Eoin McKiernan Library

12/20/2025

Today on The Shamrock Shore, noon-1pm on Jazz88: Holly tunes and songs plus an interview with Katie McMahon. Tune in for tunes!

12/13/2025

Tune in to The Shamrock Shore today 12-1pm on Jazz88 / 88.5fm for my interview with Hannah Flowers, about her new album and upcoming concert. Also music from Ruairí McGorman, Claire Egan, Dervish, Macdara Ó Faoláin, Nuadán, Saileog Ní Cheannabháin, The Clancy Children, Planxty, Connie O'Connell and Danny Diamond & Conor Caldwell.

12/06/2025

Brand new music from Hannah Flowers, Alfi, Macdara Ó Faoláin, Stephen McKee & Gary Curley this week on The Shamrock Shore at noon Saturday on Jazz88. Plus an interview with Dennis Curley about the Celtic Holiday Hooley that opens on the 12th. We'll also hear Cathy Jordan, Ponyfolk, Nathan Gourley/Joey Abarta/Owen Marshall, Aidan Connolly & Bryan O'Leary, Sean Potts, Oisín Mac Diarmada/Daithí Gormley/Samantha Harvey and The High Seas.

11/29/2025

From Maidrín rua and Reynardine to Fox trots and Edel Fox, the Fox is on the Prowl today at noon on The Shamrock Shore on Jazz88. With music from Archie Fisher, Gary Curley & Stephen McKee, Peg Power Clancy, Dana Lyn & Kyle Sanna, Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill, Dónal McCague & Tommy Fitzharris, Niall Hanna, Nic Jones, Conal O'Grada, One For the Foxes, Frankie Gavin, Rick Epping & Tim Edey, the Innisfail Irish Orchestra, Edel Fox, Diarmuid O Brien & Dan Brouder, John O'Connor and David Power.

Image from Mister Fox (1870): https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/mister-fox-1870/

11/15/2025

We're replaying this very fashionable show of tunes and songs named for clothing today at 12pm on The Shamrock Shore on Jazz88!

Irish tunes from head to toe today 9/13 on The Shamrock Shore. We'll do tunes and songs named for articles of clothing this week. Above the belt for the first half, below for the second! Music from Téada, Kathleen Conneely, The Clancy Brothers and lots more. Hold on to your breeches!

88.5fm in the Twin Cities or online at Jazz88.fm

11/10/2025

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the sinking of The Edmund Fitzgerald on Lake Superior. Named for a member of a prominent Irish-American shipping family with captain and crew members of heritage, the tragedy itself has many Irish connections.

The song by Canadian Gordon Lightfoot kept the story in public consciousness for past half century and also ended up connected to Ireland.

Irish singer Christy Moore used Gordon Lightfoot's melody for the poem "Back Home in Derry" written by Bobby Sands who died on hunger strike in Long Kesh prison in 1981. Sands' poem also tells of a perilous journey over the waves--this time by Irish prisoners bound for Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania).

Hear Christy Moore sing it here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1atp8KuDrs/

The very fact that Lightfoot's 6-and-a-half minute chorus-less ballad succeeded as a popular song harkens back to the broadside ballad days of the 19th century when Irish ballad makers sang story songs on street corners and drew crowds eager to purchase the lyrics.

11/07/2025

Tomorrow on The Shamrock Shore, 12pm on Jazz88: Erik Brandt interviews Norah Rendell about her upcoming show at Celtic Junction Arts Center (https://www.facebook.com/share/19GdC6w4Rx/). With music from Archie Fisher, Norah Rendell, The Outside Track, Aidan Connolly & Bryan O'Leary, The Murphy Beds, Matt Molloy, Josh Dukes, Dylan Foley & Sean McComiskey, Dermy & Tara Diamond with Dáithí Sproule, David McKindley-Ward & Letitia VanSant, Maurice Egan, Joey Abarta, Nathan Gourley & Owen Marshall and Christy Moore.

10/28/2025

It was great representing the Eoin McKiernan Library, Celtic Junction Arts Center, The Shamrock Shore and Northern Shores (my music duo with Danny Diamond) at Folk Alliance Region Midwest (FARM) conference last weekend in Lisle, Illinois! Here are a few pics.

10/17/2025

Saturday at noon

On Saturday from 12-1pm on The Shamrock Shore we'll celebrate women in Irish music and chat with members of the MNá Fiddlers group that performs at The Celtic Junction on Sunday night. We'll hear live tracks from that group plus Josephine Keegan, The Outside Track, The Casey Sisters, Theresa O'Grady, Edel Fox and lots more.

10/06/2025

I had great fun doing The Shamrock Shore live at Jazz88 studios in Minneapolis on Saturday with help from fellow Jazz88 host Larry Larson. Thanks to all those that made a pledge in support of Jazz88! You can make a gift or listen back to the show here: https://www.jazz88.fm/show/the-shamrock-shore/

This week we listened to Brid Harper, Nicolas Brown, Macdara Ó Faoláin, The Alt, Tony MacMahon & Noel Hill, The Fretless (with Norah Rendell), Planxty, Aidan Connolly, Cordeen, Ultan O'Brien, Caoimhín Ó Fearghail & Paddy Tutty and One for the Foxes.

10/04/2025

It's fund drive time at Jazz88! I'll be doing The Shamrock Shore LIVE today at 12pm.

Today also marks one year since I started doing the show. I've really enjoyed doing this work each week and I feel like it is becoming a valuable piece of our amazing Irish music community here in Minnesota. Jazz88, along with other public media, has had all its federal funding cut and it's a substantial part of the station's budget. Please consider pledging and showing support for The Shamrock Shore and community radio. http://jazz88.fm

09/29/2025

Cathy (Reeck) White did Irish dance in the 1970s under instructor Josie Vaughan in St. Paul. She recently donated her dance costume (dress, cape and brooch) to the McKiernan Library.

The same costume appears in photos (held by the Burnsville Historical Society) of Josie Vaughan's Tír na nÓg dancers dancing at "Night with the Irish" events in Burnsville. We're excited to have this piece of early St. Paul Irish dance school history in the McKiernan Library collection!