Did you know that the writer of one of our most famous and joyful Christmas carols was fathered by a man called Ebenezer? He may have been Ebenezer, but was he a Scrooge?

What are your favourite sights, sounds, and smells of Christmas? What are ours?

How do you translate German songs if you don't speak German? Who is Thomas Oliphant, and how is today's song related to the early folk music of Wales? What are wax cylinder recordings and how do they work? What do they sound like?

Join Josh and Kristian for all this and more on today's episode, where we explore the first in our December Series of Winter Carols - the popular and joyful 'Deck The Halls'.

Popular Versions -

Bing Crosby - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar3iOScaFLw

Pentatonix (For a more modern flare ) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqItlHUSN-4

Nat King Cole - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1r0y59B4cc

Will you will you (will you) come back to the Toora Loora podcast!?

Welcome back! Salutations! What's the craic and how are ye getting on!? You're all very welcome back to the show after a bit of a hiatus!

Where have we been? What's been going on? How does a 19th Century war between Texans and Mexicans relate to an old Irish love song by Sir Thomas Moore? All these questions and more are about to be answered, so be sure to tune in and hear Josh and Kristian explore the old folk song 'Will You Come to the Bower'!

It's good to be back :)

Notable versions:

The Dubliners (Luke Kelly Live) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE2iM2J9byY

The Wolfe Tones - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxuKWOnPXSM

Paddy Reilly - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6j961GRfWA

Shane MacGowan and The Popes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndgBPZDWG3w

Andy Irvine and Lillebjørn Nilsen (Live in Telemark) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDxFDGOmJZo

"When First Unto This Country, A Stranger I came,

I courted a fair maid, and Nancy was her name,

I courted her for love, her love I didn't obtain,

Can you think of any reason why I should complain"

What are we thankful for? Did we buy anything nice for Black Friday? Why is Kristian putting Christmas porridge on the doorstep at night? For the what!? The Cow-Shed Elf!? Oh right....

Join us for our delayed Thanksgiving Special (well, twas as good a thing to talk about as any when it comes to today's lovely song!)

Today we discuss the phenomenon of not just songs, but entire cultures and holidays crossing the sea in times gone by before changing, adapting, evolving, and returning to their ancestral homes as completely different beasts. The correlation between people, places, histories, and songs has never been stronger!

Our song today is a very old one, first heard by us on a phenomenal Planxty Compilation album called 'Between The Jigs and Reels' and sung by the man himself, Mr Donal Lunny! Come join our chats and as always, don't be afraid to get involved on our socials!

Notable Versions:

Planxty 1973 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wS1iorel04

Crooked Still - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwhisMsFQ2Q

Jerry Garcia and David Grisman - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCUHHFrI3xM

"We will miss the great Galway bard who loved Co Clare.. Slán Sean.." Eoin O'Neill.

Josh and Kristian take a trip down down the spice trading routes of India to the "Coast of Malabar" in this episode, as they talk about the legendary Irish bard Sean Tyrrell, who past away Saturday October 30.

Follow us on Instagram @tooraloorapodcast

Find us on Facebook.com/tooraloorapodcast

Email us at tooraloorapodcast@gmail.com

Sean Tyrrell - Coast of Malabar: https://open.spotify.com/track/61qIX246NWPWGwBwrs1vxQ?si=b741c8fa6649473f

It's all Hallow's Eve - Oíche Shamhna, The Festival of Samhain - The night when the Ancient Celts believed that the old spirits came back to walk the face of the Earth once a year! Tonight explore the witchy song 'Burning Times', and discuss the burning of witches in the Middle Ages!

What did they do about it? Who is Darby O' Gill? Why is Kristian cursing in the Church!? What did Sean Connery sound like with an Irish accent? And wtf is going on with Mr. Jack O' Lantern!?

Tune into our 'Toora Halloween Loora' Special for Banshees, Ghosts, Norwegian Leprechauns, lilting, and above all a bit of craic!

