Diarmuid De Guide

Diarmuid De Guide interview Thursday 22nd Dec 2011
On Thursday last I had the pleasure of Diarmuid De Guide  from Blarney in County Cork as my guest.  We were joined in studio by his manager Carol Rice who also manages Stephen Leeson, Jimmy Crowley and Irish Folk Group Shebeen. Also in the studio on the day was guest presenter Linda Carroll who presents another program on Youghal Radio. So with a bigger then normal crew of people all gathered around the mic it was going to be an interesting if not fun afternoon. And fun it was with some great tunes thrown in for the listeners. I spoke with Carol about how she came across Diarmuid and I also spoke with Diarmuid about how he came across Carroll, but I am getting ahead of myself again as normal. I guess I should tell you a little about Diarmuid.

Ger Thompson 2nd interview

Ger Thompson 2nd Interview Friday 16th Dec 2011

Well this week we had a chance to catch up with singer songwriter Ger Thompson. Ger who was on the show last March has been working away writing songs and getting himself out there so to speak. Since his last visit much has happened to Ger, today spent the time talking about these new events and how his songwriting was progressing. Ger, as always sang during the interview two of his great new songs. Now I know I am going a little off topic here so bear with me because I feel its important and needs to be said. I find that a second interview can tell a lot about a person, the first interview people are always well behaved, a little guarded and keeping an eye on everything they say, and this is normal after all who wants to sit down and discuss a life story live on air with people they don't know. However with Ger I found the opposite, a relaxed, outgoing, guy who loves his music and loves to talk about music in general. There was no hint of suspicion or any of the things I listed above. Ger from day one when we met in March is still the same guy, still as passionate about music, still as gentle and soft spoken, still as humble and most of all is a gifted songwriter with a lot to offer. The reason I even mention this is to try show you a little of the man rather then the public persona so to speak. I met a guy who, in the music world is a genuine, down to earth, honest hardworking guy. Now having gotten that out of the way read on.

Sinead McNally

Sinead McNally Interview Dec 1st 2011

This week I spoke with the very talented Sinead McNally a singer/songwriter and pianist from Dundalk. I am a lazy person as many of my listeners will tell you so a lot of the information below is from Sinead's own website or Myspace page. So forgive me for copying the text. However the interview is my own and you can listen into that below. Sinead spent her early years studying piano at the College of Music in Dublin and alongside that developed her love for Irish traditional music by learning the fiddle through Comhaltas. When she was 14 she won ‘The Macardle Award’ after being auditioned by renowned Irish conductor Proinnsias O’Duinn on behalf of Louth County Council. She was awarded a scholarship to pursue her classical music studies. She went on to study a degree in music at Canterbury Christchurch University.

Aine Duffy

Aine Duffy interview Friday December 2nd 2011

Well are days when all goes well, nothing can go wrong life is wonderful and nothing can get you down,  but sadly there are days when your not feeling on top of the world and everything goes wrong its dark, gloomy, boring and your simply fed up. Well there is a cure and its not medical. That cure quite simply is Aine Duffy. Now I dont normally dispense medical advice in this blog, but on this occasion what can I say. I can only talk about this miracle cure from personal experience I had on Friday last, I was tired, it had been a long night, I was having a bad day, things were not going to plan and life looked awful. Then at about ten past one, I was cured. This cure came in the form of the energetic, talented, happy, carefree, wild ball of  fun known as Aine Duffy who arrived at the studio for our interview.

Stephen Leeson 3rd Interview

Stephen Leeson Interview Dec 1st 2011

Well this week we caught up with singer songwriter, Stephen Leeson. The last time we spoke with Stephen was march of this year (follow this link to hear that interview). We spoke about his album The Isle of Hope which has received rave reviews around the country from radio presenters to fans alike. Stephen who was once singer with the renowned group The Dublin City ramblers has for the last number of years been working hard recording, promoting and getting his new album out their and available to everyone. As he says himself its hard work promoting a new album, almost as hard as putting it together, recording it and releasing it. I spoke with Stephen on the phone rather then in person today because he was busy on the set of Titanic, a new TV seris being shot in Ireland and Stephen is on set as an extra.

Paradox

Paradox interview Friday 18th Nov 2011

Well I know I often say  I dont know where to start and on this occasion I really dont know where to start. There is so much history and so much going on with this band that its not easy to find a starting point for this page. Is it where I first met them in person at the radio station?,  is it where we first came across them online?, or is it a the start of their own story which to say the least is your typical "Rock and Roll story", I will insert bullet points here to give you an idea of what were talking about - Band, Cork, Friends, Brothers, Music, Record, First Album, LA America, Record Deal, Tour, Ireland, Album, Second Tour America , Second album, Canada, Berlin, Ireland, Mexico, Cuba, Third Album, Time off between albums, Broken contracts, Touring, Music, Band, Cork etc . Or do we listen to the interview and try make sense of it all. Tell you what I will start writing and we will take it from there.

