Irish reels and jigs vibrated throughout Symphony Space as WFUV’s Irish music program, Ceol na nGael, celebrated its 50th anniversary. For half a century, Ceol na nGael has provided over 40,000 listeners nationwide with the best in Irish music every Sunday from 12-4pm on 90.7 FM. To celebrate the milestone, the Rogue Diplomats, Celtic Cross, Cillian Vallely and Kevin Crawford of the band Lúnasa, Patrick Mangan, Alan Murray, Séamus Egan of Solas, and Jenna Moynihan performed at Symphony Space located in the Upper West Side on Saturday, January 26.
Also present at the anniversary concert was Ceol na nGael’s co-founder Mary Maguire. Maguire was a student at Fordham University in January of 1974 when she and fellow student Gerry Murphy suggested a traditional Irish music segment during one of WFUV’s fundraisers. Murphy and Maguire believed they would have an audience with New York’s expansive Irish community. The two convinced WFUV (Fordham University’s radio station) to give them one hour of airtime. Little did they know that one singular hour on a winter afternoon would turn into a four hour weekly show.
“We were totally unprepared for how the phones exploded during the first program,” founder Maguire recalled. The one hour of airtime quickly turned into four hours. Eventually, Maguire had to leave the station, or she’d be late to work. Maguire recalled mentioning her workplace on air. She said, “When I got to my waitressing job, the owners came up to me frantically asking ‘What’s going on?! People have been calling and asking why Mary Maguire had to leave some radio station!’”
Due to the high demand of listeners across the tristate area for Irish music, Maguire and Murphy were asked to return next week to the station with more Irish tunes. With that, Ceol na nGael, which is Irish Gaelic for “the music of the Irish,” became a staple of WFUV, airing every Sunday from 12-4pm.
Not only was the show a staple of WFUV, but it quickly cemented itself as a staple within the Irish community. It could be heard from every corner of the house. Former co-host Dierdre Hogan, FCRH ‘98, said, “As I brought laundry in or out, my father was listening from a small radio in the garage. My mom would have it on again upstairs in the kitchen as she tidied and cooked.”
Ceol na nGael became a household name in the tristate area due to its human touch. “Anyone can go to YouTube or Spotify and search for a good mix of Irish music,” former host Kevin Quinn, FCRH ‘09, said. “But Ceol na nGael has that very, very important human element that makes it endure for as long as it has.”
This human element is seen in the numerous dedications the show takes each and every week. Hosts interact with the listeners on a weekly basis, reading out dedications wishing loved ones happy birthdays or sending out a song in their memory.
Former host Elizabeth Flanagan, FCRH ‘05, noted just how important these dedications are, especially when she hosted in the days that followed 9/11. Her co-host Deirdre McGuiness, FCRH ‘04, recalled playing Irish ballads along with the dedications going out to lost loved ones to provide “hope and healing” to all those affected. Flanagan said, “It goes to show how profound our music is, and how it’s there for us on the happiest and the saddest days of our lives.”
The music bonded together the tristate’s Irish community, which soon became much more than just a community. It was a family. Family is an essential aspect of Ceol na nGael as the music acts as a gateway for one to connect with their roots. Former host Maggie Dolan, FCRH ‘07, said, “Both my grandparents on my father’s side came from Ireland, Cavan and Mayo. I unfortunately did not get to meet my grandparents. However, through music, and its connection with Irish history, I felt that listening to Ceol nGael brought me a bit closer to my grandparents.”
The music continues to connect listeners to their families, their homeland, and their culture. The music’s lyrics depict various political figures and historic events that shaped Ireland’s cultural and political landscape. Ballads like “The Foggy Dew” depict Ireland’s 1916 Easter Rising; while “The Town I Loved So Well” depicts songwriter Phil Coulter’s experience during the Troubles.
This history doesn’t just stay in the past. Listeners can stay up to date with Ireland’s current news every Sunday at 2:00 pm during the show. Reporting straight from Ireland, Louise Williams and Brendan Tier give a seven minute report each on Ireland’s latest news and sports. Every hour, there’s also weekly community bulletin boards to keep listeners informed of local Irish events.
