Two Auld Folkers

About Two Auld Folkers

Welcome to the Two Auld Folkers, the podcast where the stories, songs and spirit of traditional Irish music come alive. Hosted by legendary musicians Mick O'Brien and Gerry Browne, each episode is like pulling up a chair at a great Irish session. Expect fascinating trivia you've probably never heard before, stories from decades on the road, conversations about the craft of Irish music, and plenty of laughs along the way. Every week, Mick and Gerry sit down with a living legend of the traditional Irish music scene. These are the artists who have toured the world, played in pubs, concert halls and festivals across the globe, and helped shape the soundtrack of generations. The conversations are honest, entertaining and full of unforgettable memories—and every episode finishes with something truly special as each guest performs a selection of their favourite songs live. Whether you've been immersed in Irish folk music all your life or you're discovering it for the first time, the Two Auld Folkers celebrates the music, the musicians and the stories that continue to keep this incredible tradition alive. Follow the Two Auld Folkers: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.facebook.com/twoauldfolkers/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.instagram.com/twoauldfolkers/) Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.reddit.com/user/twoauldfolkers/) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@twoauldfolkers_ (https://www.tiktok.com/@twoauldfolkers_) X: https://x.com/twoauldfolkers (https://x.com/twoauldfolkers%C2%A0) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twoauldfolkers (https://www.youtube.com/@twoauldfolkers%C2%A0) Produced By Graco Studios: Website: https://gracostudios.com (https://gracostudios.com/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Graco Studios

Category

arts · music · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 Aug 2026

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

9 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Oct 2026

   Fin Furey & Connor Furey: A New Chapter in the Furey Story

   For the final episode of Season 1, Gerry Browne and Mick O’Brien sit down with Fin Furey and Connor Furey, two cousins carrying one of the best-known names in Irish folk music while building careers very much their own. Fin is the son of Finbar Furey. Connor is the son of Eddie Furey. Music was part of daily life from the start. Instruments filled the house. Touring stories came home from the road. Songs were learned, heard and absorbed long before either of them began thinking seriously about a life in music. That family history runs through the conversation, but this episode is equally about the paths Fin and Connor chose for themselves. Fin spent years immersed in sport before serious injuries pushed him towards physiotherapy and strength and conditioning. He worked in that field for around a decade. Songwriting arrived from a different place. After the death of a friend, a guitar, a few chords and a melody gave him an emotional release he had never experienced before. Music began to take up more space. A move to Canada, open mic nights and regular gigs helped turn songwriting into something more serious. Connor’s path leads straight to the banjo. What began as curiosity became an obsession. He talks about watching family members play, picking apart tunes, learning from the musicians around him and developing the fast, driving style that now defines much of his playing. That playing comes into full focus during the live music in this episode. Fin performs his original song Japanese Death Poems, inspired by ideas around unfinished potential, mortality and the tradition of writing final poems at the end of life. Connor’s banjo gives the song another layer. Later, the pair tear into The Foggy Dew, with Connor bringing Tam Lin into the arrangement, before closing their performances with Fin’s Old Crumlin Road, written after visiting Crumlin Road Gaol and hearing stories connected to its history. The conversation moves through the Dublin folk scene, late-night gigs, traditional music, songwriting, family influence and the way old songs carry history from one generation to the next. Mick describes folk songs as historical artefacts capable of carrying emotion from another time. Fin builds on that idea by talking about oral tradition, storytelling and the role musicians once played in carrying both stories and news from place to place. There is plenty of laughter too. Fin and Connor are quick, sharp and comfortable taking the slagging as Gerry and Mick dig into family stories, old tunes and the differences between generations of players. By the end, Gerry makes his feelings about Connor’s playing clear, calling his performance of Tam Lin better than anything he had heard before, while Mick singles out Fin’s songwriting as one of the moments that stayed with him from the session. A fitting end to Season 1 of Two Auld Folkers, with two musicians shaped by a major Irish folk legacy and determined to add something of their own. Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEqF7GEWvT0c (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEqF7GEWvT0c) Fin Furey: Website: https://www.finfureymusic.com/ (about:blank) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/finfureymusic (https://www.facebook.com/finfureymusic) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finfurey/ (https://www.instagram.com/finfurey/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@finfurey (https://www.youtube.com/@finfurey) Connor Furey: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connorbanjofurey/ (https://www.instagram.com/connorbanjofurey/) Follow the Two Auld Folkers: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.facebook.com/twoauldfolkers/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.instagram.com/twoauldfolkers/) Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.reddit.com/user/twoauldfolkers/) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@twoauldfolkers_ (https://www.tiktok.com/@twoauldfolkers_) X: https://x.com/twoauldfolkers (https://x.com/twoauldfolkers%C2%A0) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twoauldfolkers (https://www.youtube.com/@twoauldfolkers%C2%A0) Produced By Graco Studios: Website: https://gracostudios.com (https://gracostudios.com/) Irish Folk Music, The Music Of The People. #TwoAuldFolkers #FinFurey #ConnorFurey #IrishFolkMusic #GracoStudios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   29 Sept 2026

