Accessibility links
The Thistle & Shamrock Award-winning radio host Fiona Ritchie explores evolving music from Celtic roots in Europe and North America.
Special Series

The Thistle & Shamrock

Host Fiona Ritchie explores Celtic roots music on her weekly radio program
The Thistle & Shamrock: Combos

This week's episode of The Thistle & Shamrock includes music from Salsa Celtica. Salsa Celtica hide caption

toggle caption
Salsa Celtica

The Thistle & Shamrock: Combos

What goes with what? When it comes to Celtic music combos, almost anything goes, as long as it sounds good.

The Thistle & Shamrock: Combos

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/621522720/621534466" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
The Thistle & Shamrock: The Strange Undoing Of Prudencia Hart
Pete Dibdin/National Theatre of Scotland

The Thistle & Shamrock: The Strange Undoing Of Prudencia Hart

Hear music from an acclaimed National Theatre of Scotland production that celebrates traditional poetry, storytelling and music woven through a supernatural tale.

The Thistle & Shamrock: The Strange Undoing Of Prudencia Hart

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/617253467/617264151" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
The Thistle & Shamrock: Kickstarters

Noel Duggan, Ciaran Brennan, Moya Brennan, Padraig Duggan and Paul Brennan of Clannad on November 24, 1982. H. McCarthy/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
H. McCarthy/Getty Images

The Thistle & Shamrock: Kickstarters

Hear vintage sounds from some of the trailblazers of Celtic music, artists who influenced a generation of musicians across the world.

The Thistle & Shamrock: Kickstarters

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/611684595/611695987" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
The Thistle & Shamrock: Brittany

Musicians Nicolas Quemener, Kevin Burke, Christian Lemaître and Charlie McKerron at The Celtic Fiddle Festival. Ben Costello/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Ben Costello/Courtesy of the artist

The Thistle & Shamrock: Brittany

Hear intoxicating melodies from the father of the pan-Celtic sound, Alan Stivell, along with Kornog and the Celtic Fiddle Festival.

The Thistle & Shamrock: Brittany

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/610060751/610067088" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
The Thistle & Shamrock: The Road Of Tears

This week's episode of The Thistle & Shamrock features music by Battlefield Band. John Slavin/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
John Slavin/Courtesy of the artist

The Thistle & Shamrock: The Road Of Tears

Fiona Ritchie's selections this week include traditional broadsheet ballads and music hall choruses from artists like Dolores Keane, Mick Moloney, and Battlefield Band.

The Thistle & Shamrock: The Road Of Tears

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/602314213/603564283" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
The Thistle & Shamrock: New Writing

This week's episode of The Thistle & Shamrock features music by John Doyle. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

The Thistle & Shamrock: New Writing

Brand-new music, including festival commissions and soundtracks, from artists including Gillian Frame, Michael Rooney and The Macalla Orchestra, John Doyle, John McCusker and Mike McGoldrick.

The Thistle & Shamrock: New Writing

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/601127120/601792647" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
The Thistle & Shamrock: Spring Is In The Airs

This week's episode of The Thistle & Shamrock features music by Liz Carroll. Marianne Mangan/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Marianne Mangan/Courtesy of the artist

The Thistle & Shamrock: Spring Is In The Airs

We feature your favorite Celtic artists including Nightnoise, Ossian, Liz Carroll, and Moving Hearts, as they create musical impressions and notions of springtime.

The Thistle & Shamrock: Spring Is In The Airs

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/598820287/599481583" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
The Thistle & Shamrock: Harlaw

This week's episode of The Thistle and Shamrock features music by Bonnie Rideout. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

The Thistle & Shamrock: Harlaw

Fiddler Bonnie Rideout and her musical guests perform ancient music commemorating the legendary events of the Battle of Harlaw in 1411.

The Thistle & Shamrock: Harlaw

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/586532979/597581092" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
The Thistle & Shamrock: Singing The Land

This week's episode features music by Karine Polwart. Sandy Butler/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Sandy Butler/Courtesy of the artist

The Thistle & Shamrock: Singing The Land

Hear music from Karine Polwart's award-winning theatrical event "Wind Resistance" and excerpts from fiddler Duncan Chisholm's "Sandwood," named for the finest and least accessible beach in Scotland.

