Every year, I take a small group of people on an exciting adventure overseas. We don't see everything. Instead, we stay in one area. We get to know it through it's culture, history, and legends. EtZvGiAuFJKsacyM2U1d

In June 2023, we are going to Westport, Ireland in County Mayo. The itinerary is now online. We will spend seven nights, visiting Matt Malloy's famous pub, hike Croagh Patrick, and ferry to Clare Island. We'll learn more about the Grace O'Malley, the famed Pirate Queen, by visiting her castles. We'll see standing stones and lots more.

Check out the itinerary for the Celtic Invasion of Westport, Ireland right now to see if you want to join me in Ireland this summer.

Celebrate Celtic culture and music through travel. I'm gonna tell you what you can expect on my Celtic Invasion Vacations?

If you go to the website you won’t find much information. I usually list the itinerary when it becomes available but that can be January or March before the trip. You will find podcasts and links to pictures and videos. I don't know that any of it really paints a good picture.

So I thought I would try to break down how these trips work to help you decide if you want to join me in the future.

Celtic Invasion Vacations are not your typical travel tour experience. Most tourists travel on big buses. They go place to place. You stay up late. You get up early. There’s 30, 60 or even 90 people packed on one to three tour buses.

If you’re like me, that sounds pretty miserable. My first two trips were on tour buses. Everyone was a fan of my music. So that was pretty awesome. The bus drivers were awesome too. But that's a lot of people for an introvert like me.

I don’t know how much of the fatigue was from so many people or the staying up late/getting-up-early business. But it’s not my preferred way of traveling. I like small groups.

My mom moved to Italy in 1985. So I’ve gone back-and-forth to Europe for a long time.

My mom is an awesome adventurer. I went to school on an American military base in Vicenza, Italy for my senior year of high school. While all the other high school seniors went to Remini to get drunk, my mom and I went on in artistic pilgrimage following the works of Piero Della Francesca. She instilled in me the value of planning as well as spontaneity.

You see that in my Celtic Invasion Vacations itinerary. When I finally make one that is. Typically, I don't have a full itinerary when I announce the latest trip. I have… ideas.

In fact, I usually have one big idea. Then I find a way to make it work.

One person told me he was disappointed when my trip to the Highlands of Scotland a few years back did not also include the Isle of Skye, like it was initially listed on the early itinerary.

That was because I had a big idea. But when I finally settled on details, I realized it was impractical. I learned from that error. If I make any big changes to what was planned, you are welcome to back out.

I don’t usually settle on solid itineraries until December or January. I just don’t have enough details to make a solid decision.

That might make some people uncomfortable, especially when you’re putting down nearly $3000, plus air travel, to join me.

The adventure is worth it!

The great thing about traveling on the Celtic Invasion Vacation in my opinion is that it is a small group. That means maximum flexibility for adventure.

So let’s answer some questions.

This can always vary. But typically I run my trips in late May or early June. This seems to be the best time to travel to Ireland and Scotland. People talk about rain in Ireland. June seems to invariably have one of the lightest rain falls ever. It's just... perfect!

Celtic Invasion Vacations are about seven days long. The trips are officially scheduled from Saturday to Saturday. That’s because that’s how long most vacation rentals book. But I’m not going to be taking you to seven hotels in seven days. We stay in one place most of the week.

If the vacation rental is more than a couple hours from the airport or there's something cool to see closer, we may stay in a hotel near the airport on the last night of the Invasion. It just depends on how soon everyone on the trip has booked their departure.

I usually ask Invaders to arrive the day before the trip. That way you can recover from jet lag and adjust to the time change. But that also allows us to leave first thing in the morning on Saturday to drive to our vacation rental.

While it is recommended, it is not required. As long as you arrive by 11 am on Saturday, we will adjust. You are also responsible for the hotel on Friday night. But you might find a roommate with other Invaders.

Again, it’s up to you. I prefer you to set your departure after noon on Saturday. You can stay as long as you want.

I usually leave on Sunday after the trip is over.

Destinations are chosen by invaders and of course me. I usually have an idea of a place I want to see. I look for a suitable vacation spot.

But sometimes I ask for suggestions from Invaders. Our trip to Brittany and Cornwall were both chosen because some regular Invaders wanted to visit all seven Celtic nations.

Of course, I get the final say. And if I can't get enough people to attend one of these more remote spots, I may make adjustments.

Once we settle on a big destination, the next step is figuring out the generalized itinerary.

Yes. This is not an intense, constantly moving tour. Celtic Invasion Vacations are about relaxation, adventure, and fun. But how much can be up to you.

There’s usually at least one day where we are near to the cottage and take it easy. We explore the local town. Wednesday’s have the option of a little extra downtime for those who need it.

You can't make an itinerary until you know where you are going, right? Well, the challenge for me is that I need to know the exact place we are staying to figure out where our itinerary will go.

My next step then is to start researching vacation rentals. I look for rentals in our destination area that hold between 8-12 people (sometimes more). I want it to look nice, comfortable and easily accessible. In fact, I want the majority of the cool stuff that we will explore to be within 30 minutes of where we are staying.

Once I know the exact location, I can plan the itinerary.

The first day of the trip involves driving to our destination. We need at least one interesting place to stop along the way. Maybe two if you include lunch.

When we arrive, we need groceries. I confess, there's something extra fun about going to a grocery store in Europe. Some of our Invaders join me for a shopping experience as we load up on breakfast and a couple dinners.

I make dinner the first night, typically my secret pasta recipe. That evening is usually concluded with a little music by me.

The second day is usually a good day to stay local. So we explore one or two of the cool things nearby. We try to spend time out of the car, walking around. It's good to stretch our legs after traveling.

On either the second or the third day, I like to bring in a tour guide, if possible. My trips are not geared around "tours", but local guides are great for adding a little bit of history, culture, and legends to the experience.

Guides are also good at giving us a local perspective of things we should check out that are not necessarily on our itinerary.

In Brittany, we found some cool cairns that were not on our original itinerary. In Cornwall, we got an overview of Tintagel and found some standing stones I would've never found. In Wales, Gwilym Morus shared the incredible legends of Merlin and introduced us to an eco-resort, hidden in the mountains. In Donegal, we found some great restaurants and a former passage tomb.

