
Eamon Carr: ‘Sinéad O'Connor took a handful of crisps and crunched them very loudly into the mic'
Eamon Carr has lived the equivalent of 10 lifetimes, and he's got a multitude of stories for every one of them. That means that there's no such thing as a 'brief' catch-up with the Kells native, who is perhaps best-known as the founding member and drummer of Celtic rock icons Horslips. However, he is also known as a poet, having founded experimental spoken word beat group Tara Telephone in the 1960s; a playwright; an art historian; a sportswriter; a copywriter in an ad agency (where he first crossed paths with some of his future Horslips bandmates) and as an entertainment journalist.
It is the latter profession that's the reason for our meeting today. Carr's new book Pure Gold charts both his journey from reluctant interviewer to seasoned journalist over 35 years, as well as the 'memorable conversations with extraordinary people' that are collected in the tome. It is a hugely entertaining read, packed with not only those aforementioned memorable conversations, but also with Carr's memories of them woven around each tale.

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Irish Post
2 days ago
- Irish Post
Eddi Reader and the Alan Kelly Gang at the Irish Cultural Centre
WHEN Scottish singer Eddi Reader first teamed up with Irish accordion virtuoso Alan Kelly in 2010, it was meant to be a one-off collaboration. Fifteen years on, their partnership has become one of the most captivating live acts on the Celtic music circuit. Former frontwoman of Fairground Attraction, Reader's recent decades have seen her turn increasingly to folk and traditional material. Backed by the Alan Kelly Gang — a formidable collective of Irish and Scottish musicians — Reader delivers shows steeped in musicianship, but presented with warmth and energy The music blurs the lines between tradition and innovation: jigs, rich harmonies, original songs, and favourites from both the Irish and Scottish songbooks. THE ALAN KELLY GANG, led by Roscommon-born Alan Kelly, are one of Ireland's most respected contemporary trad ensembles. Kelly, widely credited with 'making the piano accordion hip in Ireland again' ( Folk Roots ), has carved out a 25-year career blending traditional Irish music with global textures — from jazz to Latin rhythms — without ever losing sight of the heart of the tradition. The ensemble produces a full-bodied, dynamic sound that honours tradition while embracing the unexpected. EDDI READER has long been regarded as one of the most expressive and versatile voices to emerge from Britain in the past four decades. Following her success with Fairground Attraction, she turned to the folk repertoire of her native Scotland, interpreting the work of Robert Burns with remarkable intimacy. Reader and the Alan Kelly Gang have toured extensively across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Their collaboration has sold out Irish tours, and they've headlined festivals including Celtic Connections, the Galway Arts Festival, and Celtic Colours in Canada. Eddi Reader & The Alan Kelly Gang. Friday, September 5. Irish Cultural Centre. 5 Black's Road, Hammersmith, London W6 9DT.


