Music At Maddens Podcast

This week on Music at Madden’s, Lynette Fay is joined in the Snug by Christine Darling and Katherine O’Neill from Belfast Trad, an organisation that has been nurturing traditional music, dance and community in Belfast since 1991. Ahead of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann coming to Belfast in August 2026, Christine and Katherine reflect on the foundations that have helped the city’s trad scene flourish —...

In this episode of Music at Madden’s, Lynette welcomes Ray Morgan and Maria Rafferty from Glengormley School of Traditional Music to the snug upstairs in Madden’s Bar. As Belfast prepares to host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2026, the podcast continues its look at the traditional music communities shaping the city and beyond. Ray and Maria share the story of how a small tin whistle group in the co...

In this episode of Music at Madden’s , Lynette Fay is joined in the Snug by members of Ards Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann — Niall McClean, Colleen McCleery and Eamonn Higgins — as the branch prepares for a landmark year in Irish traditional music. Ards CCÉ celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026, having grown from a small gathering of musicians in the Ards Peninsula into one of the most active and i...

This week in the snug, Lynette is joined by County Down singer-songwriter Ryan McMullan ahead of his special Fleadh shows at The Empire Music Hall. Ryan reflects on stepping back from the noise of the music industry, finding a slower pace of life in Antrim, and reconnecting with songwriting on his own terms. He talks about the early influence of Foy Vance, touring with Ed Sheeran, being championed...

This week, Music at Madden’s is back on the road for the second of our live episodes recorded at the LIR Sessions in Ballycastle, filmed in front of an audience at Yarn. Lynette is joined by The Rapparees — Joe, Stephen, Kev and Jared — for a lively conversation full of stories, slagging, music, family memories and plenty of laughs. The band chat about their beginnings in Randalstown, their early...

Fáilte isteach to another episode of Music at Madden’s with Lynette Fay. Joining us in the snug this week — though not quite in the snug this time — are Deirdre and Clodagh of Déanta, recorded live at Lír Sessions in Ballycastle. For this special episode, the Music at Madden’s team travelled north to Yarn in Ballycastle for the first of two live podcasts recorded in front of an audience as part of...

Fáilte isteach to another episode of Music at Madden’s Podcast with me, Lynette Fay. Joining us in the snug this week is the one and only Gino Lupari — bodhrán player extraordinaire, storyteller, comedian, and long-time member of the legendary Four Men and a Dog. In this episode, Gino takes us through a life in music, from discovering the bodhrán, learning from greats like Séamus Kane and Arty McG...

Fáilte isteach to another episode of Music at Madden’s Podcast with me, Lynette Fay. Joining us in the snug this week are two of Ireland’s foremost traditional musicians, Pádraig Mc Govern and Sabina McCague. Pádraig, originally from Ballymagovern on the Cavan-Leitrim border, is a renowned uilleann piper who has recorded with numerous artists over the years. His recording of Easter Snow and Sally...

Joining us in the snug this week is prominent banjo and guitar player Stevie Dunne. Originally from the small fishing port of Clogherhead in County Louth, Stevie now lives just outside Belfast, where he has been a pivotal figure in the traditional Irish music scene for over 20 years. Widely regarded as one of Ireland’s finest banjo players, Stevie has released three acclaimed albums: About Time in...

In episode 40 of Music at Madden’s, Lynette Fay welcomes Joshua Burnside to the Snug. Joshua talks about his life in music, from discovering folk and traditional songs to developing his own distinctive sound as a songwriter. He reflects on the stories, places and people that inspire his work, the influence of Belfast, and the way songs can carry memory, identity and meaning through generations. Th...

In this episode, I’m joined in the Snug by singer-songwriter, storyteller, and truth-teller David Keenan. From the very first song he wrote as a 14-year-old growing up in Dundalk—El Paso—David reflects on identity, belonging, and finding his voice in a world where he often felt like an outsider. We talk about the power of singing in your own accent, the influence of his grandfather, and how storyt...

Welcome to another episode of Music at Madden’s Podcast with me, Lynette Fay. This week I’m joined by acclaimed harpist Ursula Burns, also known as The Dangerous Harpist , for a fascinating and wide-ranging conversation that moves between music, history, storytelling, and the natural world. Ursula shares the remarkable story behind Dougie MacLean’s iconic song Caledonia , and its unexpected connec...