Try not to be too scared by the two lilters from Clare, Ireland and Horten, County Norway ;)

Happy Halloween Everybody!

Some Honourable Mentions:

Darby O' Gill and The Little People (Trailer) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X86llfo2Aoo

Burning Times (Christy Moore Version) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASORLE6dPYU

All Soul's Night (Loreena McKevitt) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RooTTuLCfNM

"Father Murphy from old Kilcormack spurred up the rocks with a warning cry!"

'Boolavogue' tells the story of the fighting priest of the 1798 rebellion in Ireland, and has become somewhat of a Wexford Anthem. And who better to talk about it than Wexford native, uilleann piper, guitarist and member of The Kilkennys, Mick Martin.

Check out Davy Spillanes rendition of the tune here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlegEH9PmVM

Spooky ghost-women crying over graves - Murder Most Foul - Hollywood Actors and their ghostly stalkers - Mistaken Identity - October Vibes!

Since when is Mick Jagger a member of The Chieftains!?

Come and join the lads this week as they discuss all the mad themes and topics surrounding 'The Long Black Veil', and we'll ring in Spooktober with style!

Notable versions:

Mick Jagger + The Chieftains - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F-4rY4g4Do

Johnny Cash - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pYA46dyKh4

The Band - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KOEEQttjI8

We realise that we've passed the six month mark, and have published a total of 28 episodes. Not too bad for two procrastinators!

We thought that this would be the perfect time to take a breather, and talk about the things we've done so far and the future!

We want to invite you to help us shape the Toora Loora road ahead. What do you want us to do more of? What hasn't worked? New ideas we could incorporate in the podcast?

Contact us on our email tooraloorapodcast@gmail.com

On facebook.com/tooraloorapodcast

Or on Instagram @tooraloorapodcast

Thank you for listening, for your support and feedback. We're looking forward to the next six months!

Music, Shite Talk, Special Guests, Singing, Dancing, Drinking, Fighting, Smoking - Our Special Live Launch Night in March 2021 had a little bit of everything, and if you missed it, today's your lucky day!

With Josh being away on tour we've decided to have a bit of a throwback to our first ever episode of Toora Loora, which until now was only available on Facebook! Tune in and have a listen!

Special Guests on the evening included:

Colum King (of Ceolplay on Charity Radio Ireland)

Camillus Hiney (of 'The Fureys')

Davey Cashin (of 'The Kilkennys')

The Finns (of 'The Finns')

Hughie Kennedy and Pearse McGuinness (kind of!)

Mick Martin (of The Kilkennys)

Rory Costello (of The Boxty Gang - As seen/heard last week!)

Sit back and relax with this deepdive into the early vaults of Toora Loora history, and as always don't forget to get in touch at all the usual platforms -

tooraloorapodcast@gmail.com

facebook.com/tooraloorapodcast

Instagram - @tooraloorapodcast

“Some people say hurling isn’t very important in the scheme of things. But to hurling people hurling is the scheme of things.” – Ger Loughnane, former Clare Hurler and Clare Hurling Manager.

Bold Thady Quill is a traditional humours song about a Cork hurler, and it's the perfect backdrop for an episode all about the 3000 year old stick and ball game.

Join Josh, Kristian and their very special guest, good friend and member of The Boxty Gang, Rory Costello, in this deep dive into Irelands national sport, Hurling.

The Clancy Brothers - Bold Thady Quill: https://open.spotify.com/track/2IZNjWWsjlQkpzeiBttxUK?si=fd5a726c78714aac

Bonny Kate - The Ballad of Christy Ring: https://open.spotify.com/track/6vvQmdNYqWmj9RnL42RvA9?si=74fb2c05f218475c

The Game. The Story of Hurling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IFE2QOHaQY

Who in the Jaysus is Molly, and why is she the Queen of Songs?

Welcome to a very special episode, and a new concept to explore ! Classic Toora Loora - Testing the boundaries with every passing week!

