Some might say it's St. Patrick's Day year-round on Fiona Ritchie's weekly NPR music show, The Thistle & Shamrock®. In fact, while her program playlists share Celtic roots, they often branch out into music from other places and genres.
For St. Patrick's Day at NPR Music, Ritchie has picked four hours that focus on the Irish contribution to her radio shows. They span traditional to contemporary, vocal to instrumental music, and give a sense of both where Irish music has come from and where it's headed.
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The Thistle & Shamrock: John Doyle
Guitar master, singer, arranger and producer John Doyle is one of the most versatile artists in Irish music. In this program, find out about his signature rhythmic guitar style, how he develops his irresistible arrangements, and his life as a transplanted Dubliner in the mountains of North Carolina. You'll hear music from Solas, Tim O'Brien and Liz Carroll, along with tracks from John Doyle's critically acclaimed solo albums. (Click here for full music details.)
The Thistle & Shamrock: Remembering Micheal O'Domhnaill
Everyone who has thrilled to The Bothy Band, Relativity and Nightnoise was touched by the music of Micheal O'Domhnaill, who died in 2006. A native of County Meath, Ireland, the guitarist and singer was a major influence on acoustic music throughout Ireland, the U.K. and the U.S., where he made his home in the 1980s and '90s. We remember a great musical life through many of his remarkable recordings. (Click here for full music details.)
The Thistle & Shamrock: Eleanor McEvoy
Meet the Irish musician who wrote and performed the title song for the best-selling album in Irish history, A Woman's Heart. Her journey as a classical violinist, rock musician and singer-songwriter has produced critically acclaimed recordings, including the album Yola, where many of her influences come into focus. (Click here for full music details.)
The Thistle & Shamrock: Irish Classics
Early Christy Moore, Paul Brady, Mary Black (pictured left) and Moving Hearts: They're all here in our nostalgic browse through an hour's worth of classic Irish tracks from the 1970s, '80s and '90s. (Click here for full music details.)