   Damien Dempsey: The Howya Singer

   Damien Dempsey has landed, and there’s no shortage of songs, stories or craic when he sits down with Gerry Browne and Mick O’Brien. Damien takes us right back to the early days, long before packed Christmas shows at Vicar Street. Gerry remembers first hearing a tape of Damien around 30 years ago, only for someone to confidently declare that a singer with a Dublin accent like his would never work outside Dublin. Damien had other ideas. He talks about the criticism he received for singing in his own accent and why the more people complained about it, the more determined he became to sing his own way. Mick remembers seeing Damien play the Isaac Butt to around seven people, with Damien performing as though thousands were watching. The confidence on stage didn’t always match the nerves beforehand. Gerry and Brendan O’Carroll once offered him an Olympia gig and Damien turned it down because he didn’t feel ready. Then Christy Moore asked him to sing at the Point. Damien was so nervous on the way to the venue that he considered stepping in front of a slow-moving car and getting himself a broken leg. Unfortunately, all he could see were large Jeeps. Going on stage suddenly looked like the safer option. There are a few other gigs Damien would rather forget, including Beat on the Street, where a crowd waiting for boy bands wasn’t exactly delighted to see him. Add some flying bottles into the story and you get a fairly accurate picture of life before Vicar Street. There’s plenty of music along the way too. Damien performs three songs during the episode. “Let It Go” leads into a conversation about carrying pain from the past and learning to deal with it. “The Sacred Sing Song” brings Damien back to the houses of his childhood, surrounded by family, neighbours, songs and music. “The Apple of My Eye” takes us across the Atlantic to his time living in New York and the story behind one of his best-known songs. Damien also shares some lovely memories of Sinéad O’Connor, who sang on his records and brought him on tour across Europe, Australia and America. He remembers her generosity, her incredible voice and, most of all, her sense of humour. Gerry has a Sinéad story of his own involving a television green room, a spliff and somebody trying to explain the smoking rules. You’ll have to hear the rest. The conversation moves through Christy Moore, Luke Kelly, Bob Marley, songwriting, Damien’s early work in Finglas, his new ballad project and the gradual rise from tiny gigs to those famous nights at Vicar Street. And running through the whole episode is a shared love of the Irish sing-song. Songs learned from parents and grandparents. Songs heard in packed sitting rooms. Songs passed around without anyone worrying too much about who was supposed to be the star of the show. Damien grew up in the middle of all of that, and you hear how much those nights still mean to him. Three live songs, some brilliant stories, plenty of laughs and Damien Dempsey in full flow with Gerry and Mick. Stick this one on and enjoy the craic. Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEqF7GEWvT0c (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEqF7GEWvT0c) Damien Dempsey: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/damiendempseyofficial/ (https://www.facebook.com/damiendempseyofficial/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damiendempseymusic/ (https://www.instagram.com/damiendempseymusic/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DamienDempseyMusic (https://www.youtube.com/@DamienDempseyMusic) Follow the Two Auld Folkers: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.facebook.com/twoauldfolkers/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.instagram.com/twoauldfolkers/) Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.reddit.com/user/twoauldfolkers/) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@twoauldfolkers_ (https://www.tiktok.com/@twoauldfolkers_) X: https://x.com/twoauldfolkers (https://x.com/twoauldfolkers%C2%A0) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twoauldfolkers (https://www.youtube.com/@twoauldfolkers%C2%A0) Produced By Graco Studios: Website: https://gracostudios.com (https://gracostudios.com/) Irish Folk Music, The Music Of The People. #TwoAuldFolkers #DamienDempsey #IrishFolkMusic #GracoStudios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   22 Sept 2026

