Show Notes
Welcome to a new episode of Music At Maddens Podcast with me, Lynette Fay.
This week in the snug, Lynette welcomes Clare Sands
A sixth-generation fiddler, bilingual singer, and fearless creative whose stories stretch from Cave Hill to the Bosphorus.
Known for her boundary-crossing artistry and deep connection to place, Claire brings a voice that blends the mythic with the modern, where folklore, language, and activism meet melody.
We talk about fearlessness as a practice, not a personality trait; about how the sea, woods, and wild places keep her compass steady; and about the quiet ritual of breaking bread before pressing record.
Claire reflects on the rare creative kinship she shared with the late Manchán Magan, the power of old words in new songs, and how macaronic songwriting, weaving Irish and English, lets her unlock the emotional double meanings hidden in both.
From Donegal cabins to Wicklow woods, from swimming the Asia-to-Europe strait to raise funds for Palestine, to crafting songs that carry community as much as melody, Claire’s world is one where music holds both grief and grace.
We also face the hard truths of being an artist today, AI voice theft, streaming struggles, and the cost of speaking up, and why, for Claire, the answer is always community over isolation.
If you care about Irish traditional music, language revival, creative courage, and songs that speak truth to power, this episode will stay with you long after it ends.
New episodes every Monday.
Maddens Bar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maddensbarbelfast_home_of_trad/
Hatch Belfast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belfasthatch/?hl=en
Avalon Guitars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avalonguitarsofficial/ Website: https://www.avalonguitars.com/
Smithwicks Irish Ale Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smithwicks_ireland/ Website: https://www.smithwicksexperience.com/
More from Music At Maddens Podcast
Lynette Fay is back in the snug at Madden’s for Episode 55, joined by one of Ireland’s most distinctive and celebrated traditional singers, "Karan Casey".Karan chats to Lynette about her journey through Irish music, from growing up in Waterford to her time in New York and her years as the lead singer of "Solas", before establishing an acclaimed career as a solo artist.They talk about the songs and stories that have shaped her, the importance of using music to tell meaningful stories, and a life spent performing and collaborating with musicians around the world.🎧 Listen now and don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Music at Madden’s for more conversations from the heart of Belfast’s traditional music scene.
Two banjos, two musical worlds, and one very special friendship!
Music at Madden’s - On the Road!
In this episode of Music at Madden’s, Lynette Fay is joined by South Armagh historian, poet and storyteller Una Walsh and her nephew Aodh.
Eagrán speisialta d'Oíche Chultúir A Culture Night Special