Shows
Brendan O'Connor“Your stress-levels drop right away”Fresh off the boat from an Irish language course on Inis Meáin, travel writer,Thom Breathnach, talks holidays where you learn something new. He told Brendan about DIY and construction courses at Common Knowledge in Co Clare; a blacksmithing course at Hot Milk Forge in North Antrim; and a wild tea foraging tour with Two Green Shoots in Glengarriff.2025-07-0507 min
Werewolf of ConnemaraE11 - The Wreck of the Eleanor DoonThe band hopes for a big break after their promoter secures a chance to play on a pirate radio station operating from an old ship off the West Coast of Ireland, but a nightmare awaits...2020-10-3000 min
Club MattersCumann Mícheál Breathnach le Cian Ó GriallaisFor this week's episode we head to Connemara Co. Galway to speak to Cian Ó Griallais from Cumann Mícheál Breathnach. Cian has been a dual player for the club for many years and we discuss many things about the club both on and off the pitch. Cian also speaks with great pride about what it means to be a native Irish speaker playing for a club from the West of Ireland Gaeltacht. 2020-09-2600 minWerewolf of ConnemaraE10 - The Lair of the Leannan SidheIt is now April 1968, and as the band's musical career starts to progress with many gigs, things take a turn for the worse when their lead singer Dessie comes under the spell of the Leannan Sidhe, the female fairy lover...2020-09-1917 minWerewolf of ConnemaraE9 - The Devil and the DancehallFergal and the boys finally get their first gig but all is not what it seems at the mysterious dancehall.2020-08-2925 minWerewolf of ConnemaraE8 - Mansion on the HillIn search of his first gig, Fergal visits the strange home of the music promoter, Bill Cawley.2020-07-2714 minWerewolf of ConnemaraE7 - The Black LimousineFergal gets a job as a petrol pump attendant in a rural station, and while practicing his guitar at night, meets a mysterious music promoter who stops off in his black limousine. It will be an encounter that transforms his fate.2020-06-2413 minWerewolf of ConnemaraE6 - The Wail of the BansheeAfter a decade in the Industrial School, Fergal and the lads finally get their freedom. Fergal goes back to his old house and spends a haunting night alone.2020-06-0813 minWerewolf of ConnemaraE5- The Laments of Sister ClareA mysterious young nun at the convent orphanage teaches Fergal and the lads how to play guitar...2020-05-3022 minWerewolf of ConnemaraE4 - The Fairy FieldYoung Fergal escapes the dreaded Industrial School one fine night, only to end up trapped in a supernatural fairy field. But it is an experience that will influence his fate going forward.2020-05-2211 minWerewolf of ConnemaraE3 - The Evil PennywhistleAs the local bishop, Bishop Nathy, arrives at the Industrial School (Orphanage), to inspect the children, one frail child hopes to win his freedom from the institution by playing the bishop a nice tune or two on his penny-whistle. But it has deadly consequences.2020-05-1314 min
Supernatural HousewivesUpdate and introducing Werewolf of ConnemaraQuick update on Season 2, plus launch of a new podcast, Werewolf of Connemara2020-05-0601 minWerewolf of ConnemaraE2 - The Terrors of the Industrial SchoolAfter the death of their uncle, Fergal and his siblings are taken in by the authorities. Fergal ends up in a harsh Industrial School, separated from his family, and run by some sadistic religious orders. But he makes some lifelong friends.2020-05-0510 minWerewolf of ConnemaraE1 - Dancehall of the DamnedFergal's story begins with the strange tale of his Uncle Ned, a saxophonist who plied his trade from ballroom to ballroom throughout rural Ireland. The beloved uncle also looked after the four parentless children until things took a turn for the worst in the late 50s, when Uncle Ned began to play with a mysterious band in an even more mysterious rural dancehall.2020-04-2815 minSupernatural HousewivesS1E16 - Finale - Fairy MagicIn the final episode, Deirdra seeks the answer on how to slay Siofra, the last surviving supernatural housewife of Ballystrange, and thereby end the curse and a way of life forever.2020-02-1721 minSupernatural HousewivesS1E15 - ImmortalityDeirdra the demon slayer has one more supernatural housewife to slay and, much to the chagrin of the menfolk, the Ballystrange curse will be lifted forever.2020-02-0210 minSupernatural HousewivesS1E14 - Galway StreetWe are into the final three episodes and the supernatural housewives continue to come under attack from the demon slayer, Deirdra.2020-01-2616 minSupernatural HousewivesS1E13 - Time is DemonsAs Sergeant Crowley decides to bolt out of town, Deirdra continues to eradicate the supernatural housewives. The men of the town gather in concern.2020-01-1211 minSupernatural HousewivesS1E12- Hungry is the NightDeirdra, the demon slayer, comes face to face with two of the supernatural Ballystrange housewives, the shapeshifter, Marla, and vampire, Jane. An epic struggle ensues.2020-01-0518 minSupernatural HousewivesS1E11 - DeceptionTurlough's great internet rival gets suspicious of the faulty code, while Dr. Winterman attempts to cover up