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Showing posts with label Entertainment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Entertainment. Show all posts

Album Review: “Abhaile” by Lisa Murray


On September 25, 2026, Irish singer and songwriter Lisa Murray released her debut album, “Abhaile.” It is available in physical form via her website as well as across streaming platforms. The album was produced by Cian Sweeney and Lisa Murray, and mastered by Chris Le Monde.

When Murray was trying to get her album recorded, she was having trouble getting people to believe in her mission. People thought that listeners would not understand the Irish language, which they called a “dead” language.

However, Irish is not a dead language, and the best way to keep it alive is to use it and promote it, even if listeners may not understand it fully. Murray understands this, so she self-funded the album and has found a way to get her music and message out into the world.

The album features songs written in the Irish language. It draws on the richness of the Irish language while taking inspiration from contemporary pop musicians such as Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter. It is the perfect gateway to learning the Irish language, as the songs combine both Irish and English lyrics.

The overall vibe of the album encapsulates the feelings of creating a new home away from what someone already knows. Murray moved to London, and this experience is so perfectly captured in this album. Even if someone has not moved, they can relate to the overall message and sentiment of the album.

The mixing and mastering of the album are stunning and very well done. The vocals can be heard and understood over the instruments, and everything is in perfect balance.  Her vibe is definitely pop, and fans of Taylor Swift and other ladies of pop music will love and appreciate Murray’s album. This allows the Irish language to have even more of a reach.

Overall, this is a great album. It is perfect for those who may not be familiar with the Irish language yet. It helps ease listeners in, especially since it draws on contemporary pop influences. Once people get more acclimated to the language, they can hone in on more traditional Irish and Celtic music to help them learn the language.

Track List:

1. Gaeilge Bhriste
2. Uaigneach
3. Éadrom
4. Nead
5. Mac Máthar
6. Dóthain
7. Plúiríní Sneachta
8. Céim ar Chéim
9. Fan nó Fág
10. Slán
11. Contae Na Mí
12. Abhaile

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Beyond the Song: “Tone’s Grave”

Domer48, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

"Tone’s Grave” is an Irish song about the revolutionary figure in Irish history, Theobald Wolfe Tone. It is also referred to as “The Ballad of Bodenstown Churchyard.” It is all about Wolfe Tone’s grave as well as about the failures of the United Irishmen.

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Album Review: "Cyber Celt" by Chasing Abbey


On September 18, 2026, Irish band Chasing Abbey released their debut album, “Cyber Cellt.” The album consists of 13 tracks written and performed by the band. The band is made up of Ronan Bell, Jonathan Byrne, and Ted Conway, who formed Chasing Abbey in Tullamore, Ireland, in 2016.
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Movie Review: "Ciunas: Silence"


Spoiler alert: The article is a discussion of the film and contains spoilers. If you have intentions of watching the movie, you may opt to stop reading at the part marked with spoilers. Kilted Owl understands and is not offended.

“Ciunas: Silence” is an Irish-language short film directed by Tristan Heanue and featuring Hazel Doupe and Gary Lydon. It was released in 2019. The film is about two parents who pick up their teenage daughter Rebecca from the hospital. On their way home, nobody discusses the reason for her being there.

It is great to see movies being made in the Irish language. For so long, the Irish language was oppressed, so to see it come back in such a massive way is incredible. So many people want to learn Irish, and watching movies in the Irish language, like “Ciunas,” is a great way to do so. For those wanting to test their skills, watch the movie without subtitles.

[Spoiler warning/trigger warning] There are several possible reasons that Rebecca was in the hospital. She mentioned wanting her phone on the way to lunch so she could text a few people. Her mom got upset, saying that she does not want Rebecca to be on her phone anymore.

One theory I have is that she was in a car accident because she was texting. The other theory is that she was being cyberbullied, so she attempted to take her own life. There are bandages on her wrists, which made me think of self-harm. It was also mentioned that Rebecca bites her nails, which could be a habit when she is going into crisis mode. The bandages could have been placed on her wrists to help an injury heal after a car accident.

No matter the reason for Rebecca’s hospitalization, the film speaks to a crucial message. Cell phones can be dangerous for people of all ages, but especially teenagers. From cyberbullying to car accidents, cell phones have a real impact on kids’ lives. These things even impact adults, but kids do not have the same skills to cope with these things like adults do.

The movie is a short film, but it has a profound message about the dangers of cell phones. It is in the Irish language, so if you are unfamiliar with the language, it is best to watch the film with subtitles. 