Around day three, we're ready for a different travel experience. That's when I try to get us out on the water or on a train. Something to shake up the feel of the trip.

Day four is the midweek break. Again we stay local. Some choose to relax in our cottage. Others explore something new that’s local.

Day five usually takes us on a long adventure. We'll get in the van and drive further to see something outside of our main region. This gives us a nice look at other regions nearby. It also adds to the fun adventure.

Day six is intentionally left open. We usually find something cool by this time that we might not have realized before the trip began. Or perhaps a guide or a local we met had a recommendation. That's when we take the advice of others to explore something different

The final day is usually spent fairly local. It’s time for last minute exploration of our area. Sometimes we pack up and make our way back  \towards the airport. One or two bonus destinations end up on the final day.

I like to stress that Celtic Invasion Vacations are not tours. They are vacations. I want my Invaders to feel relaxed and happy by the end of the trip. Not exhausted, like I was on my first two trips to Ireland. You should be energized and excited for the next Celtic Invasion experience.

The number can vary. But I usually aim for between 8-12 invaders. Too many people and I start having trouble finding restaurants to eat at.

You DO need a passport. It's usually good to get your passport at least 90 days out. I would suggest applying for one a minimum of six months before you depart. But there are some expedited services that can get them sooner. Just plan ahead.

You do NOT need a visa. You don't need an international drivers license either. In fact, your regular driver's license is fine if you plan to drive in Europe with any car company. Make sure you bring that at the very least. But of course, driving on the Invasion is usually done by me.

Since the pandemic, you will need a vaccination card. Invasions are like family vacations. We want to take care of our fellow invaders. So your COVID vaccination card is essential for my trip and a lot of European travel.

That varies year to year. It starts at about $2800 for the land part of the trip, for each person on the trip.

It does not cover the cost of air travel. You handle your own airline tickets.

Your fee covers your housing for a full week. That's for a shared room, either a double if you’re a couple or two singles. Depending on our housing, it may cost extra to get a single room to yourself.

Your fee covers a breakfast every day and dinner at least five times. Often I cover more than that. Sometimes it works well to make lunches if we're not planning to be near restaurants. So I happily pay for lunch supplies if we need them. But in general, you are responsible for your own lunch.

You can have what you like for breakfast each morning. Some days we have a full breakfast with eggs, bacon, yogurt, fruit, cheese, or whatever you want.

Grocery shopping usually happens on the first day. So whatever you need, we can probably find it.

Other days, if we want to get going early, then we will have a Continental Breakfast with just breads, cheese, yogurt or fruit.

And yes, there's coffee. Every morning. And tea too. I need my coffee!

I cook dinner at least 2 days during the week. We have my world famous secret pasta meal. And then there's the Celtic Invasion specialty... Prince Charlie... Secret. It's a recipe we picked up years ago and is now a tradition on the Invasions. There may be more than two meals. But of course, we like to eat out too.

The toughest thing about dining on the Celtic Invasions is finding a place to eat. If the group is under nine people. That's usually not too difficult. But if we have more than that, it can be a challenge. I plan ahead for that. Because who doesn't like to eat out in Europe!?!?! I consider that a big part of the experience.

At least twice a week, we spend the evening relaxing at our cottage with dinner... and music.

I am, of course, host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. But I'm also a musician. I play Celtic music with a sci fi drinking song twist. I call it Sci F'Irish music. You can hear my music through my website at celtfather.net.

I plan to play for at least an hour. But a lot of it depends on you and how excited you are to hear some music. If we're really lucky, you might bring an instrument too. Then we can have an Irish session with songs and tunes afterward.

And if we're really fortunate, I will find a musician or bring in a musician to come play for us. That's frequently difficult to pull off.  But when it happens. It's absolutely amazing!

Breakfast is usually around 7:30 or 8 AM with a departure time of 8:30-9 AM.

We don't usually do too much in the evening. Since Irish sessions usually don't begin until 9 PM, it's not something we usually attend outside of our cottage. But if it's something you want to do, we might be able to make it happen.

I have had people ages 18 on into their 70s on my Celtic Invasion Vacations. I'd say the vast majority are in their 40s, 50s and 60s. But I don't really think much about it because I adjust each trip to who's on it.

In 2019, the younger group hiked up Skellig Michael while the less physically able landed on the Greater Blaskett Island by boat.

The physically active walk, hike and run ahead if they so desire. Those who aren't, take it at their own speed.

The Isle of Skye was one of the few places we went where it was better to be physically active. There's a lot of hiking on that island. But ye know, I don't think anyone's vacation fun was hindered by their physical activity.

As for younger folks, I typically don't prefer to have young kids on the trip. I know the challenges associated with that. But I'm willing to consider it as long as the you feel the kids are up to getting up and going.

One lady asked about a teenager. I think I might be open to a teenager who is a bit more independent but still willing to follow the rules.

Typically we travel in a van. These are usually large nine-seaters with lots of luggage space. Sometimes we will add a second van or a car to carry extra Invaders.

Speaking of luggage, we do have limited space. I find one suitcase per person is plenty, plus a carry on. You typically don't need more. There's usually laundry facilities too. So you can always wash something extra. There's a whole bunch of videos on YouTube where you can learn how to travel light.

If you truly need an extra suitcase, that's fine. But your experience is so much better when you travel light.

The first step is for me to open up the Invasion to the public. You see, former Invaders get first dibs. Once it's public, here's what you do.

First, email an application form to me.

Second, send me a check for your deposit. That reserves your spot on the Invasion within 2 weeks of emailing your application form.

Finally, just send me your final payment before the deadline and you're golden.

Speaking of your final payment, you are welcome to break it up into multiple payments if you don't want to or can't pay all at once. I'm happy to work with you to make the trip happen.

First off, there is a $400 non-refundable deposit. Though there is a caveat for the "non-refundable" part. If I change the dates, you can get a refund. If you can find someone to take your spot, or someone willing takes your spot, then you can get a refund.

However, if you are sick and turned away by an airline or country, I can't offer a refund. Typically, 30-60 days before the trip, once I start paying for things, like our housing, vans, tour guides, whatever, I can no longer offer a refund. That usually starts about the time of the Celtic Invasion deadline.

I'm not a corporation though. So there may be flexibility. My goal here is to have people "sign up" and then not drop a month later as happened on my very first Celtic Invasion. If you wanna go, make a commitment with a non-refundable deposit.