Welcome to another episode of Music at Madden’s Podcast with Lynette Fay. This week, I’m joined by the brilliant Tulua — a group whose journey began through Comhaltas and their shared experience in Siansa, before evolving into one of the most exciting contemporary trad acts around. We chat about how they first came together, the influence of their roots in Wexford and Donegal, and the journey behi...

Welcome to another episode of Music at Madden’s Podcast in the snug with host Lynette Fay. This week in the snug, we’re joined by the exceptional flute player Brendan Mulholland, a musician whose passion for Irish traditional music has taken him from the shores of Lough Neagh to stages across the world. Brendan shares the story of how a chance encounter with the legendary Francy McPeake set him on...

In Episode 35 of Music at Madden’s , Lynette Fay is joined by the brilliant Ispíní na hÉireann for a lively conversation filled with music, laughs, and plenty of craic. Known for their high-energy performances and not taking themselves too seriously, the group chat about bringing fun and personality into everything they do on stage. They also dive into the origins of their unforgettable (and sligh...

In Episode 34 of Music at Madden’s, Lynette Fay welcomes representatives from the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, an organisation known across Ireland for the incredible support it provides to families facing tragedy abroad. The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust was founded after the death of Kevin Bell in New York in 2013. Since then, the charity has helped bring hundreds of Irish people home to their...

Fresh from a visit to St Brigid’s shrine in Faughart on St Brigid’s Day, Armagh singer–songwriter  Dani Larkin  joins Lynette Fay in the snug at Madden’s for a conversation that feels both rooted and quietly rebellious. Proudly from the border village of Madden, Dani speaks about the strange freedom that can come from growing up on the edge - a place where, as she puts it, there’s a certain  lawle...

In Episode 32 of Music at Madden’s, we’re joined in the snug by acclaimed Irish folk duo Ye Vagabonds — brothers Diarmuid and Brían Mac Gloinn from County Carlow — alongside band member Alain McFadden for a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation about collaboration, identity and meaningful music. The Carlow brothers reflect on how their upbringing shaped their love of traditional song, and they...

In this episode of Music at Madden’s, we sit down in the snug with the brilliant Martha Guiney for a warm and fascinating conversation about her journey through traditional music. Martha reflects on her early musical roots, her family’s deep connection to the tradition, and the formative influence of being taught by the Burns family. We also hear about her determination in seeking guidance from th...

In this episode of  Music at Madden’s , we sit down with Tom and Méabh from the legendary Cobblestone pub in Dublin — one of Ireland’s most important homes of traditional music. We chat about the history and ethos of The Cobblestone, the role the Mulligan family has played in keeping trad music alive in Dublin, and why authentic, community-driven music spaces matter now more than ever. From storie...

In this episode of Music at Madden’s, we’re joined by renowned sean-nós dancer Arlene McCarroll for a lively conversation all about rhythm, tradition and keeping Irish culture moving. Arlene shares how the worlds of sean-nós dance and traditional music naturally blend together — the steps, the lift, and the connection between musicians and dancers in the room. We chat about the workshops she runs,...

Welcome to a new episode of Music at Madden’s Podcast with me, Lynette Fay. This week in the snug, Lynette welcomes Martin and Sorcha Meehan for a warm, reflective conversation rooted in memory, music, and place. Together, they look back on their long-standing connection to Madden’s Bar — sharing stories, memories, and moments that capture why the snug has become such a vital gathering place for m...

Music at Madden’s Podcast  returns with a very special guest —  Brian Finnegan , one of the most influential flute players to emerge from the Irish traditional music scene. Recorded in the snug at Madden’s Bar, this episode sees  Lynette Fay  sit down with Brian for a wide-ranging and thoughtful conversation that moves from tradition to innovation, and everything in between. Brian reflects on his...

In this episode of Music at Madden’s , we’re joined live in Madden’s Bar by Hurtan , one of the most distinctive and forward-thinking acts in Irish music right now. We talk about their recent appearance on The Tommy Tiernan Show and what that moment meant for the band, as well as their wider journey so far. The conversation dives deep into Hurtan’s creative process — from blending traditional Iris...

This week on Music at Madden’s, we’re stepping outside of Madden’s Bar and into the heart of County Tyrone as we record live from Canavans during the very first Tyrone Tradfest. Fresh off a packed headline show the night before, we’re joined by Peter Street — one of the most exciting young bands on the traditional music scene right now. The lads sit down with us to talk about the buzz surrounding...