Community Radio Awards Night

2011 Community Radio Awards night organisers interview Friday 18th Nov

Well this week we had two ladies in studio who are well known to the listeners of Community Radio Youghal, Margaret Carey and Maura Joyce, two of the ladies involved in putting together the annual Country Music Awards here at Youghal Radio. Both ladies present their own music shows on CRY each week and have been involved in putting on the awards night since it restarted 3 years ago. In our conversation they explained why they decided to start the awards night, We spoke about the success of it for the last three years and how popular it has become in the annual country music calendar here in Cork.

Polly Barrett

Polly Barrett interview Friday 11th Nov 2011

Well here we go again, another interview with another amazing singer songwriter, I guess what ever I write here will only pale in comparison to what will be written over the next few years for this talented rising star. Take it from me you have not heard the last of this fine singer, Polly Barrett a native from Kinsale in County Cork spent most of her young adult life in Cork City learning her craft and writing songs. Today I had the pleasure of chatting with Polly and of course started off with the usual where did it all start for you. "well I remember doing piano classes at a very young age but it never really was my thing and as I grew older I started to write more I got myself a guitar and from then on things changed for me. With the guitar I found I was able to compose and write songs easier with my pen ,notepad and guitar I was able to put songs together.

Sophie O Keeffe

Sophie O Keeffe interview Friday 4th Nov 2011

This week I had the pleasure of chatting with a new up and coming songwriter Sophie O Keeffe from Ballycotton. I had met Sophie before when she was about 7 or 8 years old, she was with her parents Niall and Aine O Keeffe who were heading a band called Sonic Icons and were in studio for a chat and with them was Sophie. However this time round I got to speak to Sophie and talk to her about her own music. I had a chance to listen to her sing a few songs mostly her own and to say that this young ladies star is shinning brightly is an understatement.

Shane Supple Video hits 60,000 views

Tonight my new video I want you to want me hit 60,000 views on Youtube. thanks to everyone for passing it around and sharing it, please feel free to keep on sharing it with your family friends and anyone else you can think of. Thanks to everyone.

Crystal Swing - Derek Burke

Crystal Swing - Derek Burke Interview Friday Oct 28th 2011

This is the first of several interviews I hope to conduct with Crystal swing over the next few months when our schedules will allow it. I will be talking to the three members of Crystal swing. This week I spoke with Derek Burke lead singer and front man for Crystal Swing.

Where to start, Crystal Swing comprises of the Burke family from East Cork,  Mary a fine musician and overall brains behind the outfit as well as being mother to, Derek on vocals and Dervla, who in my mind is one of the finest singers ever to come out of Cork. When she sings country you really have to listen, an accomplished singer with a great voice. Anyway I guess I better go back to the first time I came across Crystal Swing. "He drinks Tequila" was their first video I saw from Crystal Swing on the well known SKY TV Program Hot Country, My own video (Lifetime Guarantee was also on the same show) within weeks it was put on youtube and from there it went viral,  getting roughly 100,000 hits in the first few days alone, within two weeks it had hit over the half a million mark. Currently on youtube the combined footage and video clips of Crystal Swing surpass the 3 million views mark & thats not including the millions of TV viewers across the globe.

Kevin Glavin

Kevin Glavin Interview Friday 21st Oct 2011

Today I had the pleasure of chatting with 21 year old singer/songwriter Kevin Glavin from Cork. Kevin who has been singing and writing since the age of 17 would be known for being the recent winner of Corks got talent 2010. With influences which can be heard heavily in both his style of writing and playing, from the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Tom Waits Kevin is on the right track. So it was with great expectations I started talking to Kevin about his music.

Kym Kelly

Kym Kelly interview Thursday 20th Oct 2011

This week I had the chance to catch up with Kym Kelly from Kildare town. She is well known around the pubs and clubs in Leinster, having played as part of a two piece band with her father for seventeen years. It was only last year that Kym began to look further afield, and started to promote her music on a national and international scale. She has recorded her first album "A new road to travel" and has had a great year winning most popular local artist in the Leinster entertainment awards 2011 Country Singer - Best Breakthrough Artist 2011, Most Popular Local Artist -Leinster Entertainment Awards, Runner up in Country Bulletin Best Newcomer Award.

Eva Porter 2011

Eva Porter interview Friday Oct 14th 2011

Well after a long spell I decided it was time to invite Eva back into the studio once again to see how she is getting on since we last spoke.First and foremost I must stress I am a big Eva Porter fan, so this report may be biased but hey its my blog. now the wonderful Eva Porter for those that might not know is a very talented singer songwriter from Carrigtwohill in County Cork. What made this lady so special in the first instance was her desire to write some songs, record an album, sing on it and release it to the world. Nothing special in that you may say well you would be wrong, the reason it was so significant is simple, She had never sang in public, she had never recorded before, and in the music world she had left it a lot later then many other singer songwriters to start her musical journey.

David Blaize

David Blaize interview Friday 23rd Sept 2011

This week I had the pleasure of chatting with David Blaize singer songwriter from Cork. David who hails from Tralee in Co Kerry but now living in Cork has been playing music for aseveral years now but its only in the last year or two that he has decided to branch out a little more as a singer songwriter.  I first came across David on Myspace and while listening to some of his tunes decided I would contact him and see would he do an interview, I sent off an email and the following day I got a reply from David musch to my surprise he agreed to an interview so we set it up and he arrived at the studio on time and in great form.