Since Ceol na nGael’s start in January of 1974, it has pushed the boundaries to be an active part of the Irish community. The show never just stayed in the studio. It was alive and breathing on the streets of New York and across the nation as the show is now available to stream on wfuv.org. Ceol na nGael has been broadcasted live from Mary O’Dowd’s in Manhattan. Former hosts have introduced bands at concerts, such as Cherish the Ladies at their annual Tarrytown Christmas concert and to multiple bands on the main stage at the Guinness Fleadh at Randall’s Island. Former hosts have also been guest judges for New York’s Rose of Tralee concert, and just this past week on January 20, Ceol na nGael was at the Symphony Space, celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Ceol na Gael’s 50th anniversary concert started off with a set by the Rogue Diplomats. The Pennsylvania-based band kicked off the show with their rendition of “South Australia” followed by “Step It Out Mary.” The Rogue Diplomats allowed the audience to ease into the show during these first two songs, but by their third song, they decided to grab hold of the audience and up the craic. Bodhrán player Matthew Cullen Breiner sang a witty introduction to “The Star of the County Down,” mentioning all the intricacies of the New York Irish community and even taking a jab at the New York Giants, all of which caused the crowd to erupt in laughter.
The Rogue Diplomats continued to add bits of dry humor throughout their performance, as heard in their next song, “The Galway Hooker.” Not even half-way through the first verse of the song, guitarist Patrick Marran laughed and said, “Don’t worry, it’s about a boat! Not what you think it is.” Laughter echoed throughout the crowd. Smiles were etched upon the audience’s faces as they were captivated by the Rogue Diplomats’ comedic and musical talent.
The fun of the night carried over into the next act, New York based band Celtic Cross. The band honored Ceol na nGael’s mission to “keep the tradition alive” with their song, “Who I Am.” The song’s lyrics – “I’ll not forget from where we came as I carry on their name” – speaks to remembering one’s roots and honoring one’s history. The song encapsulates what Ceol na nGael stands for and explains why it’s continued for half a century.
Celtic Cross continued to honor Ceol na nGael, dedicating their song “Those Were The Days” to all who helped make Ceol na nGael what it is today. It was a perfect song to dedicate as the song gives a direct shoutout to the show. “Ceol na nGael on FUV taught the words to you and me.” The crowd sang along to a song that captures at least one part, if not more, that they can relate to of growing up in New York’s Irish community. Celtic Cross rode the audience’s high-energy and continued with a fast-paced reel, titled “Mason’s Apron,” before concluding the concert’s first act.
There was a short intermission before the second half. The second act started with welcoming past hosts from 1974 to 2024 onto the stage. Out of the 40 past hosts, over 30 were able to make the concert. Seeing all the hosts on stage was truly like taking a screenshot of history. They represented 50 years of dedication to the preservation of traditional Irish music. It’s a feat not easily accomplished, especially when considering all of Ceol na nGael’s hosts were former Fordham students, and let’s just say, getting up early on a Sunday morning in college isn’t as easy as it seems.
The music then resumed with lovely tunes from Cillian Vallely and Kevin Crawford of Lúnasa, Patrick Mangan, and Alan Murray. Their melodic tunes created an otherworldly escape. A highlight was a tune titled “Sinead Maire’s,” which Vallely wrote for his daughter. The tune’s tin whistle starts off leisurely, slowly picking up pace before being joined by the uilleann pipes and fiddle.
Before the last act performed, short videos by Joanie Madden of Cherish the Ladies and Brian Warfield of the Wolfe Tones were played. Both musicians expressed their regrets of not being able to make the concert but wanted to make sure Ceol na nGael and its listeners knew just how vital the station was to their lives and their music. A live version of the Wolfe Tones’ “Streets of New York” was then played. Not a week goes by on Ceol na nGael without this song being played. It’s a fan favorite, and the audience confirmed that fact. They sang along to the song, waltzing up and down the aisles as if the Wolfe Tones were truly there in-person performing live.
The night then concluded with a beautiful set by Seamus Egan of Solas, who was accompanied by Alan Murray and Jenna Moynihan. Throughout the set, Egan told stories of his journeys before playing tunes from his 2020 album Early Bright.
At the end of his set, Egan was joined on stage by all of the acts. The stage became packed with various instruments as the opening notes to “Dirty Old Town” were played. The audience got up, sang, danced, and clapped along. And like all good Irish sessions, the concert ended with a fast-paced reel.
But the celebrations didn’t end with the last note. They continued into the next day in the studio. Previous hosts were invited back to the Fordham campus in WFUV’s studio to help host the show. Each host got to play one of their favorite Irish songs or tunes and share stories of their time on air. To listen to Ceol na nGael’s special 50th anniversary show that aired on January 21, head to WFUV’s archives by clicking here.
The celebrations then concluded with a big cheers, or as one would say in Irish Gaelic, a big sláinte to Ceol na nGael’s 50 anniversary with wishes for it to continue for 50 more years! Over the next 50 years, new hosts will take over the show. They’ll bring their own musical tastes and stories. They’ll teach the next generation and continue to keep the tradition alive, just as current hosts Allie Small and Matt Cuzzi do. To listen to Ceol na nGael, tune into 90.7 FM or WFUV.org every Sunday from 12-4pm for the best in Irish music.
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