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Celtic Throughlines: "Skye Boat Song"

Photo by Nicola Toscan:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/stunning-landscape-of-old-man-of-storr-scotland-38893692/

“Skye Boat Song” is a song that has come up in my life in a variety of ways throughout the years. It has been a source of comfort in my life, even before I knew the history of the song. It has been a key part of my learning and appreciation of Celtic culture.

I first heard the song on a CD of Celtic music that I got when I was in high school. I used to listen to music while on the bus ride to school, and high school was the time when I started to learn about my Irish heritage and Celtic culture as a whole, and my favorite way to do this was through music.

When I was in my senior year of high school, I went to see Celtic Thunder in concert for the first time.  The first act was their “Heritage” show, which was a collection of traditional Celtic music and modern takes on a classical sound. I was excited, but I had no idea what the setlist was going to be. “Skye Boat Song” was one of George Donaldson’s songs. I teared up a bit when the bagpipes began to play. It was a powerful moment in the show.

In 2024, I began watching “Outlander” and was pleasantly surprised when “Skye Boat Song” was the show’s theme song. It is part of what drew me in initially, and being an Outlander fan has been such a cool part of my life (hello, being on stage at New York Comic Con with other Outlander cosplayers).

I was so curious about the history behind the song, so I did a blog post after researching the song’s story and history. I saw ties to the song and the stories within “Outlander” and have grown such an amazing appreciation for the song after knowing its origins and backstory. (This is actually why I decided to do that blog series. I wanted to learn more about songs so I could appreciate them even more deeply.)

Seeing how my appreciation of this song has grown over the years has been so rewarding. I love learning backstories and histories of songs, and this has added so much to this song. 

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Uilleann Piper Paddy Keenan Dies at 76

Mobilus In Mobili, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Irish uilleann piper Paddy Keenan died on September 9, 2026, at the age of 76. He is considered to be one of the most celebrated traditional Irish musicians of all time. The legacy of his contributions to traditional Irish music are being remembered by musicians and fans around the world.

Keenan was born in Trim, Co. Meath, Ireland. He comes from a line of uilleann pipers, being the third generation to pick up the instrument at the age of 10. When he was 14, he played his first major concert at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin, Ireland. He began performing with his family with a band called the Pavees.

He became a founding member of The Bothy Band in 1975, and he made significant contributions to the band’s revolutionary Irish sound. Keenan was awarded the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Ceoltóir na Bliana / Musician of the Year award in 2002 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Irish Music Association. 

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Book Review: "Wouldn't It Be Scottish?" by Sara Bennett


 Thank you, Dragonblade Publishing, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

“Wouldn’t It Be Scottish?” was written by Sara Bennett and is the third book in “The Mackenzies Take London” series. The book tells of Donal, who goes to London to attempt to persuade his love, Mary, to come back to him. While there, he teams up with Agatha, who is attempting to do the same with her love, Richard. To make their loves jealous, Agatha and Donal form a fake relationship, and both find they are falling for the other.

The book features the tropes of a fake relationship and forced proximity. These tropes propel the book forward and are the driving forces that allow the story to work. There are a few sex scenes in the book. As such, readers should be advised.

It was fun to see how the plot unfolded and the various secrets became known. There were times when not knowing the secrets was frustrating, but the timing of their reveal made a lot of sense when they became known. It is obvious that Bennett had an outline of where she wanted the story to go, and the hints at secrets keep readers invested for the journey.

The writing itself was a bit boring at points throughout the book, and there were a few punctuation and grammar errors towards the end. However, the need to see how things unfolded motivated me to keep going.

There are two other books that precede this book. While I have not read the other books, I still felt like I was able to follow along with what was happening. I do wonder if the previous books talk about Donal’s brothers and the scandals that they went through. These were not super important plot points for this specific story, but it would have been nice to have that context so I could follow when the scandals were mentioned and Donal was compared to his brothers.

Even though this book takes place in the 1800s, there are themes of strong women. Throughout the book, Donal sought Agatha’s consent for their sexual encounters. Other female characters took the lead on various aspects of their relationships as well, and led their men in different ways. This is a cool thing to see in historical romance.

Overall, this book was decent and fine. I was not particularly “wowed,” but the secrets that were mentioned kept me interested in reading until the end. The ending was predictable for the most part, but the secret reveal was so sweet. I am confused about what the title means in relation to what took place in the book. 

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Beyond the Song: "Memory of the Dead"

Poleary91, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

“The Memory of the Dead” is an Irish rebel song. It was written by John Kells Ingram and was first published anonymously in April of 1843 in the “Nation” poetry anthology. The song is sometimes called ''Who Fears to Speak of '98.”