Irish Post
2 days ago
- Irish Post
The sound of the hills — Donegal fiddling strikes back
AN IRISH traditional music expert once scathingly dismissed Donegal music by describing it as not only Scottish music, but bad Scottish music. Ciarán Ó Maonaigh's new solo album, Lost in the Music/Caillte sa Cheol , demolishes that view — if it even continues to be held anywhere. With the success of Altan, Clannad and Tommy Peoples and Paddy Glackin, the fiddlers with The Bothy Band, it's difficult to see how anyone could disparage the music from this corner of Ulster. Donegal fiddling — Donegal traditional music — has of course been influenced by Scottish music, as has the whole of traditional music in Ireland, although much less so the further south you go. The converse is also true: Irish music has hugely influenced Scottish music, and of course this is exactly as you would expect with two Celtic countries so close to each other — at their nearest points there is only eleven miles of sea separating the two areas, and migration between the two islands has long been a part of the fabric of the society. However, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann — a body which has done an incalculable service in preserving and fostering Irish music — was once subject to regular bouts of what more or less amounted to xenophobia; although to be fair, sometimes with good reason, when the music was struggling to recover from all types of opposition. Ciarán Ó Maonaigh's new album, Lost in the Music/Caillte sa Cheol , continues his focus on Donegal's fiddle tradition As Irish music came to be codified under CCE from the 1960s onward, the organisation often favoured a southern Irish style in its structured sessions and competitions. This sometimes conflicted with regional traditions like Donegal's, which drew heavily on its Scottish-influenced repertoire. This included using lower strings as drone notes — echoing the drone note on the bagpipes; the Scottish 'snap' (a short, accented note followed by a longer one); and the use of double stops — that is, playing two-note chords on the fiddle. The Donegal style, like much of Scottish fiddling, is an energetic style, often using a 'short' bow. The Donegal tradition, shaped by close geographical ties with Scotland and the Ulster-Scots, includes many tunes such as the 'highlands' (similar to the Scottish strathspeys), with Scottish origins — although perhaps originating in the first place in Ireland. But at formal Comhaltas sessions, such music was sometimes disparaged as un-Irish and much frowned upon. Donegal musicians, including respected players, reportedly faced antagonism when bringing their repertoire to Comhaltas venues — highlighting a deliberate suppression of their distinct style. This was a move strenuously resisted in Donegal where the playing of 'highlands' is still one of the glories of the tradition. Ciarán Ó Maonaigh's new solo album, Lost in the Music/Caillte sa Cheol , continues his focus on Donegal's fiddle tradition. Joined by guitarist and co-producer Seán Óg Graham, Ó Maonaigh explores both archival material and personal interpretation, blending tradition with innovation. Ó Maonaigh, grandson of Francie Mooney and nephew of Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh of Altan, has long been immersed in the Donegal style. This second solo release follows his 2004 album Ceol a' Ghleanna , and showcases his maturing voice. From the outset, the album pays tribute to legends like Tommy Peoples, John Doherty, and Néilidh Boyle. The opening set of reels includes layered fiddle lines and rhythmic foot percussion from his wife and musical partner Caitlín Nic Gabhann, evoking the energy of classic Donegal duets. Throughout the album, Ó Maonaigh balances fidelity to source material with inventive arrangements. In tracks like The Rakes of Clonmel and Nóra Críonna , he captures the piping influence in Donegal fiddle through ornamentation and bowing technique. Guitar accompaniments, especially in The Repeal of the Union , build a dynamic texture reminiscent of the Bothy Band's signature sound. A few tracks veer into more experimental territory. Graham's use of layered guitar and synths on Elizabeth Kelly's and Palm Sunday adds a new atmosphere, though some listeners may find the production less in keeping with the rest of the album's traditional tone. In contrast, the high-octane sets Creamers/Píobaire an Chéididh and The Blackberry Blossom/Kitty Gone a Milking showcase tight ensemble interplay and sharp rhythmic lift. New compositions round out the album. Ó Maonaigh contributes Rosie from Donegal , while Caitlín Nic Gabhann's St. Brigid's Day and Liam O'Connor's strathspey Frankie's Frolics highlight a living, evolving tradition. Ó Maonaigh also tackles technically demanding pieces like Mamore Gap and hornpipes drawn from Seán Maguire and John Doherty. The closing track, a live recording of Kitty O'Neill's Champion Jig , connects back to Tommy Peoples and reflects the Donegal flair for reinvention. With piano from Liam Ó Maonlaí, the track ties together the themes of homage and personal style that run through the album. This confident, thoughtful release confirms Ó Maonaigh's standing as both tradition-bearer and innovator, offering a rich listening experience and a blueprint for the next generation of Donegal fiddlers. Available on Bandcamp: See More: Ciarán Ó Maonaigh, Donegal, Irish Music, Lost In The Hills


Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Noel Gallagher's daughter shows her footballing loyalty at Oasis gig
Oasis have officially arrived in Scotland, delivering their first of three completely sold-out shows in Edinburgh on Friday night as part of their eagerly awaited Live '25 reunion tour. But as the Gallagher brothers took to the stage at Murrayfield Stadium, Noel Gallagher's daughter was spotted in the crowd displaying her loyalty to one Scottish football club – Glasgow's Celtic FC. Anais Gallagher, 25, has been spotted at several of her father's gigs throughout the tour, including the opening shows in Cardiff and the previous week's remarkable five-night run at London's legendary Wembley Stadium. However, Friday night's show in Edinburgh marks the first time Anais has been seen sporting Celtic's iconic colours, as she shared a snap to her Instagram story showing herself wearing a green Adidas tracksuit top bearing the football club's crest. Several Oasis fans shared the photograph across social media afterwards, with numerous people praising her for publicly showing her support for the club. Noel and Liam Gallagher's mother, Peggy Gallagher, is a passionate Celtic supporter, and it seems that passion has been passed down to her grandchildren as well, reports the Daily Record. One fan who shared the image of Anais on X wrote: "Oasis star @NoelGallagher's daughter Anais representing the @CelticFC colours at Murrayfield last night. "Noel and Liam's mum Peggy is famously a massive Celtic fan, with both brothers regularly showing their support for the Hoops throughout the years." Another fan chimed in: "Anais rocking the Celtic trackie at the Oasis gig." And a third ecstatic supporter exclaimed: "ANAIS WEARING CELTIC YESSS." Meanwhile, Anais recently expressed her frustration with Oasis fans inundating her with requests for help in securing tickets for the eagerly anticipated reunion gigs. Every single date of the UK and Ireland tour was snapped up within minutes back in August last year, leading the band to announce two additional Wembley Stadium dates - which also disappeared in record time. However, the scarcity of available tickets hasn't stopped some desperate fans from trying every possible avenue to get one, including badgering Anais for help. She disclosed in a TikTok video: "What is it about some Oasis fans? DM-ing me like I am f***ing Ticketmaster or Shopify or something. "People are messaging me like, 'I'm having trouble transferring my ticket to somebody - this is my Ticketmaster code'. What the f*** do I know about Ticketmaster?" Anais has even been approached by people seeking advice on Oasis merchandise, including queries about t-shirts that are unavailable in certain sizes and where she would recommend buying one instead. She added: "How am I meant to know what shops are stocking your size?". "I don't know, I wish I could help you but I am kind of baffled that when people have an issue they think, 'Do you know what, let me DM Anais, she's going to know how I can transfer my ticket'. Guys ... I can't!".