Podcast · Music

Fire Draw Near

by Ian Lynch · English · Music

Fire Draw Near is a monthly podcast and radio show which investigates Irish traditional music and song in all of its myriad forms. https://campsite.bio/firedrawnear

New episodes: Monthly
Typical length: 1 hr 7 min
Latest: 31 Aug 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

31 Aug 2026 · 58 min

FDN LXVII

Fire Draw Near LXVII shall henceforth be known as Episode 115, as I will be consolidating the regular and bonus shows from now on. This episode was an absolute pleasure to put together and showcases that there is so much great music out there in the folk and traditional worlds, from the straight up 'pure drop' to the weirder material. Please enjoy responsibly X Tracklist Nathan Gourley and Joey Abarta (feat. Owen Marshall) – The Gaelic Club / Banks of Newfoundland / The Lark on the Strand Mícheál Quinn – Another Man’s Wedding Sara Parkman – Salikons Rosor Sara Parkman – Dickapolskan e. Einar…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

10 Aug 2026 · 46 min
The Old Man from Lee
This episode looks at the ballad The Old Man from Lee aka the Old Man from Over the Sea aka The Young Lass Contra Old Man aka The Carle He Came o'er the Croft aka The Auld Carle aka the Dottered Auld Carle aka I'll Not Have Him aka The Old Man from Over the Sea aka His Old Grey Beard Kept Waggin' aka Overshoes and Leggin's aka Old Gum Boots and Leggin's aka The Old Black Booger aka The Old Man aka The Baillie of Berwick aka Old Grey Beard. Artwork by Stag and Serpent Tracklist Uncle Eck Dunford – Old Shoes & Leggins Otis High – Old Gray Beard A-Flappin' Betty Garland – Old Gum Boots and…
8 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 7 min
LXVI
Episode LXVI concentrates on iterations of the traditional within a modern context. At some times it is a soft embrace, at others a collision. There are songs and tunes from many parts of the world. It is a journey. Don't be scared. Caitlin Finley and Will Woodson – The Plains of Boyle - Lawson's Doireann Glackin & Sarah Flynn – Mrs Galvin's Hornpipe - Grace's Favourite Barren – Sonny's Mazurka Aoife Nic Diarmada – Liam Ó Raghallaigh Teppana Jänis & Arja Kastinen – Vanha Valssi Kapela Kotra – Zialony Haj - Зялёны Гай Jim Ghedi – The Hungry Child Sam Grassie – Return to Fingal Macdara…
26 May 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
The Dark Eyed Sailor
This episode looks at the ballad The Dark Eyed Sailor aka Fair Phoebe and Her Dark Eyed Sailor Tracklist Phil Tanner – Fair Phoebe and Her Dark Eyed Sailor Fred Jordan – The Dark Eyed Sailor Walter Pardon – The Dark Eyed Sailor Lou Killen – The Dark Eyed Sailor Steeleye Span – The Dark Eyed Sailor Kate Doherty (Denery) – Dark Eyed Sailor Christy Moore – The Dark Eyed Sailor Luke Kelly – The Dark Eyed Sailor Michael Barden – The Dark Eyed Sailor Andrew King and Brown Sierra – The Dark Eyed Sailor The Norman Luboff Choir – The Dark Eyed Sailor https://campsite.bio/firedrawnear
27 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 10 min
FDN LXV
Episode LXV (and not LXX!!!) has songs and tunes, old ones and new ones, drink and meat, hares and pigs, parties and funerals, sacrifices and tributes. Tracklist Bryan O'Leary – I’ll meet you on a day that never ends / The Ballinahulla Butterfly / Tranquility in Tureencahill Tim Lyons and Fintan Vallely - The Price of the Pig Vidd – Stor sak om världen hatar mig Sarah Makem – I Courted a Wee Girl Cormac Cannon, Lamond Gillespie and John Blake – Bunker Hill / The Hare's Paw Nellie Weldon – My Love is a Well Seamus Heaney and Liam O’Flynn – The Given Note / Port na bPúcaí Jimmy Crowley –…
20 Dec 2025 · 1 hr 19 min
FDN LXIV
This one features more gems from my recently unearthed music collection, songs of protest, songs of love, songs of dark magic, as well as more proggy folk rock than you've ever heard in one single episode. It is respectfully dedicated to the memory of Margaretta D'Arcy who sadly passed away last month. Rest in Power. X https://www.mickmoloneyfilm.com/ Tracklist Margaretta D'Arcy - The Great Gas Giveaway Jimmy O’Brien Moran – Slip Jigs / Kiss In The Shelter / Jig Polltog / Cuma Liom Barry Gleeson – Love's Old Sweet Song Arbete Och Fritid – Ganglat Efter Lejsme Per Larsson, Malung Folk Och…
