Linda Welby

Linda Welby a native of Loughrea in Co Galway, Linda, is many things, singer, songwriter, radio presenter but first and foremost a mother of eight children. Her first album 'A Story to Tell' as the title suggested was a collection of self penned songs which she sang herself, Due to the success of the first album she went on to record her second 'The Best of Times' a collection of contemporary songs and music again, written and composed by herself. On meeting Linda she is very quite, almost shy, very unassuming, and very much un aware of her gift in writing songs. When you hear Linda sing there is no pretence, she sings with a natural voice, her native Galway accent strong. She has no airs or graces and sings from the heart. One of the reasons why she has become so popular over the last few years and one of the reasons why she has travelled to so many countries singing her own songs in her own style.

The Wall St Thieves 3

Well I had the lads back in studio today, after their last visit its been mad with the amount of calls from listeners asking "when are they coming back on" to keep everyone happy we got them back into studio again.  The Wall Street Thieves are a four piece rock group. The band was started by Che Horgan and Eric Doherty in 2008.  There has been a couple of changes in the bands line up since then, having had Colin Morgan drumming to be replaced by Dereck O Shea who was later replaced by James Zinkant who is currently with the band. The lead guitarist, Eric Doherty, has been replaced by Dave O Callaghan. The line up is completed by the solid Shane Norberg on Bass who is also doubling on harmony vocals. Ranging in age from early to mid twenties, the members invoke an era when songwriters had something to say and music had substance. 

The Hard Ground

Speaking to Marlene Enright, singer with the Hard Ground, this week we discussed their debut studio album, Broken Conversations, which was released on Friday the 13th of July, we talked about the band and how things are progressing in recent times. She said that “Thank fully the national stations have play listed some of their songs and all the local stations are playing their songs as well. She went onto say that part of the reason for this was their video Pawn which was filmed and edited by Maurice Supple from Blue Shed Productions, got a fantastic response on Youtube from many of the people involved in those stations.

Jimmy Crowley Stephen Leeson

Irish Folk at its Best with Jimmy Crowley & Stephen Leeson. Music lovers are in for a real special magical treat on Friday 3rd of August when two very different but fantastic Irish Folk Singer/Songwriters; Jimmy Crowley and Stephen Leeson come together in a production of “Irish Folk at its Best” for one night only, at The Mall Arts Centre, Youghal, Co. Cork. Before the gig on the night Shane Supple had the pleasure of interviewing these amazing people.

Daniel Ryan

This week I was joined in studio by 15 year old Daniel Ryan from Youghal, Daniel who was a runner up in the recent busking competition in Youghal and a current finalist in The Perks Talent Competition is a young musician who loves to play his 2 row button accordion.

What makes Daniel special is the fact that he writes a lot of his own songs in a traditional style with a fusion of new ideas and styles. He played one song for me in studio which I have to admit left me breathless. The song called Determination was a fast self composed song, what was extraordinary about it was the speed with which he played it. It was musically, one of the most complicated pieces I have heard in a long time and he breezed through it, his fingers flying from note to note, calm collected and concentrating on his music I could just sit in awe as I watched him play.

The Buachaills

This week I had the pleasure of spending some time in the company of The Buachaills which comprises of Eoin Murphy, Aaron Dolan, Paudie O'Brien and Rob Carlile. The fifth member Eamonn Mulholland, in Canada on holiday, is due back any day now according to the lads. I asked the lads where it all started and how did they form the band. Paudie the elder statesman of the group replied that himself, and Eoin have been playing ballads together since 1992 when they were both members of the Castlelyons pipe band.

Elly O Keeffe

Elly O Keeffe to appear in Kiltha Trad Fest in Castlemartyr

I was speaking this week to Cork singer song writer Elly O Keeffe who was taking a few days break before appearance on Friday the 3rd in Castlemartyr for the Kilta Trad Fest Festival organised by our very own Pat Short from Shorts bar. She will be playing before the American band "The O's" and is looking forward to it. On the night she will be joined on stage by friends and fellow musicians, Noel Barrett on bass guitar, Eoin O Regan on guitar and Cellist Aisling Fitzpatrick, Elly said that she was at the festival last year and she had great craic there was so much fun and the music was amazing so this year when Pat Short asked me to perform at it I didn’t hesitate.

