Culture | Books, Music, Theatre, Film & The Arts

Bernadette Morris - life informs art for northern songstress

Having travelled the world since releasing her debut album All the Ways You Wander, including tours in Australia and the US, Bernadette Morris returned to the studio, this time recording an EP of her own original material.

Music • 06 Feb 18

Donal Lunny drives Coda's Train Of Spirits

Train of Spirits has just pulled into the station. Coda's long awaited second album has just been released - the album was produced by the legendary Dónal Lunny and recorded in Clew Bay Recording Studios, Westport.

Music • 29 Jan 18

Austrian whistle player and piper Geza Frank and French guitarist Jean Damei, AKA Event Horizon

Event Horizon - taking trad music to another galaxy

Could this be the breakout music video of the year? The creative forces behind Event Horizon's Proxima Centauri are Austrian whistle player and piper Geza Frank and French guitarist Jean Damei, both of whom are graduates from the University of Limerick.

Music • 12 Jan 18

Joanna Hyde and Tadhg Ó Meachair have just released their debut album, One For the Foxes

If you only buy one trad music album this Christmas...

Via TradConnect: If you are looking for some of the best traditional music from 2017, then this release might do the job nicely.

Music • 22 Dec 17

Éilís Crean celebrates the music of fiddle player and button accordionist Eddie Kelly on her new album, Searbh Siúcra (Bitter-Sweet).

Eddie Kelly - celebrating the bitter-sweet sound of a trad legend

Humanity has revered creativity throughout time, from the ancient Greeks to modern-day painters, poets, writers and musicians. It's one of those ineffable wonders that is extremely hard to define but you absolutely know it when you see it. Or hear it.

Music • 26 Oct 17

The Keane Family, reissued - an Irish trad classic lives again

Via Trad Matters: Gael Linn continue their series of album reissues with a classic 1985 recording by The Keane Family. It features music and song from Dolores and Seán Keane, their siblings, their parents Matt and Bridie, and their aunts Rita and Sarah.

Traditional Music • 16 Oct 17

Donal Lunny's musical journey - tracing The Celtic Songlines

Is there such a thing as 'Celtic music' and if there is, what exactly is it? These are some of the questions that legendary musician Dónal Lunny sought the answers to for a new four-part musical travelogue series on RTÉ One this October.

Music • 13 Oct 17

Ye Vagabonds rule - watch the new video from the trad contenders

Ahead of their highly anticipated debut album, brothers Brían and Diarmuid Mac Gloinn, who form Ye Vagabonds, have released the second single from the album, entitled Half Blind.

Music • 10 Oct 17

The Canadian fiddle sensation inspired by the Irish trad masters

Trad Matters: Legendary Irish fiddlers like Tommy Peoples, Martin Hayes, John Carty and Matt Cranitch continue to inspire emerging artists at home and abroad, and multi-award winning Canadian fiddler Kiérah Raymond is no exception.

Music • 19 Sep 17

Jarlath Henderson, Cathy Jordan and Mick Daly - making a beautiful noise

Dervish's Cathy Jordan on her new trad supergroup

Cathy Jordan has been front woman with traditional powerhouse Dervish for over two decades - she writes for RTÉ Culture about her latest unique musical collaboration.

Traditional Music • 15 Sep 17

Celebrating the magic of Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin with the RTÉ NSO

On Friday 8 September at the National Concert Hall, the internationally acclaimed performer and composer Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin joins forces with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra for the very first time, accompanied by stellar line-up of trad greats.

Music • 11 Sep 17

Fleadh Cheoil Fever - Lord Of The Dance kicks off Ennis bash

The launch of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann for the second year in a row in Ennis Co. Clare on Sunday demonstrated that Irish music is very much alive and well in the west.

Music • 16 Aug 17

Watch: Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill strike up a tune

Ahead of their appearance at the Kilkenny Arts Festival, hosting the fourth year of their Mable Hill Sessions, trad legends Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill dropped by the Ray D'Arcy Show (with guest host Kathryn Thomas) for a bit of a chat and a tune.

Culture • 09 Aug 17

Getting Jiggy with it - taking trad music to a new dimension

Acclaimed percussionist Robbie Harris writes for Culture about his exciting new fusion project, Jiggy...

Music • 21 Sep 17

IMLÉ go deo - fusing poetry, pop and rap as Gaeilge

Via TradConnect: One of the most outstanding records of the year is by a Dublin band that should be getting a little bit more recognition for their unconventional approach to poetry, pop and rap.

Music • 29 Jun 17

Winging it - celebrating Stockton's Wing at 40

As they embark on their 40th anniversary tour, Mike Hanrahan of Irish trad legends Stockton's Wing writes for Culture about the early days, and the joys of Winging it four decades on.

Culture • 26 Jun 17

Cormac Begley: bold and energetic release from concertina master

Trad Matters: Award-winning concertina player and innovator Cormac Begley has just released his debut solo album to critical acclaim.

Music • 09 May 17

Ed Sheeran and us - how Beoga crossed the Divide

Via TradConnect: After 14 years of making music together Northern Irish trad band Beoga hit the headlines last month when they got involved with Ed Sheeran on his new album ÷ (Divide), which is released today.

Music • 26 Jun 17

Exclusive - watch Finbar Furey's first ever music video

Finbar Furey is celebrated around the world as one of the great folk icons of his time. Now, at the age of 70, he's made his first ever music video. And we're delighted to bring you the premiere on RTÉ Culture.

Music • 03 Apr 17

Reviewed: Finbar Furey's Paddy Dear - the legend at 70

Finbar Furey marks his 70th birthday with his new album, Paddy Dear, consisting of a brace of new songs from the legendary balladeer, along with covers of the Galway Shawl and He'll Have to Go.

Music • 03 Apr 17

RTÉ Player Recommends: Triúir - the act and art of making music

Each week, the RTÉ Player team suggest a 'must-watch' from the Culture collection. This week, the focus is on the collaboration between a trio of Ireland's most distinguished musicians - Peadar Ó Riada, Martin Hayes and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh in Triúir.

Music • 31 Mar 17

Mícheál Darby Ó Fátharta - a Connemara melodeon maestro returns

Via Trad Connect: After a seventeen-year hiatus, Connemara melodeon player Mícheál Darby Ó Fátharta is back on the music scene with a new album, An Rithim Réidh.

Music • 29 Mar 17