Paul McDermott

Educator – Broadcaster – Documentary Producer – Writer

Latest Blog Post:

Van Morrison at 80

A few words on Van Morrison taking in: Millstreet Music Fair 1996, Stump’s Mick lynch, Cork Jazz Festival 1996, Humpers Inc and Rathmines College 2003

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:

U2 surprise at the Lark by the Lee

by Paul McDermott
Irish Examiner - 27 August 2025

Featured Blog Posts:

Flotsam: Cork’s Old Venues

“A few words on arts magazine Flotsam” taking in: “sean-nós noise makers” I Dreamed I Dream, the continuing saga of Cork’s Event Centre, and what can be learned from old Cork venues and some of the legendary gigs they hosted.

Factory Records: Top 10 Comps

“Factory Records - Top 10 Comps” taking in: Cian Ó Cíobháin’s An Taobh Tuathail Factory special, New Order, Joy Division, Section 25, Happy Mondays, A Certain Radio, Anthony H. Wilson, Ian Curtis, Martin Hannett and a whole lot more.

The Fall at Sir Henry’s

“A few words on The Fall” taking in: The Fall at the Arcadia in 1980, The Fall at Sir Henry’s in 1997. Mark E. Smith, Dave Simpson’s The Fallen, Freakscene and Gigantic at Sir Henry’s, The Beatles, Freakscene flyers, Uaneen Fitzsimons and No Disco, The Fall at The Pavilion in 2012, and Rob Anthony’s Number One Fan comic strip.

Record Store Day: A Top 10

“A Top 10 of Record Store Day releases” taking in: New Order, Joy Division, The Wicker Man, Alfred Hitchcock, Fontaines DC, Low, The The, Nick Cave, Pulp, Clint Mansell, and Chris Bell.

Peace Together

“A few words on Peace Together, a 1993 benefit album” taking in: Sinéad O’Connor, Peter Gabriel, New Order, My Bloody Valentine, The Fatima Mansions, Cocteau Twins, Andrew Weatherall, Baywatch, President Mary Robinson and Mother Teresa.

Robbie Coltrane’s 50th birthday, Dan Aykroyd, Badly Drawn Boy & Twisted Nerve Records.

“A few words on Robbie Coltrane’s 50th birthday party, Dan Aykroyd, Badly Drawn Boy and Twisted Nerve Records” taking in: Rough Trade Records, Bends For 166 Miles, Andy Votel, Alfie, Dave Tyack’s Dakota Oak, Aidan Smith, Delia Smith, Voice of the Seven Woods, Twinkranes, John Peel, On the Nose, Brenda Blethyn, Harry Potter, Rubeus Hagrid, Elwood Blues, The Blues Brothers, Don Baker and Dan Aykroyd’s House of Blues.

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.

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 Van Morrison at 80. A few words on Van Morrison taking in: Millstreet Music Fair 1996, Stump’s Mick Lynch, Cork Jazz Festival 1996, Humpers Inc. and Rathmines College 2003. New blog, link in bio. #vanmorrison #vantheman
View fullsize Rathmines College. Found some old photos from 1981. Rathmines Senior College back then. 1. From clocktower looking towards Portobello 2. Rathmines College, Town Hall. Nearby pub was called The Lancer 3. The bells 🔔 4. Apple computer, model Apple I
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View fullsize Bring Your Own Hammer - My Grief On the Sea now on beautiful 🌊 blue vinyl via Dimple Discs on Bandcamp. A collection of songs about the sea, sea journeys and migration to and from Ireland in the nineteenth century featuring the late Cathal Coughlan,
View fullsize It's 40 years since U2 followed their Live Aid appearance with a gig on the back of a truck on Leeside. Ian WIlson, Tony O'Donoghue, Dave Hannigan, Mark Healy, Ciarán Ó Tuama tell the story of the first Lark by the Lee in today's Examin
View fullsize First day back. I walk between the two @rathminescollege buildings everyday. Beautiful to now pass these @will_fogarty_fear_na_coillte sculptures on Leinster Rd a few times a day. Brilliant detail.
View fullsize Finally picked up a copy of the latest issue of @thegoodublin #ToHereKnowsWhen #greatirishalbumsrevisited column focuses on Understand by Brian. @needlemythology reissue Understood in shops next week. Link to podcast with Ken in bio.
View fullsize Episode 54. Mark Cullen joins me to chat about his bands Bawl, Fixed Stars, and Ponyclub. We discuss Bawl's Year Zero album and the three albums he recorded as Pony Club: Home Truths, Family Business, and Post-Romantic. We also talk about writing son
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View fullsize Editing episode 54 of the podcast. Mark Cullen tells the story of his three bands: Bawl, Fixed Stars, and Pony Club. Imagine your first three singles are as good as 'Bathroom', 'Girls Night Out', and 'Glen Campbell Nights', but they're left off your
View fullsize Very happy to announce the next episode of #ToHereKnowsWhen #greatirishalbumsrevisited Mark Cullen revisits #bawl #fixedstars and #ponyclub #comingsoon
View fullsize New episode. #ToHereKnowsWhen #greatirishalbumsrevisited EP53 Silly Songs For Cynical People by The Would Be’s. In this episode I’m joined by Julie McDonnell, Aidine O’Reilly and Paul Finnegan of The Would Be's. We discuss the early