All in all, Celtic Invasion Vacations are about happily experiencing the fun culture, history, and legends of one small but magical location. I hope you'll consider joining me on the next Celtic Invasion Vacation.

Sign up at CelticInvasion.com so you don't miss out on this incredible adventure!

And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

Join me as I talk with Samuel of Visite Bretagne about the history of the Celts in Brittany, France. You'll learn how the Celts got to Cornwall, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. And how they came back to Brittany. You'll find out the best places to visit while you're there, and a lot more. Brittany is a great place to visit. Subscribe to Celtfather Music & Travel at celtfather.com.

• This Sunday, October 22, 2017 is my fourth annual Celtic Halloween music special. I will broadcast live on YouTube starting at 8 PM CDT. Go to the #CeltfatherLive page on my website to get a special reminder on the day of the event.
• My Celtic Halloween single can be found everywhere. Three songs for $3 bucks. If you order a copy of the album, email me your receipt and I'll send you a copy of the fourth song that was originally released on the EP for free.
• My Hobbit Music CD Collection is now on sale. You can save over 50% when you buy those CDs on my Bandcamp page. The Kilted Kings shirt and album are now available on Bandcamp as well.
• Finally, I shared my newest Travel Vlog. It's a music video from Auray, Brittany where today's interview took place.

In the summer of 2017, I lead a Celtic Invasion Vacation to town of Carnac in region of Brittany in France. On second day of the invasion, I invited Samuel of Visite Bretagne to share his knowledge about the history of the Celts in Brittany. We sat down on a windy day in Auray to talk about it.

If you'd like to join me on the Celtic Invasion of Isle of Skye in Scotland, I still have space available and you can save money when you sign before the end of October. Go to celticinvasion.com for details.

You can support my music and travels for as little as $1 per month when you join the Gunn Runners Club and become a patron of my music. If you enjoy this show, subscribe to the podcast and my mailing list at celtfather.com.

There's a lot about the Celts that I did not realize until I went on my Celtic Invasion of Brittany. It opened a secret history that most of us don't think about. In this episode, I'm gonna share how Venice is a part of that Celtic history and lots more. Subscribe at celtfather.com.

• Buy my new 3-song single, Celtic Halloween, on Oct 3. You can also get my Firefly single "The Long Arm"
• The next Celtfather Live show is scheduled Sunday, October 22nd. Celtic Halloween Special on YouTube.
• This weekend, Kilted Kings are at Indiana Renaissance Festival
• Watch the new Tullamore Dew Video. It's AMAZING!
• Thanks to newest Gunn Runners: Kurt Goodyear, Jeremy Handon
• Celtic Holocaust episode from Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
• Celtic Tribes on Wikipedia
• Celtic Invasion of Isle of Skye itinerary is now online.

I sent an email to the Celtic Invasion Vacations mailing list about doing a Celtic Invasion of Venice. Someone responded what does Italy have to do with the Celts. It turns out a lot.

The Celts were a group of people who shared a common tongue. They are believed to have originated around Austria between 800-450 BC. They migrated in there in every direction, fighting and conquering as they went. They were in fact one of the barbarian hordes that sacked Rome.

The Celts didn't just invade places. They also settled them. Dan Carlin's podcast Hardcore History has a brilliant 6 hour long episode called the Celtic Holocaust which describes how Caesar decimated the Celts in Europe. I highly recommend it.

What I really never thought about was the fact that the Celts were all over Europe at one point in time. There is a historical record of Celtic people BEFORE the seven Celtic nations. So Celts in Venice actually makes sense.

It was all brought home on this year's Celtic Invasion of Brittany.

One of the things I try to do on my Celtic Invasion Vacations is to provide a little history and legends into the mix. I bring in a tour guide for one day to get an overview of the region we are staying in.

This year, I brought in Visite Bretagne. They talked about the city of Vannes that we visited. It was originally founded by the Veneti, one of the Celtic tribes who settled in Northwest France. They were in fact one of the bigger tribes of the region.

We learned in the Celtic Holocaust episode that the Veneti were actually decimated by Caesar, though not before many of them migrated north to Cornwall, Wales and Scotland. This was all fascinating, but what really brought my story together was when my step-dad Tiziano shared with us a book about the Celtic Tribes that settled in Italy. They mention the Veneti as a Celtic tribe that originally settled near Venice.

At this point, I should share with you a few placenames. Venice is located in a region called The Veneto. There is a river in near Carnac and in the Veneto called the Po River. And of course Vannes, where the Veneti called home in Brittany, was located in marshy land with lots of small islands, just like a certain city that is now sinking in Italy called Venice.

Yes. It is believed that the Veneti of Veneto region in Northeast Italy migrated to Brittany and settled a similar region.

For the past couple years, Tiziano has been researching the Celtic history of the Veneto. And there's a lot. The Celts lived in that region for several generations before moving on or being assimilated. Sure, it's not as vast is in Ireland and Scotland, but it exists. And you can find numerous festivals celebrating Celtic culture of recent times and long ago.

This is one of the reasons that CIV goes anywhere. For me, my Invasions aren't about a location. Sure, most subscribers to my list want to go to Ireland or Scotland. But many just want to see the world. My trips are more about experiencing magical moments with like-minded people, than going to the obvious destinations.

The itinerary for the Celtic Invasion of the Isle of Skye is now on the website. It is a very loose itinerary since I'm waiting on a few more people before I book the housing. It looks like there will be room for 8 people unless there's some overwhelming demand. At which point, there might be room for 10 people.

You can support my music and travels for as little as $1 per month when you join the Gunn Runners Club and become a patron of my music. If you enjoy this show, subscribe to the podcast and my mailing list at celtfather.com.

Hobbit Day is on September 22nd. We're gonna celebrate it with the true story behind my popular song and album "Don't Go Drinking With Hobbits". I'll share the origins of Hobbit Day and how I fell in love with The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings as well all of the exciting things that have happened due to my love of hobbits. Subscribe to my mailing list for a free hobbit song and to the podcast at http://celtfather.com/.

