MORTAL Sin takes us on a journey of friendship and growth between the two characters Colm and Peggy in 1960s Ireland. JFK has just been shot, and the two young friends believe this calls for a day off school. They make naive attempts to resist the system and defy their elders. Though the young friends share moments of light-hearted play, their thoughts and actions are ultimately subsumed by the pervasive Catholic mindset of the era.

THE St James the Great Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann had the honour of being invited to take part in a Fringe event at the annual Royal National Mòd, which this year took place in Glasgow from October 9 to 17.

THE Columba Club in Coatbridge gave a warm welcome to Jim McVeigh for the launch of his recent publication Our Martin.

THIS month’s feature came about almost by accident. I was watching one of my all-time favourite bands on YouTube—punk rock icons The Clash—when I noticed something I’d seen many times before but suddenly looked at in a completely different light. There was Joe Strummer battering barre E on his well battle worn Fender Telecaster guitar and spitting out the words to Tommy Gun with all his anger and might… wearing an H-Block T-shirt in the video for The Clash’s 1978 single.

THE remarkable story of the man whose charitable work led to the birth of Celtic Football Club is to be brought to the stage in a new Glasgow production.

THE All-Ireland Fleadh took place last month in Belfast for a celebration of Irish culture that was on a completely different level to anything that had gone before.

DOUBLE Emmy Award-winning Irish group, The Shamrocks, are coming to Scotland next month as part of their first ever UK tour.

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