   Fieldsy: Folk, Fire and Doing It Her Own Way

   Fieldsy joins Gerry Browne and Mick O’Brien for a wide-ranging conversation about music, reinvention, Irish identity, social media and building a career without fitting the usual mould. Her story starts far from the folk scene. Fieldsy grew up singing, joined girl bands as a teenager, entered a televised singing competition and spent years writing and performing across different styles. Pop, dance music, rock and original songwriting all came before the Irish ballads and rebel songs people now know her for. Australia became a major part of the story. After moving there, she formed a rock band, learned guitar, toured her own material and later created a tribute show built around The Cranberries and The Corrs. The reaction from Irish audiences abroad gave her a new connection to the music she had grown up around. When she returned to Ireland, everything shifted again. She started posting Irish songs online and the response came fast. Social media brought her to a new audience, helped fill live dates and gave her a route into a scene where she never planned to blend in. That individuality sits at the centre of this episode. Fieldsy talks openly about presenting herself on her own terms, bringing Australian influences into her live setup and refusing to soften her personality for the sake of fitting a traditional image. Gerry and Mick explore the changing role of women in Irish folk music and the growing number of female performers stepping forward with their own style, presence and repertoire. The conversation also turns to rebel songs, radio, Irish history and the way younger audiences are responding to traditional material. Fieldsy speaks about seeing large numbers of younger people at her shows, many of them finding her through TikTok and social platforms before going on to connect with songs that have been around for generations. Her approach to familiar songs gives the episode some of its funniest moments. Fieldsy explains how Jolene became Maureen, how Living Next Door to Alice got an Irish rewrite, and how Richard Thompson’s Beeswing became Wasp Sting. The idea is simple. Take a song people know, shift the point of view and give the audience something unexpected. There is also a more personal side to the conversation. Fieldsy talks about motherhood, touring, sacrifice and the reality of travelling alone. She describes loading her own gear, setting up her own PA, driving between shows and treating the whole operation as a business. She also speaks about the choices women often face when family life takes over and how difficult returning to performance can feel after years away. Social media gets its own honest discussion too. Fieldsy runs her pages herself, replies to followers and uses humour to deal with negative comments. Rather than letting online criticism slow her down, she turns engagement back into attention for the music. Across the episode, she performs Black Velvet Band, Wasp Sting and Joseph, her version of Grace told from Grace Gifford’s perspective. This is an episode about finding your own place in Irish music, then refusing to surrender any of the personality you brought with you. Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEqF7GEWvT0c (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEqF7GEWvT0c) Follow Fieldsy: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fieldsymusic (https://www.facebook.com/fieldsymusic) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fieldsy_official/ (https://www.instagram.com/fieldsy_official/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FIELDSY (https://www.youtube.com/@FIELDSY) Follow the Two Auld Folkers: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.facebook.com/twoauldfolkers/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.instagram.com/twoauldfolkers/) Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.reddit.com/user/twoauldfolkers/) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@twoauldfolkers_ (https://www.tiktok.com/@twoauldfolkers_) X: https://x.com/twoauldfolkers (https://x.com/twoauldfolkers%C2%A0) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twoauldfolkers (https://www.youtube.com/@twoauldfolkers%C2%A0) Produced By Graco Studios: Website: https://gracostudios.com (https://gracostudios.com/) Irish Folk Music, The Music Of The People. #TwoAuldFolkers #Fieldsy #IrishFolkMusic #GracoStudios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

4. 

