IT WAS a dream come true for five-time World Champion Irish dancer, Oscar Donnelly, as he took to the stage to perform in Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance show in Glasgow, late last month.

THIS is a good first novel by a new author joining the scene of Scottish crime writing. The main character is Cal Lynch and the book opens with his arrival in Paisley. It emerges that almost three decades earlier Cal left Scotland following the brutal murder of his father. He and his mother moved to London, but Cal’s return was long-planned with his focus being on Eddie Quinn who he believed was responsible. His mother was clear in her intention of not returning.

THIS month I thought I’d take a look at the beautiful explosion of Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll that’s happening right now and shine a light on some of the greats from the past that helped influence and bring us to this wonderful wealth of incredible new Irish music.

MALONES Glasgow—the Irish bar on Sauchiehall Lane in the city centre—has become one of the first venues in the heart of Glasgow to pour Beamish Irish Stout and drinkers emptied the taps within 36 hours!

IT'S BEEN 12 years since Glasgow hosted the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 23rd iteration of the event—the 2026 Glasgow games—has now kicked off again in the city, far sooner than anyone would have predicted back in 2014.

AN ATTENTIVE audience of family, friends and invited guests—including Theresa C Gallagher, chair of Comhaltas in Britain and Rosemarie Cassidy, chair of the Scottish Region of Comhaltas—enjoyed the St James the Great Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Branch’s annual summer concert in Pollokshaws Burgh Hall, Glasgow recently.

wonderful man Martin O’Neill and the fight-to-the-end Celtic squad who won the double this season against all the odds, with just about everyone—bar Hibs fans—rooting against us!

FOR hundreds of years traditional music has been a huge part of Irish culture. With the exception of a period of decline in the 1940s to 1960s driven by the Church exerting control over ‘too much enjoyment’ of the people, it has largely been in a healthy state.

JAMES Connolly's life and legacy was celebrated in both Edinburgh and Glasgow recently via a special commemorative event and a brand new play.

THE Scottish Fleadh took place on the last weekend of April to record numbers of competitors in a celebration of Irish music, song and language.

THE journey towards the All-Ireland Fleadh will begin this month at the Scottish Fleadh which is taking place in Woodfarm High School on April 26.

CAIRDE na hÉireann were delighted to welcome a sold-out crowd to the Glasgow Film Theatre recently for the Scottish premiere of the film-documentary, Gerry Adams: A Ballymurphy Man.

THIS month’s feature is a very special one for me, because I’m thrilled to announce that 20th Century Paddy: A Star-Studded Tribute to Shane MacGowan will be released in November of this year

ONE of Ireland's leading folk and ballad singers, Myles Gaffney, will perform his debut Scottish gig a Grace's Irish Centre on Friday April 10.

AS THE clocks prepare to spring forward and the first whispers of summer holiday planning begin homes across Scotland, a new shadow is looming over the departure lounge as the ‘post-Brexit’ grace period is officially entering a more bureaucratic phase, with several major changes taking effect this year which are here to stay.

WHAT do Del Amitri, The Bluebells, The Speyside Sessions Group, L’Acoustica, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra and East Park School in Glasgow have in common? Well, in short, Bryan Tolland.

ST JAMES the Great Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann recently visited Ireland to forge close links with two branches of the Irish cultural organisation, and it was music, music, music all the way.

WITH St Patrick’s Day approaching as I write this, I pondered the question: What does it mean to be Irish? And how do we define ourselves in modern society?

THE St James the Great branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann—based in the southside of Glasgow—are looking forward with excitement to an upcoming youth exchange visit this month to CCÉ Croisín in County Clare.

CONTRIBUTORS to The Irish Voice share with us their personal highlights and standout performances at this year’s Celtic Connections Festival. TRUE AND BOLD: A NIGHT FOR DICK GAUGHAN Glasgow Royal Concert Hall January 18, 2026 GAUGHAN was a giant of traditional music. His album Handful of Earth is rated as one of the best folk albums ever, but he is now unable to perform after suffering a stroke in 2016, which affected his dexterity and memory. This show was hugely significa