• Origins of Hobbit Day
• How I Discovered Hobbits
• Halflings and D&D
• Psychology of a hobbit
• The facts as I remember them of the truth behind "Don't Go Drinking With Hobbits"
• Origins of Memories of Middle earth
• How you can have a happy hobbit birthday

• Don't Go Drinking With Hobbits CD
• Memories of Middle earth CD
• How to Have a Hobbit Birthday eBook
• Tolkien Society
• Review of our LOTR Oscar Party. (Oh! I just saw this feature of Brobdingnagian Bards in the Austin Chronicle, but it's unrelated)
• Hobbit Birthday Song
• A Long Expected Party
• Listen to Don't Go Drinking With Hobbits on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast
• More Hobbit Songs .com

• New Single: "The Long Arm" from the upcoming album As Long As I'm Flyin'. Watch the lyric video for "The Long Arm". The single is out on September 21, 2017.
• Watch The Mercenary Show on Concert Window on Thursday evening. Details here.
• One song left to finish for my Browncoat album
• Check out my Halfway to St Patrick's Day shows on the Pub Songs Podcast and the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. Also check out Dan Carlin's Hardcore History podcast where he talks about the Celtic Holocaust.
• I blogged a bunch this week. Check out what I wrote here.
• Get Brobdingnagian Bards new album Dragons and Virgins. You can only buy it in September. You can also get 5 Classic Marc Gunn CDs for just $24.
• Huge thanks to New Patrons in the Gunn Runners Club: Anita Gorrell, Raeyln Bangel, Matthew MacMillan, Linda Reynolds-Burkins, Justin Lawrence, Robyn Louise Finner, Tom Smith, Robert Eby, Evan Meehan.

You can support my music and travels for as little as $1 per month when you join the Gunn Runners Club and become a patron of my music. If you enjoy this show, subscribe to the podcast and my mailing list at celtfather.com.

Dom Duff brought his guitar and charm over to Carnac during the 2017 Celtic Invasion of Brittany. We talked and then he shared stories about Breton music and culture along with his own original songwriting. You will hear some great music by Dom Duff, learn how to say "slainte" in the Breton language, and you'll learn the twisted meaning behind a famous song of Brittany. Subscribe to Celtfather & Travel at celtfather.com.

Join me on Thursday, September 21, 2017 for the Mercenary Show on Concert Window. This is a FREE internet concert at 8 PM CDT. I'll play for 30 minutes or until the paid song requests stop coming. Get the details and get notified here.

The Brobdingnagian Bards have a new CD! It's called Dragons and Virgins. This is a live album recorded at DragonCon in 2016. We are releasing only a limited number of physical CDs. You have until the end of September to one.

While you're at it, you can also pick up 5 additional CDs in an incredible CD clearance. You'll get You'll get Kilted For Her Pleasure, What Color Is Your Dragon?, The Bridge, Happy Songs of Death, Not Every Day Is St Patrick's Day for less than the price of two CDs. 

Just head on over to our store.

If this sounds like fun, then you might also enjoy joining me on the Celtic Invasion of the Isle of Skye in 2018. Details will be on the website by the end of September.

You can hear more of Dom Duff's music and find out more about him on his website.

Coming soon!

11:13

15:26

18:58

23:12

27:19 "E Pardon Speied" by Dom Duff 

32:06

35:20 How to say "slainte" in Breton

35:58

41:32

46:08

50:37 

You can support my music and travels for as little as $1 per month when you join the Gunn Runners Club and become a patron of my music. If you enjoy this show, subscribe to the podcast and my mailing list at celtfather.com.

Phil Duckworth loves Celtic Punk. When I want that music for the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, I call Phil, aka Grinning Beggar. You'll meet a man who started off in metal, found his way to Celtic and roots music. He listens to music with passion. He hosts Grinning Beggar's Paddy Rock Podcast and will be my guest host this week on my Celtic music podcast.

Find out more at

• Paddy Rock Radio
• Irish & Celtic Music Podcast

You can support my music and travels for as little as $1 per month when you join the Gunn Runners Club and become a patron of my music. If you enjoy this show, subscribe to the podcast and my mailing list at celtfather.com.

May and June are always a tough time of year for me. I have so much to do to get ready for my Celtic Invasion Vacations and never enough time. I find myself frantically trying to keep up with the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast during this time period. It's frustrating.

This year, I have special guest hosts planned for the show. Steve Behrens runs 67music.net, a Celtic music promotions company. He also hosts the Celtic Music Journal, a show on YouTube highlighting Celtic musicians. He has graciously offered to host the podcast while I'm in Brittany during the first week of June. 

We talk about The Corrs, Celtic metal, how different styles of Celtic music bring new fans of the genre into the fold.

If you enjoy this podcast, make sure you subscribe at celtfather.com.

I realized I hadn't shared the latest itinerary for the Celtic Invasion of Brittany. How else am I gonna make you jealous and long to join me on one of my Celtic Invasion Vacations if I don't talk more about it? So you will hear about some of the oldest and most-condensed standing stones in the world in Carnac, Brittany. Plus, we'll explore the Broceliande and Arthurian legend as well as other great legends and history from Brittany. It's gonna be an exciting trip. Look for more podcasts and videos in the weeks to come.

I had a great turnout at the earlier hours of Johnnie MacCracken's Celtic Pub. I plan to talk to the pub owner see if I can keep those hours in the future.

There are just 3 days Left on Kickstarter for As Long As I'm Flyin', my Browncoat album. We're $984 away from 3rd stretch goal. Please keep telling folks about it.

My new Video Strategy is working well. I release new music videos weekly and other videos more frequently as well. My latest video, "Wear the Brown with Pride" is from my upcoming album and was recorded live in the studio.

The final migration of MarcGunn.com takes place this week. Look for downtime on the website.

Don't Go Drinking With Hobbits - How Did It Do?

Did you notice I rebranded this podcast title...again? It's now called "Celtfather Music & Travel". That's the name and what it will be about.

I'm brainstorming additional trips to exotic locations, maybe even a music retreat. But I could use your feedback. What would excite you in a retreat to Venice? Or Dingle? Would you like to learn some session tunes? Maybe learn some Irish songs? Learn to play the autoharp? Or perhaps you'd like to play D&D? LOL. All in an exotic location with good food, good drink and good company.