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Manic Street Preachers To Release Live Album

Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers have announced the upcoming release of “The Holy Bible Live.” The album will be released on October 23, 2026, and will be available in Deluxe, CD, 2LP Colour, and digital formats.
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Book Review: "The Grump I Got Stuck With" by Leslie North

"The Grump I Got Stuck With" by Leslie North via Relay Publishing

Thank you, Relay Publishing, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

“The Grump I Got Stuck With” is a book by Leslie North and was released on September 3, 2026, via Relay Publishing. It tells the story of Madison, who is traveling through Scotland around Christmas. She gets caught in a snowstorm, and her van ends up in a ditch on Christmas Eve. She stumbles upon Alistair’s estate, where he lives with his daughter, Kenna. Alistair and Madison navigate moving in together and a relationship in the midst of a prior scandal.

The book is written in the first-person and switches perspectives. Usually, each chapter gets a perspective, but there was one chapter when there is a perspective shift within the chapter. If the characters were written in the third person, they would have been completely unbearable. With the first-person perspective, readers can get into their thought processes, which helps readers empathize with them and see why they are doing what they are doing.

Things start out slow as readers get to know the characters and find out what all is going on. While it may be frustrating to not know everything about the characters right from the start, finding out nuggets of information as the plot progresses and the information becomes relevant is satisfying. At the beginning of the book, the characters both felt annoying, but this was because we were still learning about the characters and their mindsets.

There are several aspects of the plot that are predictable. This may frustrate some people, but for me, it is fun to try to guess what will happen next and then be right about the prediction. The ending felt a little too safe and happy, especially with everything that happened in the last 30% of the book.

The scene that stands out to me the most was when Kenna and Madison met. They connected so quickly, and I knew that Madison would be sticking around for a while (or longer). She was so good with Kenna, and Kenna really looked up to her.

Throughout the book, I was able to feel what the characters felt, mostly due to the point of view the book was written in. I felt anxious during the paparazzi scenes, and I was sad during the heartbreaking moments. The writing style really lent itself to capturing the emotions of everything going on and bringing readers into these feelings as well. I did feel some frustration when I felt one character was more in the right (which happened at the beginning and then throughout the book).

Overall, this book was enjoyable. The world of the book was fun once readers had enough information to be immersed in it. There are a few sex scenes and some cursing throughout the book, so the book is geared for an adult audience. Personally, I am glad I stuck through the beginning because the rest of the book was immersive and fun.

Rating: 3.5/5

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes: Grumpy Sunshine; Single Dad Romance; Forced Proximity; Age Gap

Potential Triggers: Toxic ex/relationship; Adoption; Parental Death; Parental Expectations; Cursing

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Movie Review: "Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty"

 

“Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty” is an Irish short film that was released in 2008. In the film, Granny tells the story of “Sleeping Beauty” from the perspective of an elderly fairy who seeks revenge for not being invited to the Royal Christening. It features Kathleen O'Rourke and was directed by Nicky Phelan.

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Beyond the Song: "Green Fields of France"

Rdl, CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons

 “No Man’s Land,” known more commonly as “Green Fields of France,” was written by Scottish-born Australian singer-songwriter Eric Bogle in 1975 or 1976. The song is sometimes referred to as “Willie McBride.” It has been covered by a variety of musicians, including Celtic Thunder and the Fureys.
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Damian McGinty Announces 10th Anniversary Edition of "This Christmas Time"

Irish singer Damian McGinty announced that he is releasing a special physical edition of “This Christmas Time” in honor of its 10th anniversary. The album can be pre-ordered now and will be shipped in November.

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Movie Review: "Wave"


“Wave” is an Irish short film written by Benjamin Cleary and directed by Cleary and T O’Grady Peyton. It tells the tale of Gaspar Rubicon, who wakes up from being in a coma for several years. Instead of being able to speak and understand English, however, he has formed an unrecognizable language that puzzles linguists around the world.
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Sephira Announce Upcoming Album, 2027 Release Date

Irish rock violin duo Sephira announced the upcoming release of their new album, “Earth. Fire. Water.” The album is expected to be released on May 28, 2027, and the opportunity to pre-order is coming soon.

The concept is to focus on the properties of each element. Earth represents grounding, fire is for passion and strength, and water is ethereal flow. These elements and properties touch at the “emotional heart” of the duo.

The album includes five acts, as listed below:

    -Act I: An Mhúscailt- The Awakening

    -Act II: An Tine: The Fire

    -Act III: An Ghairm- The Calling

    -Act IV: An tAontú- The Reckoning

-Act V: Filleadh ar Fhód an Dúchais- The Homecoming

The album was created in a time of struggle and survival for the duo. At the time of the photoshoot, each was fighting their own battles personally but decided not to hide behind the pain they felt. The album is a reflection of the aspects that make them who they are. Even in their softness, vulnerability, and femininity, they are warriors.