   15 Sept 2026

   Ciarán Moran: Songs From Dublin’s Inner City

   Ciarán Moran writes about the Dublin he knows. In Episode 5 of Two Auld Folkers, Gerry Browne and Mick O’Brien sit down with the singer-songwriter for a lively conversation about music, family, community, songwriting and the road from Dublin’s inner city to major stages at home and abroad. Ciarán started writing songs at 13. He talks about the youth clubs giving him room to learn, the people who encouraged him, and the early influence of Sparky, a youth worker who introduced him to songwriting and stayed part of his life long after those first sessions. One of Ciarán’s earliest songs was about a neighbour living with heroin addiction. Other young writers around him were writing about sunshine, flowers and everyday subjects. Ciarán wrote about what he saw around him. This instinct still shapes his work. His songs draw from Dublin flats, family life, addiction, loyalty and community. He speaks about his EP Life in Our City and why he avoids being boxed into one genre. Folk, rock, ballads and heavier material all sit inside his music. The conversation also turns to a major run of live shows in 2024. Ciarán recalls supporting The Wolfe Tones across three nights at the 3Arena. He talks about the nerves, the preparation and the detail behind those performances. The band rehearsed the set, planned the lighting and worked through the opening so everyone knew what to expect once they walked onstage. Two days later, Ciarán was in New York for five gigs, including a show at The Dead Rabbit. He speaks about treating each trip as an experience to enjoy, rather than another step on a career ladder. There are plenty of laughs along the way. A support slot with Macy Gray leads to Ciarán admitting he knew fewer of her songs than he first thought. The story soon ends up with a joke about finding a Macy Gray tribute act in Finglas. Mick brings the Irish folk music history into the room. Gerry brings the stories. Before long, the conversation moves through The Fields of Athenry, The Flight of Earls, old recordings, competing versions and the arguments following famous songs for decades. There is also a memorable detour into Robbie Williams’ Angels and Irish songwriter Ray Heffernan, with Gerry recalling a conversation he had with Ray about the song. Ciarán speaks openly about the music industry too. He talks about being overlooked, watching other artists get opportunities and learning to stop measuring his progress against everyone else. His approach now is simple. Put the blinkers on. Keep moving forward. Do your own thing. Music runs through the episode from start to finish. Ciarán performs The Old Triangle with a stripped-back feel and follows with The Fields of Athenry, putting the lyric and story at the centre of the performance. He then performs one of his own songs, Over You, giving Gerry and Mick the chance to hear the writing they had spent much of the episode discussing. If you enjoy Irish folk music, songwriting and stories rooted in real places and real people, this episode deserves a place in your queue. Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEqF7GEWvT0c (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEqF7GEWvT0c) Follow Ciarán Moran: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CiaranMoranMusic (https://www.facebook.com/CiaranMoranMusic) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciaranmoranmusic (https://www.instagram.com/ciaranmoranmusic) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ciaranmoranmusicireland (https://www.youtube.com/@ciaranmoranmusicireland) Follow the Two Auld Folkers: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.facebook.com/twoauldfolkers/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.instagram.com/twoauldfolkers/) Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.reddit.com/user/twoauldfolkers/) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@twoauldfolkers_ (https://www.tiktok.com/@twoauldfolkers_) X: https://x.com/twoauldfolkers (https://x.com/twoauldfolkers%C2%A0) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twoauldfolkers (https://www.youtube.com/@twoauldfolkers%C2%A0) Produced By Graco Studios: Website: https://gracostudios.com (https://gracostudios.com/) Irish Folk Music, The Music Of The People. #TwoAuldFolkers #EddieSherlock #IrishFolkMusic #GracoStudios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

5. 

