Paul McDermott

Educator – Broadcaster – Documentary Producer – Writer

Latest Documentary:

We'll Always Be Shouting For You – the story of The Frank and Walters

A Learn & Sing production for RTÉ Gold.

“A gripping valentine to the Franks by documentary maker Paul McDermott” Ed Power – Irish Examiner

Podcast & Further Information

Documentaries Playlist:

Documentaries: Further Information

Latest Podcast Episode:

Episode Notes, Further Details and Past Episodes

Latest Articles:

Cork band of the 1980s Cypress, Mine! reform for unfinished business

by Paul McDermott
Irish Examiner - 27 January 2026

Ireland in 50 Albums, No 37: A Tonic For the Troops


by The Boomtown Rats

by Paul McDermott
Irish Examiner - 19 January 2026

Archived Articles

Latest Blog Post:

Top 10 Picture Disc 7”s and the history of the format

A few words on Picture Discs, the history of gimmick vinyl formats, sexist Blondie advertising, Stiff Records, Britt Ekland, Lana Del Rey, Lady GaGa, The Smiths, New Order, Warren Zevon, Echo & the Bunnymen, Men Without Hats and the Apollo 8 lunar mission.

Featured Blog Posts:

Top 20 Most Valuable Vinyl LPs

I’m been thinking about the value of records. Here’s a list of the Top 20 Most Valuable LPs from my record collection. The order is based on Discogs’ “Median” valuation as of January 2026.

Meat Loaf, an inflatable bat, Power Rangers, Pearl Jam, Van the Man, and the Green Glens Arena, Millstreet

A few words on working in the Green Glens Arena in Millstreet inspired by RTÉ’s film Meat Loaf – From Hell and to Connaught.

Top 10 Irish Albums of 2025

The third of three posts cataloguing vinyl purchases in 2025. A Top 10 of Irish Albums in 2025.

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

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.

Blog Archive

Instagram

View fullsize Thanks to Ed Power for the article about my Franks doc. In today's Examiner. Link in bio. We’ll Always Be Shouting For You, St Patrick's Day 8pm @rtegold
View fullsize The public spoke and voted, but here are 10 tunes not on that radio station's list that I'd have on a personal Top 100 Irish songs. All 10 of these artists have featured on the podcast. #stpatricksday☘️ #irishmusic
View fullsize All 8 members of @carolinetheband packed onto @whelanslive stage. A very special night.
View fullsize To celebrate the release of the unfinished lost album by Care (Ian Broudie and Paul Simpson) here's some scrapes from The Scouse Phenomenon book.
View fullsize Me (in 1993): One man's throw away flyer is another's "social and cultural ephemera"! Damn right!! We'll Always Be Shouting For You, the story of the @frankandwalters @rtegold St Patrick's Day 8pm
View fullsize
View fullsize We'll Always Be Shouting For You, St Patrick's Day, 8pm. Link to article about the doc in bio. A tale of two huge gigs!
View fullsize One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. I eventually stumbled upon the movie adaptation on TV late one night decades ago. Its opening aerial sequence of the labour camp slowly appearing in the distance out of the dark frozen tundra has stayed with me
View fullsize Ahead of the broadcast of my new doc, Dave Couse (A House/A House is Dead) talks to me about producing The Frank and Walters and more. We’ll Always Be Shouting For You - the story of The Frank and Walters, gets its first broadcast on RTÉ
View fullsize Gems you wont find on Spotify. Revisiting this fine album. Connectfour Orchestra - Chisel to the Hip. RIP Glenn Keating.
View fullsize The only press promo photo I was sent that I ever framed. Born on this day #MarkESmith #thefall
View fullsize Ahead of the broadcast of my new doc, Keith Cullen (Setanta Records) talks to me about The Frank and Walters and more. We’ll Always Be Shouting For You - the story of The Frank and Walters, gets its first broadcast on RTÉ Gold on St. Pat