Paul McDermott

Educator – Broadcaster – Documentary Producer – Writer

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.

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:

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

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

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View fullsize 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, Ec
View fullsize 12 x 7" singles + a raindow 🌈 Random pulls from the trunk. Monaco - Whatever You Want From Me. Happy 70th Peter Hook. #SundaySounds #vinylcollection #vinylrecords
View fullsize Love the A and B labels! Ar fheabhas 👏 👏 👏 Roseland hinted at so much, the album’s sounding great. Fairplay @cardinalsband_
View fullsize On a wet and miserable night @andyohyeah Andy White played a perfect set to a packed basement in @volumerecordsbooks. Songs from throughout his career including a few written in Dún Laoghaire in the 90s. A brilliant night. Rave on!
View fullsize New post about record valuations and 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. Link in bio, comes with a 💯 vinyl nerdville ⚠️ #vinylre
View fullsize 12 x 12" singles. Enough is Enough still sounds massive and more relevant than ever, unfortunately. #SundaySounds #vinylcollection #vinyl
View fullsize Craven Faults - Sidings The Leaf Label, 2026 (Another) Northern Britain post-industrial electronic masterpiece. Yes!
View fullsize Olney smiles, “People that hated us in 1984 will still hate us in 2026.” Is that what we’re aiming for here? He laughs, “That’s what we’re aiming for, yeah.” Cypress, Mine! 2026. Ian, Mark, Ciarán an
View fullsize 12 x 12" singles. Recent spins. Tin Man extended mix still kicks. Jullander Shere still untouchable! All fab 👌 #vinylcollection #vinylrecords #nowspinning
View fullsize Daniel Johnston would have been 65 today. A few words on Daniel Johnston, Richard Linklater’s Slacker, Bar/None Records, Juan García Esquivel, and Kathy McCarty’s Dead Dog’s Eyeball (Songs of Daniel Johnston). Link in bio. #
View fullsize
View fullsize Bob Geldof chats to me in the Examiner and tells the incredible story of Bobby Prevost. Link in bio.