tells Seán Laffey about his new album Handpan Music to Soothe The Soul.

A DECADE OF IRISH WHISTLE FROM CEDAR DOBSON
Cedar Dobson in conversation with John O’Regan for Irish Music Magazine.

FIONA TYNDALL CELEBRATES A UNIQUE FAMILY LEGACY
Mark Lysaght in conversation with Fiona Tyndall.

EIMEAR COUGHLAN and FRANCIS CUNNINGHAM and THE CAVES OF KILTANON
Clare traditional music has seen an upsurge in activity on the recording front of late, writes John O’Regan.

THE GARDEN WHERE THE PRATIES GROW
John O’Regan talks to Tommy Hayes and digs deep into the story for IMM.

CATCHING UP WITH COSCÁN
COSCÁN, the Slane based traditional musicians and balladeers, have been bringing their music to the world for some 27 years. Gráinne McCool talks to the band’s David Nevin.

EDEL MURPHY’S MOTHERLAND SONGS
Mark Lysaght in conversation with Edel Murphy.

MICKEY MacCONNELL REMEMBERED
An appreciation by Seán Laffey for Irish Music Magazine.

A CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH COUNTER’S CREEK
Seán Laffey talks to Jonathan Taylor (whistles, flute) of London’s Counter’s Creek, a folk band mixing Celtic and Jazz elements in their original music as you will hear on their new album: My Treasured Land.

ANNA EGGERSBERGER’S THE FOX AND THE HARE
Seán Laffey puts a call into Bavaria and finds out a lot more about Limerick when he talks to Anna Eggersberger about her debut album The Fox and The Hare.

JASON ROUSE’S HEAVY METAL
Seán Laffey talks uilleann pipes with Jason Rouse, who has recently released Miotal Trom / Heavy Metal.

MICHAEL DARCY’S HOMEMADE ROOTS
Fifteen years ago, Michael Darcy left Co. Clare with his guitar in tow and settled in Toronto, Canada. He has since forged a career as a full-time singer and recording artist as he tells IMM’s Seán Laffey.

FESTIVALS

A selection of wonderful Festivals and Summer Schools from Ireland and abroad.

MICHIGAN IRISH MUSIC FESTIVAL
Step into a lively celebration of Irish culture at the Michigan Irish Music Festival, where the shores of Muskegon Lake come alive with the spirited sounds of the Emerald Isle.

THE MASTERS OF TRADITION : KEEPING IT PURE AND SIMPLE IN WEST CORK
Gráinne McCool caught up with Sara O’Donovan from West Cork Music to find out about this year’s Masters of Tradition Festival.

PITTSBURGH IRISH FESTIVAL 2025
Festival Director, Mairin Petrone in conversation with Robert Heuston for Irish Music Magazine.

REGULAR

LOVE ON THE WESTERN WINDS
We continue our series of stories, songs and poems titled Let The Memories Be, brought to you by the legend of Irish Music that is Johnny McEvoy.

POPULAR SESSION TUNES for Tin Whistle and Irish Flute with Kirsten Allstaff
Brought to you in association with the Online Academy of Irish Music (OAIM).

STORY BEHIND THE SONG
Only Our Rivers Run Free. Balladeers love this song, and there probably isn’t a Rebel group who hasn’t taken it to heart, and why not?, writes Seán Laffey.

CD REVIEWS

Another selection of CD Reviews from the International World of Folk and Traditional Music.

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