15 Sep 2025 · 1 hr 15 min
FDN LXIII
FDN LXIII is a special episode focusing on shape note singing in the United States. It is based around two interviews conducted this year with Howe Pearson and Sasha Suczyk and looks at the history and evolution of shape note singing in North America, as well as various cultural and social aspects of the tradition. Tracklist NOLA Sacred Harp Singers – I Walked Abroad Wootten Family – Ortonville Cork Sacred Harp Singers – Tribulation Lee Family – While Sorrows Encompass Me Round (Tune Skeleton of Idumea) Northampton Harmony – Despair Doc Watson And Gaither Carlton – And Am I Born To Die?…
9 Sep 2025 · 1 hr 31 min
FDN LXII
I have just recently gotten my vinyl and CD collections back from where they were stored for 6 months (thanks Crispo!!), an event that definitely makes itself felt in this episode. If there is a theme then it's something to do with pipers, fighters, outlaws, thieves and revolutionaries. Art by Lawrence Alma-Tadema. X Tracklist; Seán McKeon – The Salamanca / Trim the Velvet Tealeaf – Bone Lace Weaver Jason Rouse – Snug in the Blanket / The Fisherman’s Johnny Horton – The Battle of New Orleans Liam Weldon – James Connolly Seán McKeon – James Connolly Francy Devine – Sam Hall / Le Ramoneur /…
25 Jun 2025 · 1 hr 24 min
FDN LXI
Episode LXI is a lengthy heady blast through all of the amazing music that has come my way over the last month. There's so much really quality interesting stuff coming out in the wider traditional - folk - weirdo music scenes these days and this is just a taster. The draft is full and rich. Drink deep and be let contentment be your wealth. Artwork by Louis le Brocquy for the Thomas Kinsella translation of the Táin Bó Cuailnge. Tracklist Cormac Begley & Liam O Connor – Ryan’s Rant Sweet William – Keep your Garden Clean David Murphy – The March of The King of Laois Duck Baker and Molly Andrews…
20 Jun 2025 · 52 min
Blackwater Side
This episode looks at the ballad Blackwater Side aka Blackwaterside aka Down by Blackwaterside and the journey that it took from a Traveller site outside Belfast in 1952 to the first Led Zeppelin LP. A winding river of a song, this episode looks at its multiple obscure sources as well as its many meandering tributaries. Tracklist Led Zeppelin – Black Mountain Side Bert Jansch – Blackwaterside Anne Briggs – Blackwaterside Isla Cameron – Blackwaterside Mary Doran – Down by Blackwaterside Paddy Tunney – Blackwaterside Harry Upton – In Wayward Town Wash Nelson – Last May Morn Spriguns –…
18 Mar 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
FDN LX
FDN LX was recorded in a bedroom in the 9th Ward in New Orleans. Upon reflection it features many friends, peers and contemporaries and that must be a good thing. Cormac Mac Diarmada – Iníon an Fhaoit’ ó’n nGleann Jim Ghedi – The Seasons Bob Hill – Pity The Downtrodden Landlord Ben Edge – Crossbones Lament Angeline Morrison – Unknown African Boy (d. 1830) Paddy McKeown – Cailín Deas Crúite na mBó Dickie Rock & Miami – Mairzy Doats And Dozy Doats Guídó Pluisce – Farewell to High Fidelity Geoff Berner — In Ale Gasn [Daloy Polizei! ⁄ A.C.A.B!] Ola Belle Reed – I've Endured Varo ft. John…
10 Mar 2025 · 1 hr 6 min
Hares On The Mountain / The Knife in the Window
This episode looks at the song Hares on the Mountain aka Blackbirds and Thrushes aka If All the Young Women aka Nancy Lay Sleeping aka The Knife in the Window aka Pretty Polly aka Shepherd So Bold aka Sally My Dear aka Lightning and Thunder aka Crawling and Creeping aka Ain't Gonna Do It No More aka Roll Yer Leg Over Tracklist Shirley Collins and Davy Graham – Hares on the Mountain Harry List – Knife on the Window AL Lloyd – Pretty Polly Harry Cox – Knife in the Window Belinda Kempster and Fran Foote – Knife in the Window The Three ‘Baccer Tags – Ain’t Gonna Do It No More Jim Garland –…
