Paul McDermott

Educator – Broadcaster – Documentary Producer – Writer

Latest Documentary:

An Draíocht
the music of Sliabh Luachra

A Learn & Sing production for RTÉ Lyric fm.

“An Draíocht is an evocative reminder of the magical role music can play in our lives.” Mick Heaney – The Irish Times

“An Draíocht is a powerful piece on the music of Sliabh Luachra.” Declan Lynch – Sunday Independent

Podcast & Further Information

Documentaries Playlist:

Latest Podcast Episode:

Latest Articles:

Ireland in 50 Albums, No 33: …If I Die, I Die


by Virgin Prunes

by Paul McDermott
Irish Examiner - 29 January 2025

Ireland in 50 Albums, No 32: Kissing the Roof of Heaven


by Hinterland

by Paul McDermott
Irish Examiner - 15 January 2025

Ireland in 50 Albums, No 31: Comforter


by Compulsion

by Paul McDermott
Irish Examiner - 13 November 2024

Featured Blog Posts:

Robert Forster – Interview

“From the Archives - 2017 Robert Forster interview” taking in: Grant & I, The Go-Betweens in Dublin, Cathal Coughlan & Microdisney and more.

The Go-Betweens, Leonard Cohen, U2 and Boston Celtics’ Reggie Lewis

“A few words on The Go-Betweens, Leonard Cohen, U2 and Boston Celtics’ Reggie Lewis” taking in: Leeside Music on Cork’s MacCurtain Street, price stickers, The Go-Betweens’ boxsets, J-1 visas, ‘Streets of Your Town’, Grant McLennan and my greatest vinyl find.

Top 10 Vinyl Finds of 2024

“Top 10 Vinyl Finds of 2024”. These were picked up in record shops in Manchester, Sydney, Tarragona, Dublin and Cork. There are a couple rare collectables here but mostly it’s just a bunch of records I couldn’t leave behind.

The Chariot Race

“The Chariot Race by Alexander von Wagner” taking in: Ben-Hur, Gladiator, MacMillan’s Class Pictures from 1932, Victorian-era paintings, The Lady of Shallot, the Empire Marketing Board, Margaret Clarke, how memory plays tricks on us and why “the pig is the great friend of the Irish peasant.”

Peel Sessions

On the 20th anniversary of Peel’s passing, a few words on John Peel Sessions taking in: Irish bands recording Peel Sessions, Irish Trad and Folk, Punk and beyond, Strange Fruit Records, The Smiths, The Go-Betweens, New Order, Joy Division, Microdisney, Jubilee Allstars, Billy Bragg, Stump, The Would Be’s, Finbar & Eddie Furey, LMNO Pelican, Na Filí, The Fall, Five Go Down to the Sea? and more.

The Chills’ Martin Phillipps - An Appreciation

“Martin Phillipps: An Appreciation” taking in: The Chills, ‘I Love My Leather Jacket’, ‘Heavenly Pop Hit’, music videos, American tourists, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Kelly’s of Portrush and Mount Errigal.

Top 10 Irish Songs*

“Top 10 Irish songs” taking in: “best of” lists, subjectivity, lost 80s classics, cover versions, The Royal Showband, an orange and cream 1970s Fidelity turntable and keeping music evil. Last week the Irish Independent published a “best of” list titled “The best Irish songs of all time”. Their list was subtitled “ranked: the definitive top 50”. Let’s agree on one thing straight away, “best of” lists are ridiculous, they’re also simultaneously highly entertaining and incredibly frustrating.

*Today

Steve Albini - An Appreciation

“Steve Albini - An Appreciation” taking in: Big Black, Shellac, The Wedding Present, Pixies, Nirvana, Palace, Slint, Low, Connolly’s of Leap, Nancy Spains, Sir Henry’s, Bandicoot Promotions, Zeitgeist magazine, Adrian Crowley, Nina Nastasia, Palace Music, Magnolia Electric Co, Bikini Kill, Dirty Three and The Auteurs.

Julian Cope’s Postcards

“Julian Cope’s Postcards” taking in: Krautrocksampler, Cope’s Notes, Julian Cope and Donald Ross Skinner’s Rite, Faith magazine, 1993’s The Acoustic Tour, bootleg tapes, John Cooper Clarke, The Modern Antiquarian, Royal Kilmainham Hospital, Vinyl Dublin, stone circles, Gaulstown Dolmen and The Heavy Camel Corps of the Sudan campaign of 1885.

Werner Herzog in Ireland

“Werner Herzog in Ireland” taking in: Skellig Michael and Skellig Bheag; Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry; Reek Sunday; Croagh Patrick; Popol Vuh; Joy Division; Ian Curtis; Factory Records; dead wax inscriptions; Fitzcarraldo; Aguirre; the Wrath of God; Heart of Glass; The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser; cinema lobby cards and secondhand records.

Blog Archive

Instagram

View fullsize The Goo Issue 32. Available around Dublin City centre. To Here Knows When - Great Irish Albums Revisited column focuses on the brilliant Twilight by John Hegarty.
View fullsize Sean, Livvy, Rob, Marcus and Jon. What a brilliant opening night of the High Llamas' tour.
View fullsize Róis - Mo Léan Look what arrived! Sounds great 👍 👌 😀 #nowplaying #nowlistening #nowspinning #vinylrecords
View fullsize Monday night's #songstolearnandsing on @dublincityfm was a Creation Records special. 12 of my favourites from the iconic label. #playback in bio. Songs To Learn And Sing EP 998 11pm Monday, 10 February 2025 Creation Records Special Super Furry Ani
View fullsize Pick five essential Llamas' tunes the Irish Examiner asked. No probs. I answered. FFS, how do you pick 5 tunes from 11 albums? I gave it a go. Link in bio. #highllamas
View fullsize Songs To Learn And Sing EP 997 11pm Monday, 03 February 2025 #songstolearnandsing has a new time of 11pm on Monday nights. Last Monday night's #songstolearnandsing #playlist on @dublincityfm #playback in bio Julian Cope – Bill Drummond Said
View fullsize Broken English followed by 10 random 7" plays. #mariannefaithfull #nowspinning #nowplaying #nowlistening #vinylcollection #vinylrecords #7inchvinyl #7inchsingle
View fullsize She was amazing😥
View fullsize Lovely to see this in print. The album still sounds amazing! I mention the great music journalist, and Co. Kerry native, Helen Fitzgerald, who sadly passed away last year. Thanks to @gavin_friday @virginprunes_official link in bio
View fullsize Songs To Learn And Sing EP 996 11pm Monday, 27 January 2025 Setanta Records Special We're in a new timeslot - Mondays @ 11pm. Here's last night's #playlist and #playback Link in bio. A Setanta Records Special. Into Paradise have just issued a comp
View fullsize Finally, I picked up a copy of Issue 31 of @thegoodublin To Here Knows When - Great Irish Albums Revisited column focuses on The Hedge Schools' second album At the End of a Winding Day by Pat Barrett and Joe Chester. All previous columns are archived
View fullsize Songs To Learn And Sing EP 995 11pm Wednesday, 15 January 2025 The Chills – Dolphins The Loft – Dr Clarke Mekons – Mudcrawlers The Nightingales – The New Emperor’s New Clothes Adrian Crowley – Brother Was A Runawa