Hank Wedel & Roy Buckley

This week I was joined in the studio by local legend, singer songwriter Hank Wedel. Hank took time out of his busy schedule to sit down and have a chat with me about his music, his songs, and of course his new single. As we sat down to start our conversation, the door opened and Cork born singer, songwriter, Roy Buckley, complete with guitar, joined us. I made a mess of the diary and the two lads arrived on the same day. What was even funnier, the lads had spent the previous evening gigging in Cork together and neither mentioned that they were coming to Youghal to talk to me. Once things settled down we started talking, I asked Hank what brought him to Ireland.

Colette O Donovan

This week I had the chance to speak with Colette O Donovan from Cobh, who has just finished recording some songs on CD. I asked Colette why she got involved in music and where it all started. She told me she had been singing since she was a child, she always loved opera but in school they were not taught opera so her background was not that type of background, a few years ago she decided to do voice lessons and get herself trained by Frank Buckley in Cork. She spent 3 years under Frank’s guidance at the Cork school of Music where she joined Opera Cork. She spent some time involved with Opera Cork performing at various functions in and around Cork. Then because of family and work  commitments she gave it a break and last year when she had time to herself she decided to get back into singing again.

Song Collector Sessions

The Song Collector Sessions with Corks own Roy Buckley has a new home in Cork. This month sees the first of the Song Collector Sessions shows in one of Corks preimer live venues The Pavilion! The Song Collector Sessions is a monthly event that gets up close and personal with Ireland’s established, leading and promising artists.Hosted by Roy Buckley The Song Collector Sessions allows the audienece to to get an insight into the minds and the music of some of this county’s greatest songwriters and indeed, song collectors. The Song Collector Sessions will feature different guests each month and each show is unique. So far guests have included Mike Hanrahan, Hank Wedel, Ricky Lynch,  Andy Dunne, among others.

Gene Stuart

Gene Stuart - A welcome return to Co Waterford.

Country singer Gene Stuart hit the Irish music scene over thirty five years ago. In his first band Gene sang the country songs with ‘The Dynamic Sounds’ a talented local pop group. Because of the lack of work in Ireland Gene traveled to England and spent some time on the construction Sites in Birmingham. He stayed for awhile but returned home where he found work with Ken Kennedy’s band from Monaghan, He then moved onto the Mc Geogh brother’s band before securing his big break.

Leo Mullane

This week I had the pleasure of chatting with 17year old Leo Mullane from Youghal about his new EP and upcoming gig where he will be a guest with Declan O Rourke at the end of the month. I started off by asking him the usual question. Where did it all start for him?.  He told me he got an electric guitar and practice amp for Christmas when he was 9yrs old and from that moment on he never looked back. Countless hours spent practicing in his room lead him to join the Youth Café in Youghal where he was able to meet with other young musicians. 

John Hogan

Sometimes known as 'Ireland's Prince of Country Music', John Hogan celebrates his 25th year of success within Ireland's music scene this year, as well as an ambassador to Ireland and Irish Country Music around the world. John Hogan is one of very few singers that can claim to have had a hit record before ever performing at a gig. Although music was a big part of his life growing up, he secured a good job with Board-Na-Mona. However he often took his guitar to work and entertained his workmates with his singing. He was eventually persuaded to record a single, and chose his mother's favourite song, 'Brown Eyes'. Radio West presenter Don Allen gave the song great airplay, and the single took off from there. It soon went up to the top-ten charts.

Local Music News Bobby Lee

This week I spoke with local musician, Bobby Lee about the current activities in our local area. Bobby, who is very involved in running music classes for the younger people in our town at the Youth Cafe Hot Spot in Youghal among other things had a lot to try and get through in the short time we had on air.

The hot spot music group is a voluntary run club for 12 to 18 years and is based in Youghal. It has been in existence for the past 2 years. Every Thursday, the young and inspired can gather there to develop their musical skills through song writing, learning an instrument, jamming out in the hot spot music room kitted out by ‘IRMA’ (the Irish recorded music association) whom last year provided a bank of instruments for use by the club, or they can hang out in the youth cafe, nothing too serious but a whole lotta fun and freedom to learn. The club is facilitated by national youth organization Forage who provide a safe and warm environment for the group to happen

Nathan Carter

Nathan Carter is the brightest young singing star to hit Ireland for many years.  Nathan was born in the City of Liverpool. At the age of four he found his love for music and was given a piano accordion, which he quickly mastered.  At seven, Nathan started to enter Fleadh Ceoil Competitions in Accordion and Singing.  At 15, he won the All Ireland Title for Traditional Singing.   Nathan was determined to seek a career in the Music Industry, and at the tender age of 16 years, decided to leave school and follow his dream. 