The Thistle & Shamrock: Singing The Land

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/594334343/595273910" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
The Thistle & Shamrock: Swannanoa Memories - Part 2

This week's episode of The Thistle & Shamrock features music by Jean Ritchie. George Picknow/American Folklife Center Jean Ritchie and George Picknow Collection hide caption

toggle caption
George Picknow/American Folklife Center Jean Ritchie and George Picknow Collection

The Thistle & Shamrock: Swannanoa Memories - Part 2

We mark the 10th anniversary of the Swannanoa Gathering's Traditional Song Week with more music and interview highlights from Julee Glaub Weems, David Holt, and Jean Ritchie.

The Thistle & Shamrock: Swannanoa Memories - Part 2

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/593145943/593150569" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
The Thistle & Shamrock: Swannanoa Memories - Part 1

Cathie Ryan Paul Carroll/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Paul Carroll/Courtesy of the artist

The Thistle & Shamrock: Swannanoa Memories - Part 1

This week's episode features music from Cathie Ryan, Sheila Kay Adams and Brian McNeill.

The Thistle & Shamrock: Swannanoa Memories - Part 1

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/586009867/591656414" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
The Thistle & Shamrock: Songs Of The Times

This week's episode of The Thistle & Shamrock features music by Karan Casey. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

The Thistle & Shamrock: Songs Of The Times

Hear what today's songwriters with Celtic roots have to contribute to our understanding of current concerns.

The Thistle & Shamrock: Songs Of The Times

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/589205958/589256498" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
The Thistle & Shamrock: Clear Sounds

This week's episode of The Thistle & Shamrock features music by Maura O'Connell. Gwendolen Cates/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Gwendolen Cates/Courtesy of the artist

The Thistle & Shamrock: Clear Sounds

On this week's episode, listen to the inimitable Scottish folk singer who covers Robert Burns, a Celtic balladeer and an Irish folk singer who adds contemporary twists to traditional songs.

The Thistle & Shamrock: Clear Sounds

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/587634264/587655294" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
The Thistle & Shamrock: ThistleRadio Classics

This weeks' episode of The Thistle & Shamrock features music by Kris Drever. Genevieve Stevenson/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Genevieve Stevenson/Courtesy of the artist

The Thistle & Shamrock: ThistleRadio Classics

Listen to a mix of classic songs from Celtic music's newest, genre re-defining artists.

The Thistle & Shamrock: ThistleRadio Classics

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/585501706/586141442" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
The Thistle & Shamrock: The Long View

This week's episode of The Thistle & Shamrock features music by Alan Stivell. FRED TANNEAU/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
FRED TANNEAU/AFP/Getty Images

The Thistle & Shamrock: The Long View

Join us as we revisit Breton harp player and multi-instrumentalist Alan Stivell and Irish fiddler Kevin Burke.

The Thistle & Shamrock: The Long View

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/583711138/583757915" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
The Thistle & Shamrock: Songs Of The Bard

This week's episode of The Thistle & Shamrock features music by Robert Burns. Alexander Nasmyth hide caption

toggle caption
Alexander Nasmyth

The Thistle & Shamrock: Songs Of The Bard

Listen to another installment of Songs of the Bard, celebrating Scotland's Robert Burns.

The Thistle & Shamrock: Songs Of The Bard

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/582082833/582095102" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
The Thistle & Shamrock: New Year, New Music 2

This week's episode of The Thistle & Shamrock features music by Jim and Susie Malcolm. Courtesy of Jim Malcolm hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of Jim Malcolm

The Thistle & Shamrock: New Year, New Music 2

Join us for our second week of new year releases, with artists including Jim and Susie Malcolm, Aurora Celtic, and the young musicians of Sgoil Chiùil na Gàidhealtachd.

The Thistle & Shamrock: New Year, New Music 2

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/580019287/580268422" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Browse the section archive or search npr.org