If you enjoy this podcast, please sign up to the mailing list and subscribe at http://celtfather.com

One of the highlights of my Celtic Invasion Vacations is playing music for my invaders. That's because the setting is small and intimate. The music is often requested by my invaders who enjoy the many shades of Celtic music I play. On the Celtic Invasion of Cornwall, we had a beautiful house in Instow. I pulled out my autoharp and played a few songs for a couple evenings. You will enjoy one of those shows in a moment. The show was performed in the kitchen after one of my home-cooked meals.

Before I share the show, I want to let you know that I play concerts live on the internet. I have a few such shows in October. On Thursday, October 20, 2016, I will play my third annual Halloween music special, performing spooky Halloween stories about death, ghosts, murder, and all sorts of haunted fun.

SONGS IN THIS SHOW

1. "The Leprechaun" from Soul of a Harper

2. "Close Your Eyes" from Kilted for Her Pleasure

3. "Middle Earth Bragging Song" from Soul of a Harper

4. "Whiskey in the Jar" from Not Every Day Is St. Patrick's Day

5. "I Will Not Sing Along" is unreleased

6. "Lily the Pink" from Brobdingnagian Fairy Tales

7. "Paddy McCullough" from Songs of Ireland

8. "Black Is the Color (of My Cat's Fur)" from Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers

9. "Mingulay Cat Song" is Patron's Only

10. "Monahan's Mudder's Milk" from Firefly Drinking Songs

You can subscribe to my internet concert mailing list. I will send you emails only when I have a big internet concert. Go to celtfather.com/watch to sign up today!

If you want to experience one of these shows first hand, then join me on my Celtic Invasion of Brittany. Next year's trip is scheduled for June 3-10, 2017. Subscribe to my mailing list to join the invasion at celticinvasion.com.

Special thanks to all of my Gunn Runners on Patreon. They pledge $1 or more per month to support my music. You can too and you'll get free music, early versions of songs and lyrics, behind-the-scenes podcasts, and first look at new videos. Find details on Patreon at marcgunn.net.

The Celtfather was produced by Marc Gunn. If you enjoyed this episode, then please post a review on iTunes or your favorite podcatcher. I want to invite you again to my website at Celtfather.com. You can subscribe to my mailing list and download my free album. You'll enjoys hours of music plus a few free gifts.

Every year, I host a Celtic Invasion Vacation. We travel to various locations around the world get to know a small region through its culture, history, legends and music. 

In 2016, we invaded Cornwall in the Southwestern portion of England. Cornwall is one of the seven Celtic nations and has a lot to offer. We only tapped a small portion of it. But the experience left many great memories.

Next year is the Celtic Invasion of Brittany. Applications are now open. Only 8-10 people will join us. We have four booked as of this writing. So if you want to reserve a spot, send in your deposit and application soon.

Details about the 2017 trip will be announced in November at www.celticinvasion.com.

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I want to send Special Thanks to all of my Gunn Runners on Patreon who pledge just $1 or more per month to help me make a living as a musician. You'll get free music, early versions of songs and lyrics, behind-the-scenes podcasts, and first look at new videos. You'll find all the details on Patreon at marcgunn.net.

The Celtfather was produced by Marc Gunn. If you enjoyed this episode, then please post a review on iTunes or your favorite podcatcher. I want to invite you again to my website at Celtfather.com. You can subscribe to my mailing list and download my free album. You'll enjoys hours of music plus a few free gifts.

Was King Arthur born in Tintagel in Cornwall? I went there on my Celtic Invasion of Cornwall. We talked to a couple experts.

Subscribe to the podcast at www.celtfather.com.

I will share EIGHT great ways for you to have a spectacular St Patrick's Day today Celtfather Music & Travel.

The best thing about St Patrick’s Day for me is that is a great time to celebrate Celtic culture. My passion lies in the music.  I immersed myself in nothing but Irish and Scottish music for over a decade. I took that knowledge to create newsletters, blogs, videos, and eventually podcasts that celebrate Celtic culture through music.

St Patrick's Day is also my favorite time of year. It makes sense. I play Celtic music, and have done so since the 90s. I host the largest podcast of Celtic music in the world. Oh! And if that's not enough, it's also my birthday. I guess you could say I  know a little something about St Patrick's Day.

So let's get started.

The cream of the Celtic music crop is the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. Since 2005, this show has shared the music of the Celts from around the world. It's a like your favorite Celtic radio program, except you can download it to you computer or phone. You can listen to it ANYWHERE at ANY TIME. And just like those most of those weekly Celtic radio shows, it's 100% free.

It also focuses on the smaller Celtic bands. The ones that you might not hear on your favorite Celtic radio program. That's because most of these bands don't have record labels. They're doing it themselves. And they might be performing in YOUR community. You might not even know about them yet.

But they are fantastic. The music ranges from traditional reels and jigs to pub songs to Celtic rock and fusion. It's a HUGE amalgamation of incredible music. And it's available for free on nearly all of your favorite podcatchers. And you can even download a free app to listen to the show on your phone.

You can subscribe and find out more at CelticMusicPodcast.com

This is a good time to mention the St Patrick's Day Podcast. That was a short-run show that was released by the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast many years ago. The goal was to provide you with a St Patrick's Day playlist of amazing Celtic music by some of the best indie Celtic bands online. There's not a lot of talking. It's mostly about the music.

You can find that at stpatricksdayparty.net

And some St Patrick's Day gifts here.

Next on the list is the Pub Songs & Stories podcast. I started this show in 2005. It's gone through many renditions over the years, but right now, it is the virtual public house for Celtic and geek culture. I sing songs live in each show. I also chat about Celtic and Geek things that inspire me. I also share stories about my songs, both traditional and original.

That's the thing that I love about the show. I love story telling. Pub Stories are stories from primarily Celtic musicians about their songs. It's stories from the road. The things that inspired them to write songs or share music. It's the stories that make you fall in love with Celtic music in the first place.

Since I also host the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, I have direct access to hundreds of Celtic musicians. I'm adding new stories from these amazing bands in every show. It's fantastic!

Again, you will find this podcast available EVERYWHERE online. Subscribe to the podcast for free at pubsong.com

If you want to find other Celtic podcasts and stay on top of what's new, the Celtic Music Magazine is a great resource. I started publishing the weekly newsletter in 2000. It's still going today.