This week, Kristian and Josh battle it out, and start us off on an ongoing journey to decide which Molly will be crowned the Queen of Songs - who will be the winner!? That's entirely up to you good folks in the public - head to our social media pages to find out how to vote for your winner of today's Molly Sessions (poll will be posted on Friday September 3rd)

Facebook - www.facebook.com/tooraloorapodcast

Instagram - @tooraloorapodcast

or as always, send us an email with your winner and/or any additional comments to tooraloorapodcast@gmail.com

"I Love You As I Never Loved Before"

A couple of weeks ago we had a request to do the immortal "When You Were Sweet Sixteen". Naturally we were delighted to, as Josh has made many an eye tear up playing it across the UK and Europe with The Fureys.

Join us for another trip down vaudeville lane, talking about love, romance and stories from the road!

The Fureys: https://open.spotify.com/track/4UWHOgf4uXQabSrodHOrvf?si=684f3c2704bd4d2c

"The birth-place of Valour, the country of Worth; Wherever I wander, wherever I rove,The hills of the Highlands for ever I love." 

Continuing on the Scottish Theme (Much to Kristian's delight!), we're taking another trip back in time to the Pre-TooraLoora era and relive our first live stream, celebrating Robert Burns.

Grab yerself a Haggis and a wee dram, sit back and listen to us talk Scottish Turkey.

"Grade 1, first place, winner of the RSPB Jubilee Trophy and Banner, and World Champions for 2021 ... Toora Loora Pipe Band"

This week we dive into the world of Great Highland Bagpipes, as we talk about one of Scotlands unofficial National Anthems. It's safe to say Kristian is excited.

Pipe Major Nikolai Hagen Huse of the Oslo Caledonian Pipe Band, where Kristian is a member, joins us in this bagpipe extravaganza.

Diamonds in the Belfast Mountains

Lovely Molly

The Legend that is Alan Burke

That 'magic' moment when you hear a song for the first time and just have to make it your own

Tune in for all this and more, in this special Live Episode of 'Toora Loora' with Josh and Kristian, as they chat and research the song 'Belfast Mountains' Live from Facebook on 6th August 2021

Notable Versions:

Alan Burke - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCVAbD57WUY

The Rapparees - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwA5KMG6H9I

Ben Sands - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z1JAoUK9KY

Rise up, me bonny lassie - Make haste and come away! There's a Podcast about 'Bound For Caledonia'! (See what we did there!?)

Join the lads this week as they discuss seafaring, fair maidens posing as soldiers, blackmail, and true love (with a bit of deception and shameless self-promotion thrown in for good measure!)

Bound For Caledonia is an old sea-faring song about a lovely young girl and her true love dreaming of returning home to Scotland. But how does it all pan out? Tune in and find out!

Notable Versions:

The Boxty Gang - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW0ay4ZvSNQ

Colleen Raney - https://open.spotify.com/track/6QskfMm3FaichVQseYmGhU?si=578bfbc3b9cf414b

Mainly Norfolk - https://mainlynorfolk.info/folk/songs/caledonia.html

You've neatly and tenderly tied up my shoe!

Join Josh and Kristian today as they talk life, music, and 'Easy and Slow' with the wonderful Dublin Balladeer Billy Treacy of 'Billy Treacy and The Scope'!

"Billy Treacy is a Folk singer/songwriter from Dublin's Inner City. A modern day Balladeer with contemporary story songs using traditional instruments it neatly welds the past with the present.

His first Album "Head Above Water" was produced by Conor Brady and featured a host of musicians that Billy has played with around town. It contains thirteen tracks and features the viral video hits "Temple Bar" a humorous but truthful story about the tourist area told as only a real Dub could tell it. And "Woe!" a hard hitting tale of an Irish man trying to deal with the recession.

Billy has toured Norway, The Netherlands , France, Belgium, The Uk and The States in the past and has performed on Rte Television and several radio stations around the country.