10 Feb 2025 · 1 hr 20 min
FDN LIX
Episode LVIX is an eclectic collection of traditional material arranged and performed along a wide and varied spectrum of emotion, mood and colour. Expect bombast, pomp, introspection and sensitivity with a side dish of wonktown 2000. Artwork from Garden of Earthly Delights, Hieronymous Bosch, 15th - 16th century. Tracklist Sam Spence – Quest For The Silver Trophy Natalie Ní Chasaide and Iarfhlaith Ó Domhnail – The Ewe with the Crooked Horn / An Mhalaidh Garbh Macdara Yeates – One Starry Night Bláth na hÓige – Seán Gabha Powtes – Green Brooms Grey Stag – Blessington Maid Cruel Mother – Down…
9 Dec 2024 · 51 min
The Boston Burglar
This episode looks at the song the Boston Burglar aka Botany Bay aka the Louisville Burglar aka the New Transports Farewell aka the Transport aka Adieu to Old England Tracklist Paul Clayton – Botany Bay The Watersons – The Whitby Lad Fiddlin' John Carson August – The Boston Burglar Carl T Sprague – The Boston Burglar New Lost City Ramblers – Louisville Burglar George Pegram – The Boston Burglar Cat Mother – Boston Burglar Jean Elvin - The Boston Smuggler Jimmy MacBeath – The Boston Smuggler Delia Murphy – The Boston Burglar The Clancy Brother and Lou Killen – The Boston Burglar The…
25 Nov 2024 · 1 hr 50 min
FDN LVIII
Episode LVIII is a spotlight on the Appalachian region of the USA, based around an interview with the one and only Andy the Doorbum and focusing on the relief work that he is currently carrying out there. If you would like to support him in his efforts you can do so here - https://campsite.bio/andythedoorbum The episode also features an unreleased track from Andy, namely Young Emily / Edmund in the Lowlands Low Tracklist Andy the Doorbum - Young Emily / Edmund in the Lowlands Low Maggie Hammons - When this World Comes to an End Michael and Carrie Cline - Bangum and the Wild Boar Margaret…
31 Oct 2024 · 55 min
FDN LVII
Episode LVII is a grim Halloween special featuring some creepy favourites! Artwork is a German painting of the Danse Macabre, creator unknown. Tracklist John Carpenter – Tommy Tells Of Ghost Ships Richard Dawson – Ghost of a Tree Paddy Glackin and Robbie Hannan – The Young Tom Ennis / The Maid at the Well John Goodluck – The Lover’s Ghost Pentangle – The Cruel Sister Harry Bradley and Michael Clarkson – The Geese in the Bog / The Jig of the Dead Roky Erickson – I Walked with a Zombie Dimlaia – Goodnight Sweet Ghost Eddie Butcher – Saturday Night is Halloween Night Shane McGowan and Sinéad…
16 Oct 2024 · 1 hr 9 min
The Greenland Whale Fishery
This episode looks at the song The Greenland Whale Fishery aka The Greenland Whale Fisheries aka The Greenland Whalers aka When the Whale Get Strike Thanks to Liam Cashin for the Futurama clip! Tracklist Mike Waterson and Lou Killen – Greenland Whale Fishery The Pogues – Greenland Whale Fisheries The Dubliners – Greenland Whale Fisheries David Pryor – When The Whale Get Strike Hermes Nye – Greenland Fishery The Song Swappers – The Greenland Whalers The Weavers – Greenland Whale Fisheries Paul Clayton – The Greenland Whale Fisheries The Journeymen – Greenland Whale Fisheries A.L. Lloyd – The…
16 Sep 2024 · 56 min
Fair Margaret And Sweet William
This episode looks at the ballad Fair Margaret And Sweet William aka Lady Margaret And Sweet William aka Sweet William and Fair Margaret aka Knight William aka Lady Margaret aka Little Margaret aka The Old Armchair Tracklist Tom Munnelly – Talking about Knight William Martin Howley – Knight William AL Lloyd – Fair Margaret And Sweet William The Hare and the Moon – Sweet William and Fair Margaret Justus Begley – Lady Margaret Emma Shelton – Fair Margaret and Sweet William Almeda Riddle – Lady Margaret Sheila Kay Adams – Little Margaret Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi – Little Margaret…
28 Aug 2024 · 1 hr 10 min
FDN LVI