You can still get 34 free Celtic MP3s when you subscribe. And every St Patrick's Day I share 17 more free Celtic MP3s from some of the bands featured on the Irish & Celtic  Music Podcast.

But the best part is every podcast that features Celtic music or culture is featured in the newsletter.  It's a great way to find new podcasts of Celtic culture.

Sign up so you don't miss  at BestCelticMusic.net

If you just love Celtic music and want some of the best of the best, the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast hosts the Celtic Top 20 every year. This is where you vote for your favorite songs of each episode of the podcast. At the end of the year, I compile your votes and create a Best Of episode. You can listen to it on the website.

However, my goal is to promote indie Celtic musicians. So I also made a playlist of all of these amazing Celtic bands on the Spotify. It's called Top Irish & Celtic Music playlist on Spotify.

You'll hear MOST of the bands who won in the Celtic Top 20. Admittedly, some are no longer available. But the vast majority are. And it's a powerhouse playlist with hundreds of listeners. Follow it and enjoy!

That alone will probably give you countless hours of Celtic musical entertainment. But before I let you go, I want to share one more really cool thing.

Every year, I take a small group of people on the adventure of a lifetime. It's called Celtic Invasion Vacations. We go to the Celtic nations and locations. We stay in one area and get to know the region through it's culture, history and legends.

I have numerous videos that highlight these amazing places. We've been to Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, and Brittany so far. You can watch these incredible Celtic Travel videos for free on YouTube. Plus, you get to hear some of my music in each of those travel videos.

Finally, I am a performing musician. I've been live streaming video concerts since 2014. Every Thursday at noon eastern, I host Coffee with The Celtfather. These are short, themed concerts where I play for your tips and CD sales. With St Patrick's Day just around the corner, these shows are St Patrick's Day themed.

And if you want a longer, even more fun shows, then you want to join my Celtfather Live concert series. These are usually Thursday night concerts. I play for over an hour on a theme. And again, during St Patrick's Day, that theme is Irish and Celtic songs. These concerts, however, are paid events. You can get tickets on my websites.

There ye go. Eight amazing ways to celebrate Celtic culture through music this, and every St Patrick's Day.

Oh! Before I finish, you often hear St Patrick's Day as mentioned as St Paddy's Day. Well, Paddy is the shortened version Padraig in the Irish language. Patty of course is the shortened version of Patricia. So if you want to say Happy St Paddy's Day, that's fine but mind the spelling.

You can learn 11 St Patrick's Day facts in the Pub Songs & Stories podcast.

Thanks as always for supporting my music. Podcasts and streaming music give you a quick and easy way to sample all of my music. Digital sales keep my business running. Tips and CD sales allow me to tour. Kickstarter funds physical products like CDs, shirts and other merch. And Patreon funds my songwriting!

Join the Gunn Runners Club on Patreon to support my songwriting. You will step behind-the-scenes with new music, bonus podcasts, videos, and live concerts.

Thank you for supporting Sci F'Irish music at Celtfather.com!

The Celtic Invasion of Cornwall begins as I explore the Chalice Well, Glastonbury and how it all fits in with my life and my old band, Brobdingnagian Bards.

Subscribe to the podcast at www.celtfather.com.

When my first daughter was born, I had a flood of comments from Gunn Runners asking me when I would release a kids CD. It was bound to happen. I theme most of my albums from Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers to Scottish Songs of Drinking & Rebellion, Don't Go Drinking With Hobbits to Sci Fi Drinking Songs. Nearly all of my albums have some unifying theme.

I prefer recording themed CDs. It makes it easier for me when someone asks, "What's your best CD?" I can respond by asking them what theme they love best.

So of course, I made a children's CD called St. Patrick's Day Songs for Kids. I released it in 2015 with some good reviews on iTunes and Amazon. I even podcasted the entire kids album on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. It continues to be a tremendous success.

Today, I talk about some of the songs on that album and other fun Celtic kids songs. See the complete list and listen to the songs in the shownotes.

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If you enjoy this episode, then please post a review on iTunes or your favorite podcatcher. Subscribe to the show at www.celtfather.com where you can join my mailing list to download a free album of Celtic and comedy music. Special thanks to my Patrons. You can support my craft for as little as $1 per month. Become a Patron at www.marcgunn.com/patron. Then post feedback in the shownotes, use the hashtag #celtfather on social media, or email me marc@marcgunn.com

With St. Patrick's Day just around the corner and a show tomorrow, this is a good time to compile a list of funny Irish drinking songs that perhaps I might play this year. See my complete show schedule here. I also do a lot of shows online.

You can check out the shownotes and listen to the songs mentioned right on the website.

What are your favorite funny Irish drinking songs?

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If you enjoy this episode, then please post a review on iTunes or your favorite podcatcher. Subscribe to the show at www.celtfather.com where you can join my mailing list to download a free album of my Celtic and comedy music. Special thanks to my Patrons. You can support my craft for as little as $1 per month. Become a Patron at www.marcgunn.com/patron  

Post feedback in the shownotes, use the hashtag #celtfather on social media, or email me marc@marcgunn.com

In county Antrim on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland is the giants causeway. What one Radio Times poll named the fourth greatest wonder of the United Kingdom. 40,000 interlocking basalt columns line the coast, the result of a volcanic eruption millions of years ago. Now it's one of the most popular tourist attractions in Northern Ireland.

Find the complete Giant's Causeway shownotes here.

The wind was pretty fierce as bus drove us the 1/2 mile from the visitors center to the Giants Causeway. We were excited.

At first glance after exiting the bus, it was beautiful but disappointing. There were a bunch of people milling about on the rocks in a very small area. A big sign and guard halted people from climbing up further on this national wonder.

Then I found a passage through the rocks that was overlooked by many of the visitors. On the other side, like crossing through the thin veil, we saw the true majesty of these rocks. Plus a long path along the coast where you could get a better view.

When we got back to the visitors center, One of my Invaders told me about the singing rocks they found.

That was all cool but what got me excited most about this trip was the legend behind it--Finn MacCool.

Finn MacCool was a giant living on the north coast of Ireland. On a clear day you can see the island Staffa in Scotland. There lived a Scottish giant named Benandonner. They taunted one another from afar until finally Finn MacCool tossed long pillars of stone into the water all the way to Scotland, creating a long causeway between the countries.

