Paul McDermott
Educator – Broadcaster – Documentary Producer – Writer
Latest Blog Post:
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.
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
Documentaries Playlist:
Latest Podcast Episode:
Latest Articles:
by Paul McDermott
Irish Examiner - 19 March 2025
by Paul McDermott
Irish Examiner - 29 January 2025
by Paul McDermott
Irish Examiner - 15 January 2025
Featured Blog Posts:
“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.
“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.
“A few words on 80s Irish band Zerra One and their 1982 tour of the UK and Europe supporting The Cure” taking in: the kindness of Robert Smith, John Peel sessions, producer Todd Rundgren, U2, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Simon Price’s Curepedia and a whole lot more.
“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.
“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 Irish Albums of 2024”. Best Irish Compilation of 2024, Best Irish Single of 2024 and two Special Mentions. Songs from all ten of these albums were featured on Songs To Learn And Sing on 103.2 Dublin City FM throughout 2024 and Episode 990 featured some of my favourite songs from these albums.
“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.
“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
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April 2025
- 19 Apr 2025 The Fall at Sir Henry’s 19 Apr 2025
- 14 Apr 2025 Record Store Day: A Top 10 14 Apr 2025
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March 2025
- 30 Mar 2025 Peace Together 30 Mar 2025
- 19 Mar 2025 Zerra One and The Cure 19 Mar 2025
- 13 Mar 2025 Robbie Coltrane’s 50th birthday, Dan Aykroyd, Badly Drawn Boy and Twisted Nerve Records. 13 Mar 2025
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February 2025
- 25 Feb 2025 Songs to Learn and Sing: EP 1000 - the final episode 25 Feb 2025
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January 2025
- 22 Jan 2025 Robert Forster – Interview 22 Jan 2025
- 5 Jan 2025 The Go-Betweens, Leonard Cohen, U2 and Boston Celtics’ Reggie Lewis 5 Jan 2025
- 2 Jan 2025 Top 10 Reissues of 2024 2 Jan 2025
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December 2024
- 20 Dec 2024 Songs to Learn and Sing: Christmas 2004 Compilations 20 Dec 2024
- 5 Dec 2024 Top 10 Irish Albums of 2024 5 Dec 2024
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November 2024
- 28 Nov 2024 Top 10 Vinyl Finds of 2024 28 Nov 2024
- 17 Nov 2024 The Chariot Race 17 Nov 2024
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October 2024
- 25 Oct 2024 Peel Sessions 25 Oct 2024
- 15 Oct 2024 Songs to Learn and Sing: 20th Anniversary 15 Oct 2024
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September 2024
- 17 Sept 2024 Spadgietown 17 Sept 2024
- 1 Sept 2024 Another Spark 1 Sept 2024
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August 2024
- 30 Aug 2024 SKiN and BONE 30 Aug 2024
- 12 Aug 2024 Short Circuit: Live at the Electric Circus 12 Aug 2024
- 10 Aug 2024 Oasis - Knebworth setlist 10 Aug 2024
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July 2024
- 30 Jul 2024 The Chills’ Martin Phillipps - An Appreciation 30 Jul 2024
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June 2024
- 27 Jun 2024 Top 10 Irish Songs* 27 Jun 2024
- 9 Jun 2024 Peter Watkins’ Privilege 9 Jun 2024
- 5 Jun 2024 The Smiths - Rarities 5 Jun 2024
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May 2024
- 29 May 2024 The Smiths - Singles 29 May 2024
- 24 May 2024 The Smiths - Bootlegs 24 May 2024
- 11 May 2024 Steve Albini - An Appreciation 11 May 2024
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April 2024
- 27 Apr 2024 Morrissey - Bootlegs 27 Apr 2024
- 19 Apr 2024 Colin Blunstone and The Zombies 19 Apr 2024
- 15 Apr 2024 Julian Cope’s Postcards 15 Apr 2024
- 8 Apr 2024 Sonic Youth and Nirvana - Sir Henrys 1991 8 Apr 2024
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March 2024
- 6 Mar 2024 Werner Herzog in Ireland 6 Mar 2024
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January 2024
- 28 Jan 2024 “Records give you more of what you want” - CBS Records 28 Jan 2024
- 21 Jan 2024 David Ackles - American Gothic 21 Jan 2024
- 1 Jan 2024 Bill Drummond’s The Man 1 Jan 2024
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December 2023
- 31 Dec 2023 Top 10 Vinyl Finds of 2023 31 Dec 2023
- 27 Dec 2023 Dead Dog’s Eyeball 27 Dec 2023
- 16 Dec 2023 Robert Wyatt’s ‘Shipbuilding’ 16 Dec 2023
- 4 Dec 2023 Top 10 Irish Albums of 2023 4 Dec 2023
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September 2023
- 26 Sept 2023 Dark Star - Twenty Twenty Sound (Harvest, 1999) 26 Sept 2023
- 22 Sept 2023 Rollerskate Skinny – Interview 22 Sept 2023
- 21 Sept 2023 The Box Tops – The Letter 21 Sept 2023
- 17 Sept 2023 Damien Jurado – Interview 17 Sept 2023
- 9 Sept 2023 American Spring 9 Sept 2023
- 8 Sept 2023 Sufjan Stevens – Interview 8 Sept 2023
- 6 Sept 2023 Guy Chadwick – Interview 6 Sept 2023
- 5 Sept 2023 Richmond Fontaine – Radio Session + Interviews 5 Sept 2023
- 4 Sept 2023 My #CassetteTape Top 10 4 Sept 2023