   8 Sept 2026

   Eddie Sherlock: Songs of Dublin, Struggle and Story

   What happens when a Dublin songwriter starts writing about the people, places and stories happening around him? For Eddie Sherlock, those stories became songs such as “All Around the Town”, “King of the Road” and “The Island”. In Episode 4 of the Two Auld Folkers Podcast, Eddie joins Gerry Browne and Mick O’Brien for a warm, funny conversation about songwriting, Dublin life, family, confidence and the long road of building a career through original Irish folk music. Eddie’s musical story started later than most. He grew up surrounded by singers. His granny and father sang, while his uncle Thomas McLachlan became one of his biggest influences. Christmas gatherings meant music, party pieces and Eddie trying to stay close enough to hear the adults singing. Yet Eddie reached 21 before guitar started to make sense. Someone showed him how to play “Zombie” by The Cranberries using two fingers. He played the same thing for two weeks, drove the family mad and kept going. While singing “Spancil Hill”, Eddie then realised he was in key. He went home delighted. He had finally worked out he was able to sing. From there came songs rooted in modern Dublin life. “All Around the Town” began after the death of a young man named Connor. Eddie started writing about violence, addiction, gang activity and families dealing with the aftermath. Mick remembers hearing the song years ago while driving home from his radio show. The lyrics hit hard because he recognised the communities Eddie was writing about. Years later, Eddie received a message from a man dealing with addiction who said the song had helped him through a difficult period. Then there’s “King of the Road”. A line sat in Eddie’s phone for around two years before lockdown gave him the space to follow the idea. He researched horse names, bloodlines, sulky racing and the language around the sport. The song was recorded in a bedroom during lockdown. Then people started sharing. Children learned the words. Parents sent videos. Eddie even tells the story of a child performing “King of the Road” at school before his parents were called in because someone thought the song was inappropriate. Gerry and Mick also get Eddie talking about self-doubt. Despite years of gigs, Eddie spent a long time unsure about his own voice. Gerry hears something different, describing Eddie’s Dublin tone as instantly recognisable. The conversation turns to a question facing many Irish musicians. How do you move from pub gigs to bigger stages? Eddie has spent years trying. Streaming has helped fund recording sessions and brought his music to listeners in America, Australia and further afield. Music also brought Eddie to Australia, where a songwriting project connecting Irish and Aboriginal stories led to performances and a small tour. The episode closes with “The Island”, inspired by the people of the Blasket Islands. Eddie became fascinated by the islanders, their isolation and the families who eventually left home behind. One image stayed with him, a person leaving by boat and watching the island grow smaller in the distance. There are plenty of laughs along the way, plus three original Eddie Sherlock songs. Irish folk music. The music of the people. Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEqF7GEWvT0c (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEqF7GEWvT0c) Follow Eddie Sherlock: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Eddiesherlockmusic/ (https://www.facebook.com/Eddiesherlockmusic/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eddiesherlockmusic/ (https://www.instagram.com/eddiesherlockmusic/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MrEddiesherlock (https://www.youtube.com/@MrEddiesherlock) Follow the Two Auld Folkers: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.facebook.com/twoauldfolkers/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.instagram.com/twoauldfolkers/) Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.reddit.com/user/twoauldfolkers/) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@twoauldfolkers_ (https://www.tiktok.com/@twoauldfolkers_) X: https://x.com/twoauldfolkers (https://x.com/twoauldfolkers%C2%A0) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twoauldfolkers (https://www.youtube.com/@twoauldfolkers%C2%A0) Produced By Graco Studios: Website: https://gracostudios.com (https://gracostudios.com/) Irish Folk Music, The Music Of The People. #TwoAuldFolkers #EddieSherlock #IrishFolkMusic #GracoStudios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

6. 