When Finn arrived, he was surprised to find that Benandonner was a lot bigger than Finn. He fled back home and told his wife Oonagh, who came up with a plan. She told Finn to dress like a baby and climb in a crib.

When Benandonner knocked on their door Oonagh told him that Finn was out hunting. When Benandonner saw the size of the baby that belonged to Finn and compared it to the human sized Oonagh, he realized Finn must be even bigger than he. So he fled Ireland destroying the Causeway between the two countries.

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I didn't actually pick these amazing bands this week. It was a lot more organic than that. This list features the Celtic bands I played most-often on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. I love all of these bands, but there were a few surprises that I didn't anticipate.

You can see the complete list in the shownotes.

Or visit the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast and see the original article "Top-Played Celtic Music Bands of 2015".

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With Christmas just around the corner, I thought I'd share my views on What is Celtic Christmas music as I wrote last year. I confess I'm kinda picky about it.

However, my views have defined what kind of music is played in my Celtic Christmas Podcast too. I hope to help you find better Celtic Christmas music this holiday season.

Make sure you check out my two Celtic Christmas albums:

A Celtic Christmas is a compilation of Christmas music by Celtic musicians featured in the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. I believe this album beautifully captures the true spirit of Celtic Christmas.

Celtic Christmas Greetings is my solo album of Celtic Christmas music featuring some new and original Christmas songs with a truly Celtic music feel. Let me albums sweep you away. 

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You can subscribe to the show at www.celtfather.com where you can join my mailing list to download a free album of my Celtic geek music. Special thanks to all of my Patrons. For as little as $1 per month, you can become a patron and show your support for The Celtfather.

Post feedback in the shownotes, use the hashtag #celtfather on social media, or email me marc@marcgunn.com

Kat is considering joining me on a Celtic Invasion Vacation. But she had a few questions.

She writes: "I know this is probably basic for you but I have never been able to traveling a lot, so I really don't know what Europe is like. So I need a closer budget to see if it is even in the vague realm of possibility. Just curious for estimates on the flight closer to the date. Best I could find right now was $900 I know it will change closer just give me a guess. Lunch probably in the $10-15 a meal higher, lowerish? Are drinks comparable? Are prices in general comparable? I'm not really asking for specifics. Anything I might be missing?"

I do my best to provide as much information as possible, including: cheapest airline travel to Ireland, expected currency exchange rate, cost of meals and drinks, plus how it all works with my Celtic Invasion Vacations. You can find details at celticinvasion.com

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I make this show for free thanks to the generosity of my Patrons. You can support my music, podcasts, and creative endeavors for as little as $5 per month. Plus you'll get bonus content including rough cuts of songs I release, exclusive podcasts, even some videos. Go to www.marcgunn.com/patron to join. Special thanks to my newest patrons.

If you enjoy this episode, then please post a review on iTunes or your favorite podcatcher where you can also subscribe to the show. Go to www.celtfather.com  where you can join my mailing list to download a free album of my Celtic and comedy music.

Post feedback in the shownotes, use the hashtag #celtfather on social media, or email me marc@marcgunn.com

Traveling will fill your life with joy and satisfaction. You experience life more fully when you hit the road and leave your comfort zone. I've felt its rewards more fully through my years on the road. I've grown and learned a lot, much like Mark Twain.

Twain wrote: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”

This week, I share some of my reasoning behind why I love to travel and also how you can kickstart your travel experience. Plus, I share a Celtic Music Spotlight on Abby Green and offer you a free copy of my album Not Every Day Is St. Patrick's Day.

Join me for the as we delve into WHY you should travel too. Find the shownotes at http://marcgunn.com/celtfather045

It's funny how when I start planning this podcast, I frequently have NO news to share. Then I start searching to see what I did the past week, or what I have planned to come. Everything comes together. I end up with a longer show. I start the show off as usual with my Celtic Music Spotlight of the Scottish band Breabach. I also made an update to my Gunn Runners page to earn more patrons on Patreon. I talk about how I created this week's Irish & Celtic Music Podcast which features three hours of awesome Celtic music picked from my past ten years producing this podcast. I also share about some of my plans for GenCon this weekend. Finally, I finished the "itinerary" of next year's Celtic Invasion of Cornwall. I picked Cornwall because of its Arthurian history more than it's Celtic. But both are super important. I give you a day-by-day glimpse of what is completed thus far for next year's vacation. It's gonna be fun and exciting. Will you join me?

Find shownotes at http://marcgunn.com/celtfather037

Find out more about the Celtic Invasion of Cornwall at http://celticinvasion.com/itinerary/cornwall-2016/

Gerry O'Beirne is an Irish guitarist and songwriter behind the scenes of many great Celtic musicians. I met him when he toured the U.S. with Andy M. Stewart. But his history playing music is long and fascinating.

I was surprised on last summer's Celtic Invasion Vacations that he's living in Dingle, Ireland now. He's performing both solo and with many of the top Irish musicians there.

Show #266.

We talk about his new CD Swimming the Horses, the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, and how he got started as a songwriter in the desert of America.

Find out more about Gerry O'Beirne here.

Well, we’ve reached Donegal, and are currently enjoying our stay in a cottage by Mt.Charles! Though I’d initially intended to put out more podcasts during the trip, but because I’m enjoying putting more production into each one, several of them will probably be posted after the trip. There are only so many hours in the day, and when on vacation, they should be spent having fun! This idea was reflected by all of us, as we enjoyed a lazy morning (resting up from so much vacation!) at the cottage.

While there are a lot of merits to bus tours and CID trips, there are also a lot of cons that come along with those. Primarily, you don’t have any say in the itinerary, and you’re rushing about to see as many things as possible. That works for some folks, but our group is very happy to take it a little easier, and to enjoy the sites. This morning, I cooked up breakfast for the crew – potentially one of my favourite parts of Celtic Invasion Vacations, giving us a nice, quiet start to the day, along with some fun! This afternoon, we’re heading off to visit a national park and castle on the Peninsula, followed by an evening at Leo’s Tavern!

More details at http://marcgunn.com/celtfather032 

Exploring the Titanic by Marc Gunn

Inara Claire Gunn was born yesterday at 7:08 pm. She's a happy, healthy girl of 7lbs. 11 oz and 20.5 inches long. Come meet her this Sunday on Concert Window.