another death as Deirdra snoops.2019-12-1610 minSupernatural HousewivesS1E10 - This is a Mad TownAfter betraying the town to the demon slayer, Peter discovers his wife may be supernatural after all.2019-12-0813 minSupernatural HousewivesS1E9 - The Stare of an Angry WomanWhile Sergeant Crowley is suspicious of the lifelike statues at the William Swift Stoneworks Display, Deirdra the Demon Slayer finally receives a good lead... and her reign of terror against the supernatural housewives begins in earnest.2019-12-0111 minSupernatural HousewivesS1E8 - Crime and HistoryWith Deirdra and her demon slayers lurking, the men continue to put the talents of their supernatural wives to questionable use. We also delve into the history of Ballystrange, and how Dr. Winterman met his vampire wife, Jane.2019-11-2417 minSupernatural HousewivesS1E7 - Supernatural Housewives Laying LowWith the arrival of the demon slayers, the supernatural housewives of Ballystrange need to lay low, but have trouble curbing their beastly instincts.2019-11-2309 minSupernatural HousewivesS1E6 - The Demon Slayers Arrive in BallystrangeAll is not well in the little town of Ballystrange. Peter continues to be upset that his wife Maeve has no supernatural powers; Sergeant Crowley is deeply anguished by yet another strange death, while Dr. Winterman strives to cover it up; Simon the skinhead arrives to avenge the death of punk rocker friends; Dulska, the merrow, longs to be back at sea amongst the seals - but most worrisome of all, Deirdra the Demon Slayer arrives to rid the town of it's ancient curse. And she has only one way on her mind...2019-11-1720 minSupernatural HousewivesS1E5 - All That Money Can BuyTurlough becomes increasingly obsessed with developing a knowledge app, an app that can answer any question with a godlike veracity. But his great rival is set to beat him. His last hope is to turn to his fairy-wife for some supernatural inspiration.2019-11-1012 minSupernatural HousewivesS1E4 - The Love of the Supernatural HousewifeTony and his shapeshifting wife, Marla, size up a gothic mansion for their nefarious activities; Cecil is suspicious of his wife Dulska; while a careless postman incurs the wrath of Dr. Winterman and his vampire wife, Jane... but is it all the calm before the storm?2019-11-0210 minSupernatural HousewivesS1E3 - The Business of Demon SlayingThe nervous policeman, Sergeant Crowley, learns that Ballystrange may not be such a quiet town after all; meanwhile Terence, a man with a chip on his shoulder against the small town, goes to Dublin to meet Deirdra the Demon Slayer.2019-10-2708 minSupernatural HousewivesS1E2 - All Around the Fairy TreeIn the second episode, we are introduced in more detail to Turlough, one of the leading men of Ballystrange. Turlough, an ambitious but struggling internet entrepreneur, is in a bitter battle with an old rival to develop a knowledge app. But Turlough is short of money, time and inspiration, not to mention computer programmers. Can his supernatural wife save the day...2019-10-2710 minSupernatural HousewivesS1E1 - The Curse, The Cop, The Men & The Demon SlayerThe first episode introduces us to Ballystrange - the most supernatural town in Ireland - where an ancient curse has condemned generations of very happy menfolk to be married to supernatural brides... that is, until such time as a righteous stranger, as prophesied in town archives, will arrive to sadly lift the curse. She has arrived and she is bodacious and bad. She is a demon slayer called Deirdra.2019-10-2018 min
Irish Flute TunesJohn Byrne's JigBrendán Breathnach got this jig from James Byrne's father John and included it in Ceol Rince na hÉireann vol. 2. That was very considerate of him.2007-10-0501 minIrish Flute TunesPull The Knife and Stick it Again
Here's a tune I was asked to play. It's on Matt Molloy's first record. I don't know where he got the tune or the name from. It sounds a bit odd played slowly but here goes ...
(The quicker version seems to recover its composure a bit)
Brendán Breathnach put it in Ceol Rince na hÉireann 3 (No. 12) in case you want to see the dots, or blood spatters.2007-07-0402 minIrish Flute TunesLománach CrossHere's a flute friendly sort of reel. Brendán Breathnach got it from Denis Murphy but it appears on a few other people's records, including one of Mary Bergin and one of Matt Molloy.
My playing here is more Lame Knack Cross than Lománach Cross but hopefully it is still a cross that is possible to bear.2007-07-0401 minIrish Flute TunesThe Achonry Lasses
I can't tell you much about this tune. This version is fairly close to the one Sonny McDonagh recorded for Brendán Breathnach's Ceol Rince na hÉireann Vol 2.2007-05-1701 minIrish Flute TunesO'Mahoney's HornpipeThis might not be the "O'Mahoney's" you were expecting (as if people sit around expecting hornpipes of whatever name) but I noticed it under this name in "Ceol Rince na hÉireann Vol 2. I always just called it "do you know this one?". Brendán Breathnach took it down from Denis Murphy's playing for CRÉ 2. I'll go with the present name as I always believe what other people have written.2007-05-1402 min