   1 Sept 2026

   Phelim Drew: Growing Up with Ronnie Drew and The Dubliners

   Phelim Drew joins Gerry Browne and Mick O’Brien for a rich conversation about family, music, theatre and the extraordinary legacy of Ronnie Drew. For Phelim, growing up around The Dubliners never felt unusual. Ronnie was famous, but he was still Dad. Musicians, actors, writers and all sorts of characters passed through the family home, and Irish music was part of everyday life. In this episode, Phelim looks back on those years and shares a more personal picture of the man behind one of Ireland’s most recognisable voices. He talks about Ronnie’s early time in Spain, his flamenco guitar lessons and the friendships which helped shape his future. One of the strongest moments comes when Phelim reads from a letter written by Ronnie’s friend Joe Hackett. The letter recalls a young Ronnie sitting beside a river in Seville, unsure about what he wanted to do with his life. Ronnie told Joe he was thinking about becoming a ballad singer. Joe asked him to sing. Ronnie chose Nora. Joe told him to go home and follow the idea. Ronnie left for Madrid the next day. The conversation also explores what made The Dubliners different. Their sound was raw, their image was unmistakable and their attitude stood apart from much of the Ireland around them at the time. Phelim, Gerry and Mick talk about the band’s rise, their appearances on Top of the Pops and the huge audiences they built across Europe. Phelim also reflects on growing up as the son of a famous musician. He speaks warmly about Ronnie’s humour, his sensitivity, his instinct for reading people and his respect for musicians trying to make a living. Gerry and Mick have their own Ronnie Drew stories to share. Gerry remembers playing at a wedding when the bride asked if her uncle might get up for a few songs. The uncle turned out to be Ronnie Drew. Mick remembers Ronnie appearing at a gig in Sandymount and asking his band for a “dig out”. Mick suddenly found himself backing one of the men who had shaped his love of Irish folk music. Phelim also talks about his own career in acting, including decades of theatre work and around 25 to 30 productions at the Abbey Theatre. That theatre background now sits alongside music in Remembering Ronnie, Phelim’s live show built around songs, stories and memories of his father. There is plenty of live music in the episode too. Phelim performs The Good Ship Kangaroo, Red Roses for Me and McAlpine’s Fusiliers. Before the final song, he tells one of the funniest Ronnie Drew stories of the episode. The Dubliners were touring Germany. Ronnie suggested adding McAlpine’s Fusiliers to the set. He walked out in front of a packed German audience and confidently began with the words: “’Twas in the year of ’39...” Phelim tells the rest. A warm, funny and personal episode about Ronnie Drew, The Dubliners, Irish folk music and the family stories behind the songs. Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEqF7GEWvT0c (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEqF7GEWvT0c) Follow Phelim Drew: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/phelimdrewmusic/ (https://www.facebook.com/phelimdrewmusic/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phelimdrewmusiccorner/ (https://www.instagram.com/phelimdrewmusiccorner/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@phelimdrewmusic814 (https://www.youtube.com/@phelimdrewmusic814) Follow the Two Auld Folkers: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.facebook.com/twoauldfolkers/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.instagram.com/twoauldfolkers/) Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.reddit.com/user/twoauldfolkers/) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@twoauldfolkers_ (https://www.tiktok.com/@twoauldfolkers_) X: https://x.com/twoauldfolkers (https://x.com/twoauldfolkers%C2%A0) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twoauldfolkers (https://www.youtube.com/@twoauldfolkers%C2%A0) Produced By Graco Studios: Website: https://gracostudios.com (https://gracostudios.com/) Irish Folk Music, The Music Of The People. #TwoAuldFolkers #PhelimDrew #IrishFolkMusic #GracoStudios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

7. 