Fire Draw Near Episode LVI turns a focussed ear to the liminal weirdos at the very fringes of traditional and folk music. And Nioclás Tóibín. Pictured are the Belgian duo Tabernis, who open the episode. Tracklist Tabernis – Carmen Reginarum Róis – Caoine Charanjit Singh – Raga Bhairav Isa Gordon – What a Voice Seamas Hyland – Navan Road Nioclás Tóibín – Eochaill The Deadlians – Return to Fingal / Lord Mayo Dawn Ray'd – Requital Córas – George White’s Ancient Hostility – Immigration Van Greet – John Barleycorn
5 Aug 2024 · 1 hr 14 min
The Suffolk Miracle
This episode looks at the ballad the Suffolk Miracle aka the Holland Handkerchief aka the Lover's Ghost. Tracklist Nora Cleary – The Holland Handkerchief Packie Manus Byrne – The Holland Handkerchief Austin Flanagan – The Holland Handkerchief Michael McGonigle – The Holland Handkerchief John Goodluck – The Suffolk Miracle Chris Foster – The Holland Handkerchief Rósa Ingólfsdóttir – Djákninn á Myrká John W. Green – The Suffolk Miracle Mrs. G. A. Griffin – The Suffolk Miracle Dol Small – The Suffolk Miracle Peggy Seeger – The Suffolk Miracle Dean Gitter – The Suffolk Miracle Doctor Evazan –…
29 Jul 2024 · 1 hr 4 min
FDN LV
Fire Draw Near Episode LV is respectfully dedicated to the memory of Heather Wood ' - outstanding singer, tank driver and wit'. It features her singing with the Young Tradition alongside some anti-marriage songs, a little look at Oró Sé Do Bheatha 'Bhaile, some traditional tunes by Rory Gallagher, some north American goodness and a bit more besides. Tracklist Jim Williams – Finger Scene The Young Tradition – Lyke Wake Dirge Rory Gallagher – She Moved Through the Fair Darach Ó Catháin – Oró Sé do Bheatha Bhaile Sinéad O’Connor – Oró Sé do Bheatha Bhaile Natalie Ní Chasaide and Iarfhlaith Ó…
28 May 2024 · 1 hr 8 min
Maids When You're Young Never Wed An Old Man
This episode looks at the ballad Maids When You’re Young Never Wed an Old Man aka An Old Man Came Courting Me aka Never Wed an Old Man aka The Foolish Old Man. Tracklist The Dubliners – Maids When You’re Young Never Wed an Old Man The Clancy Brothers – An Old Man Came Courting Pat McNamara – Never Wed an Old Man Sam Larner - Maids When You’re Young Never Wed an Old Man Danny Brazil – An Old Man Came Courting Me Peggy Seeger – An Old Man Came Courting Me Killy Country – An Old Man Came Courting Me Ashley Hutchings – Black Joke Jeanie Robertson – An Old Man Came Courting Me Alex Beaton – Maids…
13 May 2024 · 1 hr 9 min
FDN LIV
Fire Draw Near Episode LIV features wrens, bitterns and cailleachaí. Roisin El Cherif - Siúil a Rúin David Murphy – Sean O'Duibhir a Ghleanna Dave Van Ronk – Luang Prabang Wire Worms – The Cutty Wren The Young Tradition – Byker Hill Thin Lizzy – Sitamoia Meaigí Nic Dhonncha – Cailleach an Airgid Stiofán Ó Cualáin – Cailleach an Airgid David Power – The Hag With The Money / Garrett Barry's Bexley H.S. Vocal Ensemble – 'Si Do Mhaimeo I Seán Jeaic Mac Donncha – An Bonnán Buí The Huntress and Holder of Hands – Rocky Coast⧸EDT Norman MacLean – Am Bothan a Bh'Aig Fionnghuala The Bothy Band –…
2 May 2024 · 58 min
Paddy Works on the Railway
This episode looks at the song Paddy Works on the Railway aka Paddy on the Railway aka Poor Paddy aka Fillimiooriay aka Paddy Works on the Erie aka Pat Do This, Pat Do That. Tracklist That Clancy Children – Paddy on the Railway The Pogues – Poor Paddy Salty Dick – The Shaver Mark Page – Paddy Works on the Railway Ewan MacColl – Paddy Works on the Railway Dominic Behan – Paddy Works on the Railway Louisa Jo Killen – Paddy Works on the Railway Keith Kendrick - Paddy Works on the Railway The Wolfe Tones – Paddy Works on the Railway Michael Cassius Dean – To Work Upon the Railroad The American…
18 Mar 2024 · 50 min
Santiano
