- Ep 87
Revisited Fairy Forts and Changelings
Episode 48 Trailer
As magical new Irish music podcasts emerge, as dark forces swirl around the world, and as much of the northern hemisphere enters into shorter, colder days, the Irish Music Stories re-investigates lore and mystery surrounding Irish fairies.
With care and caution—and with young co-producer Nigel—fiddle players Tara Connaghan and Martin Hayes, singer Emily Smith, and storyteller Máirtín de Cógáin help explore songs and stories about the Sí.
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Thank you to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to recent underwriters: Harish Babu Arunachalam, Paul DeCamp, Jonathan Duvick, Randall Semagin, Michael Voss, Heather Carroll, Robert Suchor, Ian Bittle, Adele Megann, Patrick OLeary, Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, Paul DeCamp, Karin Kettenring, and Rick Rubin
Episode 87-Revisited Fairy Forts and Changelings
How supernatural songs and stories STILL stoke the soul
This Irish Music Stories episode aired November 5, 2025
https://shannonheatonmusic.com/episode-87-revisited-fairy-forts-and-changelings
Speakers, in order of appearance
>> Shannon Heaton: flute player, singer, composer, teacher, and host of Irish Music Stories
>> Tara Connaghan: fiddle player, and host of In Tune with Tradition
>> Emily Smith: Scottish folk singer from Dumfries and Galloway
>> Martin Hayes: Fiddle player from East County Clare who learned from his late father P. Joe Hayes
>> Máirtín de Cógáin: Cork-born storyteller/singer and host of The Ballad Lounge
>> Nigel Heaton: young announcer for Irish Music Stories, and co-producer of this story
>> Kathleen Cronie: Founder of Mostly Ghostly Tours in Dumfries & Galloway
>> John Hill: Co-host of Mostly Ghostly Tours
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Bonus Content
Related videos
Companion Chapters
Related essays
The Bag and the Cup of Tea
Reflections from Irish Music Stories Podcast episodes 01, 30, 31
Cast of Characters
Episode guests in order of appearance
Shannon Heaton
FLUTE/SINGING/PODCASTING
Boston-based flute player, singer, composer, teacher, and host of Irish Music
Tara Connaghan
FIDDLE/PODCASTING
Glenties fiddle player and host of In Tune with Tradition
Emily Smith
SINGER/PIANO/ACCORDION
Scottish folk singer from Dumfries and Galloway
Martin Hayes
FIDDLE
Fiddle player from East County Clare who learned from his late father P. Joe Hayes
Máirtín de Cógáin
SINGER/STORYTELLER
Cork-born storyteller/singer and host of The Ballad Lounge
Kathleen Cronie, John Hill & Mary Wood
MOSTLY GHOSTLY TOURS
Award winning creators of a unique range of ghost and local history tours in Dumfries & Galloway
Nigel Heaton
PIANO
Medford native and piano player who co-hosted this episode