   25 Aug 2026

   Mick Mc Loughlin

   Mick Mc Loughlin has spent 15 years singing on the streets of Dublin, but the story of Mick The Busker goes far beyond Henry Street. In Episode 2 of Two Auld Folkers, Gerry Browne and Mick O’Brien sit down with one of Dublin’s most recognisable street performers for a conversation full of music, memories, sharp humour and a few stories that land harder than expected. Mick grew up in a house where music was always within reach. There were guitars, banjos, mandolins, accordions and plenty of records. His influences came from all directions, from Cat Stevens and The Mamas and the Papas to The Wolfe Tones, Christy Moore and The Dubliners. Then came Luke Kelly. Mick talks about the hold Luke’s voice had on him, the connection he feels when singing his songs and why he still visits Luke’s grave. When he sings The Old Triangle, something changes. People stop. They listen. That connection with people sits at the heart of this episode. Mick remembers supporting Declan O’Rourke at Vicar Street and watching a man in the front row break down during Love’s Last Time. He tells the story behind the viral Luas video with Edward, a spontaneous performance of You’ve Got a Friend in Me that spread around the world. Then there is Archie. Archie was one of the regulars who stopped to see Mick on Henry Street. When Mick told him he was close to giving up busking because he could not afford the equipment he needed, Archie arrived with an amp, microphone, stand, cables and a guitar. A few days later, Mick was back doing what he loved. When Archie died, his son came looking for him. One of Archie’s final wishes was for Mick to sing at his funeral. Mick went to the church, told their story and sang Galileo. It is one of several moments in the episode that shows what busking has meant to Mick over the years. Henry Street gave him a stage, but more importantly, it gave him people. He has seen marriage proposals, old friends, tourists, shop workers and regulars who return for the same songs. He has also seen addiction, homelessness, violence, theft and grief at close range. Mick talks about all of it without dressing it up. There is plenty of warmth too. He recalls the people who stop for a chat, the strangers who recognise him abroad and the listeners who ask him to video call family members so they can say hello. The conversation moves into the wider state of Irish music, from streaming income and the difficulty of making a living to the old connection between folk music and drink. Mick also tells a great story about singing The Contender on Henry Street and looking up to see Jimmy McCarthy standing in front of him. The songwriter’s verdict stayed with him. That was the way the song should be sung. For all the years on the street, Mick still has one big dream. He wants to headline the Olympia Theatre. Episode 2 also features live performances of The Contender, I Remember You Singing This Song and The Parting Glass. Funny in places, moving in others, and full of stories you would never get from a standard interview, this is Mick The Busker in his own words. A singer shaped by Dublin, Luke Kelly, Henry Street and the people who stopped long enough to listen. Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEqF7GEWvT0c (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEqF7GEWvT0c) Follow Mick Mc Loughlin: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mickmcloughlinmusic (https://www.facebook.com/mickmcloughlinmusic) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickmcloughlinmusic/ (https://www.instagram.com/mickmcloughlinmusic/) YouTube: http://youtube.com/@mickthebusker2025/ (http://youtube.com/@mickthebusker2025/) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mick.mc.loughlin (mailto:https://www.tiktok.com/@mick.mc.loughlin) Follow the Two Auld Folkers: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.facebook.com/twoauldfolkers/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.instagram.com/twoauldfolkers/) Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.reddit.com/user/twoauldfolkers/) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@twoauldfolkers_ (https://www.tiktok.com/@twoauldfolkers_) X: https://x.com/twoauldfolkers (https://x.com/twoauldfolkers%C2%A0) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twoauldfolkers (https://www.youtube.com/@twoauldfolkers%C2%A0) Produced By Graco Studios: Website: https://gracostudios.com (https://gracostudios.com/) Irish Folk Music, The Music Of The People. #TwoAuldFolkers #MickMcLoughlin #IrishFolkMusic #GracoStudios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

8. 