This episode looks at the ballad Santiano aka Santiana aka Santy Anno aka Santy Anna aka The Plains of Mexico. Tracklist Henry Lundy and David "Pappie" Pryor – Bay of Mexico The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem – Santy Anno The Watersons – The Plains of Mexico Pusser's Rum ft. Stan Hugill – Santiano Meredydd Evans – Santiana The Weavers – The Bay of Mexico Odetta – Santy Anno The Kingston Trio - Santy Anno Dave Van Ronk – Santy Anno The Men Of The Robert Shaw Chorale – Santy Anna A.H. Rasmussen – Chantey interview Hugues Aufray – Santiano Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire – Aim Spirente Sea…
11 Mar 2024 · 1 hr 22 min
FDN LIII
FDN LIII has been a long time coming...Included therein are songs of resistance, songs of magic and songs of being human. Life, Death, Love, Rage, Joy and Suffering. You know the drill. Sit by the Fire Draw Near. Free Palestine. Artwork designed by Palestinian artist Abdal Latif Muhanna and published by the Foreign Information Department of the PLO in 1982. X Tracklist Zeinab Shaath – The Urgent Call Of Palestine Marcel Khalife Oumeima El Khalil – My Teacher Palestinian Student Karmel Group – Al Intifada Was Jabal Al Thawra Robert Sarazin Blake – Don’t Use Our Death and Pain Daniel Kahn,…
9 Jan 2024 · 56 min
Eggs And Marrowbones
This episode looks at the song Eggs and Marrowbones aka Marrowbones aka The Old Woman from Wexford aka The Old Woman from Oxford aka The Old Woman from Boston aka The Old Woman of Slapsadam aka An Old Woman’s Story aka The Rich Old Lady aka The Auld Man and the Churnstaff aka Tippig it Up to Nancy. Artwork by Carol Roe - https://youtu.be/laBE2X5tBMw Tracklist: John Reilly – Tipping it up to Nancy Joe Heaney – Old Woman of Wexford Red Mick McDermott – Marrowbones Sarah Makem – Canny Ould Lad Janet Gibson Lynch – The Old Woman from Kelso George Inglis Fraser – The Toon O’Kelso Jimmy Knight –…
26 Dec 2023 · 59 min
FDN LII
Episode LII is dedicated to the memory of Shane McGowan. It features some of my favourite Pogues songs as well as tracks by John Francis Flynn, Andy the Doorbum, Dulcidrone, Of the Clay and more. Tracklist The Pogues – Boys from County Hell The Pogues – The Old Main Drag Mick Moloney and Frank Harte – Conversation, June 1982 Pandy Corporation – Polly Vaughan feat. Sive Sestri Koushlevi – Da Znaesh, Maicho, Da Znaesh Andy the Doorbum – Little Deaths: the dirge of renewal Dulcidrone – Winter Bracken John Francis Flynn – Kitty Of the Clay – Geordie The Pogues – A Pair Of Brown Eyes…
8 Nov 2023 · 57 min
Bonus Episode - The Maid On The Shore
This episode looks at the ballad The Maid on the Shore. Tracklist: A.L. Lloyd – The Maid on the Shore Peggy Seeger – The Fair Maid by the Shore Isla Cameron – The Maid on the Shore Tom Kines and Jean Price – The Maid on the Shore Frankie Armstrsong – The Maid on the Shore John Lyons – The Maid on the Shore Hedy West and Bill Clifton – The Maid on the Shore John Roberts and Tony Barrand – The Maid on the Shore John Kirkpatrick – The Maid on the Shore Niamh Parsons – The Maid on the Shore Eliza Carthy – The Maid on the Shore https://campsite.bio/firedrawnear
21 Oct 2023 · 1 hr 7 min
FDN LI
Episode LI is a spooky Halloween special coming straight from the swamps of Louisiana to steal your soul away. This episode features guest presenter Summer Newman of Holy Locust fame and showcases some of the creepiest traditional tunes and songs, rambling digressions on the calendar custom of Samhain / Halloween in Irish folk and fairy lore as well as some Dungeon Synth and experimental tracks for good measure. Tracklist Paul Miles and His Red Fox Chasers – Did You Ever See The Devil, Uncle Joe The Voice Squad – I Am Stretched On Your Grave Mick O’Brien & Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh – An Manglam…

About Fire Draw Near

Fire Draw Near is a monthly podcast and radio show which investigates Irish traditional music and song in all of its myriad forms. https://campsite.bio/firedrawnear

Fire Draw Near is a English music podcast from Ian Lynch. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Ian Lynch
Language: English
Category: Music
New episodes: Monthly
Typical length: 1 hr 7 min
Latest episode: 31 Aug 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1532286691

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