Sephira is a violin duo of sisters Ruth and Joyce O'Leary. They released their first album, “Believe,” in 2006. They have released three studio albums and two EPs to date, not including the upcoming release.

Aside from their albums, they have performed with a wide variety of musicians, including Andrea Bocelli, Kanye West, Michael Buble, and Enya, which were performances that were for television. They have also been featured on PBS, including several Celtic Thunder shows. 

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Book Review: "A Highlander's Heart" by Callie Hutton


Thank you, Dragonblade Publishing, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

“A Highlander’s Heart” was written by Callie Hutton and released on August 29, 2026. It was released on August 9, 2026, by Dragonblade Publishing. It is the third book in the series, “The Mackenzies of Castle Leod”. The story features enemies-to-lovers, a wounded warrior, forced proximity, clan rivalry, and Highland historical romance.

The book tells the story of Morgan Quinn, who is injured in battle and falls under the healing care of Emma Mackenzie, a member of the enemy’s clan. The story follows their relationship as Morgan is summoned back to Clyth Castle as laird of the Gunn clan. He obliges, under the condition that Emma is able to join him.

The book is perfect for those who love “Outlander.” There are quite a few similarities. Part of “A Highlander’s Heart” takes place at Castle Leod, which is a real castle that was the inspiration for Castle Leoch in “Outlander.”

Although the book is the third book in the series, it works as a standalone. I did not read the previous two books prior to reading this book, and everything made sense to me. I do wonder if it would have made a difference had I read the other books.

There were a lot of grammatical mistakes and sentence structure errors throughout the book. At first, I was able to shrug them off, but as the book progressed, they became more frequent. This made it difficult to stay in the reading zone, which distracted me from the world.

The lead-up to the conflict was a bit rushed, which led the resolution to feel a bit rushed at the end. The world-building is important and very well done here, but we should know the conflict before the last 20% of the book. The book could have been a bit longer to fix this.

Overall, I gave this book a 3.5/5 stars. I enjoyed the characters for the most part. While the book is not perfect, both in the plot feeling rushed and in the grammatical errors, I felt like I was able to dive into the world and understand what each character felt. I would love to know if the next book picks up where this one leaves off. This book is perfect for those who love enemies-to-lovers, historical romance, and “Outlander.” 

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Celtic Fyre Dance Show Seeks Irish Dance Auditions

 Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia, in the United States, is seeking Irish dancers from around the world for the Celtic Fyre 2027 season. The position comes with compensation as well as a variety of perks.

Dancers are required to be of Open Championship level, and those who are a World Qualifier or equivalent are preferred. It is preferred that dancers have previous show experience or a background in performing arts. Applicants must be 18 years or older.

To apply, submit a video showcasing your Irish dancing to bgwauditions@seaworld.com with the subject line “Irish Dancer 2027”. Your video should include a hornpipe or jig in hard shoes, a reel or slip jig in soft shoes, and a short a cappella piece and/or a treble reel. If applicable, include a clip of your professional Irish dance experience, ensuring that you are clearly visible.

Your resume should include name, address, phone number, email address, nationality, height, schools attended (including Irish dance schools), a summary of your Irish dance competition achievements, and a list of your show experience. Your application should also include a full-length photo and a headshot.

The deadline for international visa candidates to apply is September 18, 2026, and the deadline for candidates from the United States to apply is September 20, 2026.

Celtic Fyre’s show lets audience members experience storytelling through world-class Irish dancing. The show started in 2010 and has been entertaining audiences since. Audiences are often surprised at how good the show is, and many go on to see the show dozens of times. It has ranked as the “Best Amusement Park Entertainment.”  The show takes place in the Ireland section of the park, and its schedule changes daily. 

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Book Review: "Irish Proverbs" by Karen Bailey

"Irish Proverbs" by Karen Bailey
"Irish Proverbs" by Karen Bailey

“Irish Proverbs” is a book that was illustrated by Karen Bailey and features a collection of Irish proverbs. The version I have is 60 pages and is hardcover. It was first published in 1986.

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Barleyjuice to Stop Touring After 2027

Philadelphia-based Celtic rock band Barleyjuice announced on Facebook that 2027 will be their last year of touring. They intend to do shows locally in the Philadelphia area, but the various aspects of full touring no longer appeal to the band.

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Album Review: “Mo Thìr” by Mairi McGillivray

On July 3, 2026, Scottish singer Mairi McGillivray released her debut album, “Mo Thìr.” The album consists of 10 songs that tell stories of Islay, including songs of the past as well as two original songs. McGillivray discovered these songs from her own family passing them down as well as her own travels and musical experiences.

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