Cormac O Caoimh

Cormac O Caoimh interview Aug 25th 2011.
There are weeks when all around you do great interviews, a friend of mine interviewed Jeremy Irons another interviewed several stars at Cork Opera House, but me, I think I topped them all off.  One of the reasons I decided to do this radio show and continue to do it was it gave me a chance to interview singer songwriters, the real deal of the music world, the unsung hero so to speak who normally go unnoticed.  The first time I came across Cormac O Caoimh he was on the bill  with The 4 of Us in Cypres Avenue in Cork, we got chatting after his set and I invited him down to have a chat on radio. I got home and put on his CD  "Start a Spark" and was blown away with the strength of his songs, I decided that I would have to follow up on the interview idea and email him to be sure. The following day I emailed and got an immediate response it was all set. Today was that day and as it turned out a special day. Cormac O Caoimh singer songwriter from Cork arrived in studio,  complete with guitar and on time.

Tango Extremo

Tango Extremo interview August 18th 2011

Ah What a week its been this week I had the pleasure of meeting and chating with the group Tango Extremo from The Netherlands who were on tour here in Ireland. Tanya Schaap who plays violin and is the artistic director was accompanied in studio by the rest of the group. Ben van den Dungeon who plays soprano saxophone, Rob van Kreeveld the pianist of the group, Matias Pedrana from Argintina on accordion and Bandoneon and Stefan Lievestro on the double bass.

Pat Short

Interview on Thursday 28th July 2011.

Where does one start this write up. Ever since I played a song "Sit Down for the raffle",by Pat Shortt and Jon Kenny, I wanted to have Pat on this show as a guest. When my sister working as assistant director on the film "Man about Dog" told me all about this fella called Pat Shortt, I knew we would one day cross paths. Then, one of the greatest hours on radio ever with Joe Rooney, who now appears in Killinaskully,  followed by the legend Mike Hanrahan from Stocktons Wing who is The Chef, the main man and leading light in the kitchen in Pat Shortts bar in Castlemyrter. guested on my radio show. The signs were there, it was only a matter of getting the timing right.

Hell for Leather

Hell for Leather interview Thursday 14th July 2011

We caught up with the group Hell for Leather once again, after our first interview last year things have moved on since for the band. I asked the lads what was new in the world of this band. Well the band has increased by one bringing the group to four. The inclusion of an accordion player from Dripsey has added an element of lunacy that this group has not seen before. Ritchie is a welcome addition and Pete O Keeffe on guitar from Lisgould. Add in the tow lads who were int he studio today Mike and Ken then you have a bunch of lads who truly love their music and what they do.

Wall St Thieves

The Wall St Thieves Interview 7th July

Well we 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 band consist of Eric Doherty on Guitar /Vocals, Che Horgan also Guitar /Vocals, Shane Norberg on Bass/Vocals, Dereck O’Shea on Drums. This week we had the pleasure of just two lads Che and Eric Dereck and Shane were unavailable to come into the studio but it was good to be able to relax and talk with familiar faces. 

Roy Buckley

Roy Buckley interview on 1st July 2011

Cork singer songwriter Roy Buckley joined me today for a chat about music and how things have been going for him so far this year. Roy has been on the show before and at the drop of a hat he would pick up his guitar and sing a song and this time it was no different. Today we spoke about his upcoming shows this weekend where he would have some very special guests on stage

Fil Campbell

Interview recorded on Thur 30th June 2011

Well this week I had the pleasure of meeting with musician ,songwriter and great singer Fil Campbell and percussionist Tom McFarland, both who took time out of their busy schedule to come to Youghal and sit in with me for an hour to talk about music,song’s and life’s great mysteries. Fil has to date recorded  over five albums mixing many old songs with her own compositions which give the listener a great choice of sounds to listen to and to be carried away on. To top it off she presented her own radio and TV shows in Ireland

Bassline

Bassline interview Friday 24th June 2011


I thought I was in for another normal Friday radio show, start with the weather,play some music interview a new band and go through the papers for the weekend tv listings. Suffice to say I never even got to read the weather. Bassline the band had arrived in the studio and after that it was more like a sit down chat, craic and talk about music in a local bar. At one stage I even forgot we were on air.

Carol Keniry

Carol Keniry interview 17th June 2011


Well its not often I am impressed by the talents of a singer so young, but this week speaking to singer songwriter guitar player Carol Keniry I have to say I was impressed by so many things. Her attitude, her skill, her voice, her style and her personality. Sitting in a studio being interviewed by yours truly is never an easy thing to have to put up, with but Carol took it all in her stride. 

Billy Cusack

Billy Cusack interview June 10th 2011 


This week we spoke with local singer Billy Cusack. Billy has been playing the local scene for over 25 years. Starting out as a two piece with Tony Moore, who later went on to become owner of “The Meeting place". Tony got very busy so I started doing a few gigs on my own until I meet up with Padraig Parker,