Music at Madden’s #48 | Belfast Trad — Building Community Through Music

Music at Madden’s #48 | Belfast Trad — Building Community Through Music

This week on Music at Madden’s, Lynette Fay is joined in the Snug by Christine Darling and Katherine O’Neill from Belfast Trad, an organisation that has been nurturing traditional music, dance and community in Belfast since 1991. Ahead of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann coming to Belfast in August 2026, Christine and Katherine reflect on the foundations that have helped the city’s trad scene flourish — from set dancing and adult music classes to workshops, student sessions, outreach, and the welcoming spaces that bring people into the music. They share personal stories of finding Irish traditional music as adults, the friendships and confidence it has built, and why Belfast Trad continues to focus on inclusion, connection and the simple joy of playing music together. Recorded upstairs in Madden’s Bar, the home of trad in Belfast City.

Music at Madden’s - Episode 47: Glengormley School of Traditional Music

In this episode of Music at Madden’s, Lynette welcomes Ray Morgan and Maria Rafferty from Glengormley School of Traditional Music to the snug upstairs in Madden’s Bar. As Belfast prepares to host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2026, the podcast continues its look at the traditional music communities shaping the city and beyond. Ray and Maria share the story of how a small tin whistle group in the corner of St Enda’s GAC grew into a thriving school of traditional music, now celebrating 25 years of teaching, playing, volunteering and building community. They talk about Thursday nights at Edmund Rice College, the importance of giving young people access to instruments, the role of competitions, the value of sessions, and what the Fleadh coming to Belfast could mean for the next generation of musicians. A warm conversation about music, community, legacy and the people keeping Belfast’s traditional scene alive.

Music at Madden’s #46 | Ards CCÉ: 50 Years of Music, Community & Bringing the Fleadh to Belfast

In this episode of Music at Madden’s, Lynette Fay is joined in the Snug by members of Ards Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann — Niall McClean, Colleen McCleery and Eamonn Higgins — as the branch prepares for a landmark year in Irish traditional music. Ards CCÉ celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026, having grown from a small gathering of musicians in the Ards Peninsula into one of the most active and influential Comhaltas branches in the north. The conversation looks back at the early days of house sessions, classes and community music-making, while also looking ahead to the historic arrival of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast from 2–9 August 2026. Lynette chats to the group about the people who built the branch, the young musicians carrying it forward, the huge voluntary effort behind the Fleadh, and the power of traditional music to bring people together across generations, backgrounds and communities. A warm, lively and timely episode celebrating 50 years of Ards CCÉ, the future of Irish traditional music, and the countdown to Belfast’s biggest ever celebration of the tradition. Music at Madden’s is recorded upstairs in the Snug at Madden’s Bar, Belfast. Like, share and subscribe for more stories from the heart of the traditional music community.

Music at Madden's Podcast #45 | Ryan McMullan on Fleadh Shows & the Pull of Irish Music

This week in the snug, Lynette is joined by County Down singer-songwriter Ryan McMullan ahead of his special Fleadh shows at The Empire Music Hall. Ryan reflects on stepping back from the noise of the music industry, finding a slower pace of life in Antrim, and reconnecting with songwriting on his own terms. He talks about the early influence of Foy Vance, touring with Ed Sheeran, being championed by Elton John, and the pressure of trying to balance ambition with authenticity. The conversation also explores Ryan’s deep love of Irish folk songs, his plans to reimagine his own music with traditional players for Fleadh, his friendship and creative work with Beoga, and why hurling remains such an important part of his life. A warm, honest conversation about music, heritage, pressure, family, creativity, and finding your own way back to the songs.

Music at Madden’s #44 | The Rapparees Live at LIR Sessions

This week, Music at Madden’s is back on the road for the second of our live episodes recorded at the LIR Sessions in Ballycastle, filmed in front of an audience at Yarn.Lynette is joined by The Rapparees — Joe, Stephen, Kev and Jared — for a lively conversation full of stories, slagging, music, family memories and plenty of laughs. The band chat about their beginnings in Randalstown, their early gigs, growing into their own sound, their love of Irish folk music, and the influence of The Pogues on their journey.They also reflect on their long-running Fairytale of The Pogues shows, the changing appetite for traditional music, the challenge of balancing creativity with gigging, and what the Fleadh coming to Belfast means for them and their families.A brilliant, funny and heartfelt episode with one of the most loved bands on the Irish folk scene.