Jimmy Crowley’s Cork Folk Club:

Jimmy Crowley & John Spillane

Oh what a night. The launch of Jimmy Crowley's Cork Folk Club was absolutely amazing, you couldn't have asked for a more perfect night. Now where would you find two extraordinary artists such as Jimmy Crowley and John Spillane raising the roof to the Boys of Fairhill?. Well the answer is quite simple “only in Cork Boi” live at the Windsor Inn Lv Bar. For music enthusiasts it was great to see two of Cork’s greatest songwriters engrossed in the gig, and sing along to classic favourites like the Boys of Fairhill, Salonika, Oro se do bheatha bhaile, Dunnes Stores Girl, Cherrytree and many more favorite songs.

Mick Flavin

Mick Flavin

Irish country singer Mick Flavin has been a favourite at the dance halls singing Irish & Country songs for over 20 years, celebrated his incredible journey from Drumlish to Nashville via Wembley Stadium with the release of a double CD As Good As I Once Was. Recognised by his pure, deep voice and for his reputation as being a 'big, friendly giant', Mick has accumulated a large fan base throughout the years.

Tree Sleepers

Tree Sleepers

 This week we take a look at “The Tree Sleepers” who are a Cork based alternative rock band. The band is the creative outlet of LJ Devlin who after studying music at Ballyfermot College and playing in a number of bands and as a solo artist around Dublin returned to Cork to release her successful debut album Hunters Moon. Having worked with the lads on other projects in the past they decided to get together and form the LJ Devlin and the Unemployable Tree Sleepers. Which they later shortened to simply The Tree Sleepers after Caleb, found him self waking up after sleeping in a tree during a festival, with a group of little children poking him with a stick to see if he would fall out of the tree.

The Boys are Back in Town

Shane Supple interviews Billy Lane & Tony Hennessey

Well today I had the pleasure of interviewing two very unlikely music stars. Billy Lane and Tony Hennessey, who, without meaning to, have had their faces splashed across tv screens on SKY tv and had their faces appear on thousands of music shops across the world.

The Champions

Gina, Dale Hayes & the Champions,

The original lineup of Gina on vocals , Jerdie Mackey known as Dale Haze on vocals, Mossy Walsh on keyboards, Pat Walsh on guitar, Eddie Fitzgerald on bass and Tony Hornibrook on drums, hit the road as the Herdsmen in early 1973. The band released their first single “Paper Mansions” and was playing the smaller circuit, when they signed with Tony Byrne. When Cork beat Galway in the 1973 All-Ireland Final in Croke Park, they had their new name, The Champions. Their first single recorded as the Champions, Dreams Are Good Friends, climbed to Number 12 in the Irish Charts. The Champions had their first hit and were off and running.

Mark O Sullivan

Mark (Fanta) O Sullivan getting caught on air by Cork Radio.

Louise Morrissey

Louise Morrissey

Louise Morrissey has long been one of Ireland's best loved singers and entertainers.

She has achieved great success, and has brought her easy style of country and folk to many other countries around the world. She has toured extensively in Ireland, Europe, America, Canada and Australia as well as nearly every country in Europe. Louise a former member of The Morrissey’s Folk Group along with her brothers Billy & Norman, toured for many years until 1987

Dirty Vodoo Band

Vocals Colin Lee
Guitar Sean Cudlip
Guitar and vocals David (Dom) Mulcahy
Bass guitar Tommy Collins

David (Dom) Mulcahy is from Ardmore but now lives in Youghal. He has been playing guitar since he was 16. He is mostly self-taught, other than a small amount of lessons from bandmate Sean while he was 18 and still at school.

Robert Mizzell

Robert born on 21st July in Louisiana has made Ireland his home for over 20 years. He served his apprenticeship in Country Music since he first arrived here and is now one of the top Country artists in Ireland, his popularity spreading with extensive airplay into Europe and to such distant territories as Australia. As anyone who ever attended a Robert Mizzell show will testify, Robert with his band The Country Kings put on an energy filled show. Brimming with Country flavour his shows appeal to audiences in Nashville and wherever Country Music is popular.

Paddy O Brien

This year marks Paddy O Brien’s 25th year touring with his band

To mark this special occasion country star Paddy O Brien from Aglish Co Waterford and his band have organised several country music spectacular shows throughout the year. The next big festival of country music for people in this area is taking place on Fri 18^th, Sat 19th and Sun 20th May in Lawlors hotel Dungarvan Co Waterford. Paddy has been performing with his band for the last 25years and in that time has gained a huge fan base locally here in Cork and Waterford as well as fans from all around the world. This is never more evident then when he holds his weekends for his fans every year.