Currently recording a new album with a more Roots sound it features Instruments such as Fiddle, Banjo (both 5 string and Tenor) and Uilleann Pipes. The Musicians known collectively as The Scope change on different days depending on the size of the gig but consist of Anna Mary Donaghy on Fiddle, Paddy Kiernan (5 String Banjo), Gavin Whelan (Low Whistle and Pipes) Anthony Warde (Tenor Banjo and Mandolin) .

During the summer of 2017 Billy Treacy & The Scope performed their new single "Moving This Way" in front of 83,000 in Croke Park Stadium. It's an emotional song about the plight and problems that Ireland has faced in the past, but especially now with the huge homeless crisis.

November 23rd 2018 was the release date for "Ma", a new ballad done in the old traditional style recorded in Floodplain Studios and engineered by Graham Watson with a lineup including Eoin Dillon (founding member of Kila) on Uilleann Pipes and Whistles.

July 20th 2019 Billy Treacy and The Scope played at the Het Lindeboom Folk and Traditional Music Festival in Loon Plage (near Dunkirk) in France.

Tune into Billy's music on all usual platforms and give him a listen today!

The Market - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUqymPzfEPo

Ma - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhvUYpnJsLg

Templebar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsqzEtprcpk

Billy Treacy and The Scope - https://www.breakingtunes.com/billytreacyandthescope

He stepped out, I stepped in again. I stepped out and she stepped in again.

By popular demand, here it is: Lanigan's Ball!

What did they actually do at that party? Was six months learning a set dance time well spent? And who was the mysterious Galway Poet that supposedly wrote the song?

Josh and Kristian also explain the etymology of the much talked about Feakle Festival, and dive into regional differences in playing styles, instrument choices and tune selection across Ireland.

Join the craic!

Notable versions:

Christy Moore: https://open.spotify.com/track/7lthnZZUQWpdG43dLi3MlV?si=0566585895d54816

Gaelic Storm: https://open.spotify.com/track/55f82UUt19MA7z7pmtsi13?si=3515f04f748a4407

Johnny Logan: https://open.spotify.com/track/4Bpt1tCDdt02rwA1TiTPUH?si=2aa9510d6f4543db

Dropkick Murphys: https://open.spotify.com/track/2aYuJhVerZYSTZgpWPqdAa?si=b5cfaf2481584fda

Fiddler's Green: https://open.spotify.com/track/4BMu74juamRuqFoMgcgv36?si=2c47b35b165e4470

Poitin: https://open.spotify.com/track/3zhuvMhf6BdMPXXIribTbq?si=38ea397ae0a04689

Killieburne Brae: https://open.spotify.com/track/21hiKfDYxSprxeYKeWQDnT?si=01642e3e303c4cd3

Check out the "Irish & Celtic Music Podcast": https://celticmusicpodcast.com

Flutes and Fiddles Everywhere, If it's Music You Want - Go To Clare!

Up The Banner and All That!

This week Josh and Kristian discuss Christy Moore's famous classic, written all about the infamous Lisdoonvarna Festival of the 1980's.

Tune in to hear chats about Clare, Music, Tunes, disappearances, festivals, Moose Burgers (wtf!?) and much much more!

Don't forget - everybody needs a break. So come and join us for yours and have a bit of craic with us as we take a journey to County Clare!

Notable Versions:

(THE OG Version) - Christy Moore : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPlsU4CR1G8

Christy Live at Vicar Street (2002) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPlsU4CR1G8

Christy on The Late Late Show : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SVo9W4QM5A

Kristian has been working on a building lately. Josh thought old American Spiritual 'Working on a Building' was a fitting song to look in to, as the lads went live on Facebook - Completely unprepared. Join the craic!

Notable versions:

The Finns: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxEFLLCkMLM

Bill Monroe and The Bluegrass Boys: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBDZ3G4RCHc