Find out more at http://marcgunn.com/celtfather027

I've been sharing the stage with the Dublin Harpers, a family of Celtic musicians from Dublin, Ohio. As the name says, they play harp music, but it's not like harp music you've heard before. There are at least two harpers, a bodhran player, and occasional other instruments mixed in by the whole family. The music is also upbeat, with reels and jigs that sound like reels and jigs. If you usually think of harp music as slow and pretty, then give this a listen and find out how wrong you are. Find out more about the band at http://www.facebook.com/dublinharpers 

The Whiskey Bay Rovers came by to chat with me at the Louisiana Renaissance Festival after a show. We talked origin stories of these pirates from Lafayette.

The Bilge Pumps sent me their newest CD, Bail Money, last month. I had the pleasure of seeing them at the Louisiana Renaissance Festival where I dug deeper into their murky history. Subscribe to the podcast at http://celtfather.com 

You can become a patron of the podcast
at http://marcgunn.net/ 

ALEP was wonderful. Now it's another ALEP Year until the next one. You'll have to listen to find out how an ALEP Year is. In this week's episode, I talk about my favorite moments at ALEP. Plus, I announce a bunch of shows that are coming up. The show is brought to you by ALEP. Go to http://www.alep-ky.us to find out more.

Mazz O'Flaherty owns the smallest record shop in Ireland. It's in Dingle, Ireland. It is a place you don't want to miss. It's walls are lined with music from Irish musicians, especially those in the County Kerry.

In 2019, I took my Celtic Invasion Vacations to Dingle, Ireland. Ten years after my last trip. Mazz was as delightful a person to talk to as ever.

Show #264

Michael Drout is an amazing professor who teaches the works of JRR Tolkien. He's also a regular guest of A Long Expected Party, aka ALEP, the ultimate Tolkien gathering in the world. I had the pleasure of talking to him about his love of Tolkien and he also provided valuable insight on how to read The Silmarillion. If you are passionate about hobbits and all things Lord of the Rings, then find out more about ALEP at http://www.alep-ky.us/

Jef Murray is a fantasy artist best known for his illustrations inspired by JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis. He's been a regular guest of ALEP these past few years. I had the overwhelming pleasure of sitting down with him to talk about his art and love of Tolkien. http://www.jefmurray.com 

Every three years, much like Brigadoon, a small hobbit village arises from the mist in central Kentucky. I just got back and was able to snag an interview with one of the founders of ALEP, A Long Expected Party, the ultimate gathering of Lord of the Rings fans on the planet. Our very own Bilbo Baggins had wonderful things to say about this amazing event. http://www.alep-ky.us 

Andrew and I started Brobdingnagian Bards 15 years ago in 1999. We've been friends since 1993. You will hear a little bit if the Bards story in today's Celtic Geek. http://andrewmckee.com/ 

I've know Jessica Brawner for years when we first met her on the South Mall of UT Austin. She's gone to DragonCon as long as we've been there. She was back helping is sell CDs, but she also a new book for Con-goers. It's called Charisma +1. Get it right here: http://marcgunn.com/CharismaPlus1 

I was racing to a panel at DragonCon when I heard a song about Dobby the House Elf. I had to stop and interview Wizard Rock band, the Blibbering Humdingers. http://camelot-treasures.com/humdingers.htm 

Enjoy this interview, then please become a patron of the arts at http://marcgunn.net/ 

Mikey Mason does comedy geek rock. I've had his song "So You Don't Like Firefly" stuck in my head all day and I haven't heard it since GenCon. So what does that tell you? But if you're a fan of D&D, then you don't want to miss "Best Game Ever". http://www.mikeymason.com/ 

Become a patron of the arts at http://marcgunn.net/ 

I had a break at Dragon Con. I thought I'd take a moment to chat with Emerald Rose, the Celtic Geek band that inspired me to perform at Sci Fi conventions. They have a new cd out called Sunwise. Find them at http://emeraldrose.com/ 

Become a patron of this podcast at http://marcgunn.net/ 

I am in Indianapolis once again for GenCon. I added a new Wednesday evening show that went well despite Autoharp and location problems. Now it's time to rock out the rest of the con. Sponsored by Lunarpages http://marcgunn.com/lunarpages 

I'm back after a week off from vacation on the beach with the family. Kenzie's school started back up so I'm also back to a regular work schedule. Today, I'm pleased to share all of the news I missed this past couple weeks. I list my upcoming shows and apologize for a Celtic podcast screwup. Plus, I get to talk about my "new" autoharp It's like the Six Million Dollar Man, faster, stronger, better than before. Learn what I look for in an autoharp. Find out more at http://marcgunn.com/celticgeek039

Today's show is sponsored by Lunarpages. It's intelligent web hosting for intelligent people. I've used it for 10+ years. http://marcgunn.com/lunarpages 

As I pack up CDs to mail from my recent Kickstarter for Sci Fi Drinking Songs, I thought I'd record a podcast. Today, we talk about how to filter your email. I share the challenges of promoting with social media. And I remember the ah-ha moments that changed my musical career forever. Today's show is sponsored by Celtic Invasion Vacations.

Visit http://celticinvasion.com/  to find out about the Invasion of Donegal next year.

Find links at http://marcgunn.com/celticgeek038 

We had a great weekend in New Orleans complete with show stopping performance at The Irish House with my daughter. Find out all the exciting details at http://marcgunn.com/celticgeek037  Today's show is brought to you by You! Thank you for listening.

Become a patron at http://marcgunn.net/ 

I started listening to a new audio book today by Susan Cain. It's called Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. And yes, today's show is sponsored by Audible. You can get the book free when you go to http://marcgunn.com/audible. Sci Fi Drinking Songs is done and off to the printers. If you pre-ordered it, stay tuned. I'll have it in the mail soon. You can find this show at http://marcgunn.com/celticgeek033

It's kind of tough getting back to work after 10 days on a Celtic Invasion Vacation. I actually don't want to do it. But I have a lot to do, including returning to my weekly schedule of Celtic Geek news. http://www.marcgunn.com/celticgeek025  

The show is brought to you by Amazon where I bought a Apogee Professional Microphone. http://marcgunn.com/apogeemicrophone 

Become a patron at http://marcgunn.net/