   18 Aug 2026

   The High Kings: Darren Holden & Brian Dunphy

   Gerry Browne and Mick O’Brien launch the very first episode of Two Auld Folkers with two men who have spent years bringing Irish folk music to audiences around the world, Darren Holden and Brian Dunphy of The High Kings. It is a fitting way to start the series. Four musicians, a room full of stories, a few songs and plenty of slagging along the way. Darren and Brian take Gerry and Mick back to life before The High Kings, and both have stories worth hearing. Darren spent four years on Broadway performing the music of Billy Joel in the hit show Movin’ Out. He remembers landing the role after hundreds of performers had auditioned and the intense work which followed. Brian's early career contains another great "what if?" moment. At 19, he received a call from Louis Walsh asking him to join a new Irish boyband. The band was Boyzone. Brian said no. Then Darren reveals Louis had approached him too. He also said no. Two future High Kings had independently turned down Boyzone before they even knew each other. The conversation moves through Riverdance, Broadway, musical theatre and Brian's memories of growing up around his father, Sean Dunphy, who represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1967. Darren and Brian then take us inside the formation of The High Kings. They remember the huge production behind the original show, the world-class musicians who joined them on stage and a project initially aimed at audiences across America and Canada. When the economic crash changed the scale of the production, the four members made a decision which helped shape the future of the band. They picked up the instruments themselves, worked hard on their harmonies and started building new arrangements around classic Irish songs. Those songs became an introduction to Irish folk music for a new generation. The lads also talk about life on tour. The High Kings have played more than 150 shows a year, with long stretches spent crossing America. A day off often means a travel day, and some journeys between shows stretch to 16 hours. There are great gigs, tough gigs and one Cleveland venue which left Darren and Brian wondering what they had signed themselves up for. Brian explains why Grace holds such a personal connection for him and remembers singing the song with his father. Darren talks about finding their own approach to Ride On and The Town I Loved So Well. The pair also share what The Parting Glass means to them and why audiences keep asking for the song night after night. One story about The Town I Loved So Well starts with an elderly gentleman crying in the front row of Birmingham City Hall and ends somewhere Darren certainly wasn't expecting. Mick then reveals an extraordinary piece of history linking Luke Kelly, the same song and the very same venue. Gerry has stories of his own, from Tinker’s Fancy and the Dublin ballad scene to working with Brendan O’Carroll during the early days which eventually led to Mrs Brown’s Boys. There is live music too. Darren, Brian, Gerry and Mick perform Grace and Ride On before The High Kings finish the episode with Leaving of Liverpool. Four musicians talking about the songs they love, the gigs they remember and the stories collected over a lifetime in music. Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEqF7GEWvT0c (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEqF7GEWvT0c) Follow The High Kings: Website: https://www.thehighkings.com/ (https://www.thehighkings.com/) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehighkings/ (https://www.facebook.com/thehighkings/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehighkingsofficial/ (https://www.instagram.com/thehighkingsofficial/) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehighkingsofficial (https://www.tiktok.com/@thehighkingsofficial) Follow the Two Auld Folkers: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.facebook.com/twoauldfolkers/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.instagram.com/twoauldfolkers/) Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.reddit.com/user/twoauldfolkers/) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@twoauldfolkers_ (https://www.tiktok.com/@twoauldfolkers_) X: https://x.com/twoauldfolkers (https://x.com/twoauldfolkers%C2%A0) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twoauldfolkers (https://www.youtube.com/@twoauldfolkers%C2%A0) Produced By Graco Studios: Website: https://gracostudios.com (https://gracostudios.com/) Irish Folk Music, The Music Of The People. #TwoAuldFolkers #TheHighKings #IrishFolkMusic #GracoStudios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

9. 

   4 Aug 2026

   Two Auld Folkers Trailer

   Ah Jaysus... you're very welcome to the Two Auld Folkers! Hosted by Mick O'Brien and Gerry Browne, this podcast celebrates everything we love about traditional Irish music—from the songs we all know and love to the stories you've probably never heard. Every week we'll be joined by legendary musicians for honest chats, plenty of craic, and live performances of their favourite songs. Have a listen to this trailer, then hit Subscribe and pull up a chair for the sessions ahead. The stories are only just beginning. Follow the Two Auld Folkers: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.facebook.com/twoauldfolkers/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.instagram.com/twoauldfolkers/) Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/twoauldfolkers/ (https://www.reddit.com/user/twoauldfolkers/) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@twoauldfolkers_ (https://www.tiktok.com/@twoauldfolkers_) X: https://x.com/twoauldfolkers (https://x.com/twoauldfolkers ) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twoauldfolkers (https://www.youtube.com/@twoauldfolkers ) Produced By Graco Studios: Website: https://gracostudios.com (https://gracostudios.com) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

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