Andy McKee is one of the world's best-known modern fingerstyle guitarists. His groundbreaking instrumental compositions and viral YouTube success helped introduce a new generation to acoustic guitar music. In this episode of The Ireland Podcast, Andy joins me in Galway to discuss his musical journey, the influence of Michael Hedges and Preston Reed, writing instrumental music, alternate tunings, fan-fret guitars and the enduring appeal of acoustic guitar.
Andy also reflects on being invited to Paisley Park by Prince, the impact of YouTube on his career, his love of Irish-made guitars, and why Ireland always feels a little like coming home. Recorded in Galway during Andy's Irish tour. Topics include:
Prince and Paisley Park The story behind Drifting Modern fingerstyle guitar Michael Hedges and Preston Reed Fan-fret and harp guitars Lowden and Avalon guitars Songwriting and creativity Touring Ireland
Relevant Links https://andymckee.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
220. The Tipsy Fiddler: Celtic Music in Shanghai
08/06/2026 | 19 mins.
In Episode 220 of The Ireland Podcast, Fender Jackson visits The Tipsy Fiddler, a Celtic-themed pub in Shanghai owned by Scottish musician Alan Cowell.
Having lived in China for two decades, Alan shares the story of how he arrived in Shanghai as a musician, why he opened The Tipsy Fiddler, and what keeps him there after all these years.
The conversation explores life in modern Shanghai, the challenges of running a pub after Covid, and the surprising popularity of Irish and Scottish traditional music among Chinese musicians. Along the way, Alan discusses music sessions, cultural exchange, Scottish and Irish musical traditions, and what he misses most about home.
A conversation about pubs, music, migration and the unexpected places where Celtic culture continues to thrive.
Relevant Links https://thesession.org/sessions/3780 https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurant_Review-g308272-d7362006-Reviews-Tipsy_Fiddler-Shanghai.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
219. Irish Voices In Shanghai: The Blarney Stone
05/06/2026 | 12 mins.
A short visit to The Blarney Stone in Shanghai, meeting some of the people who find themselves in an Irish pub on a Saturday night in China.
In this episode, Fender chats with Irish and international voices in Shanghai - including a Dublin toy developer, an Irish pharmaceutical worker, an English model, and a local Chinese regular.
Topics include toy manufacturing in China, missing Irish conversation abroad, Shanghai life, Guinness, modelling, jazz clubs, Irish pubs overseas, and why places like The Blarney Stone matter when you are far from home.
Part of the An Irishman in China mini-series.
Relevant Link https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurant_Review-g308272-d4500480-Reviews-The_Blarney_Stone_Irish_Pub_Yong_Kang_Road-Shanghai.html
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
218. Fender Jackson: An Irishman in China - Shanghai
02/06/2026 | 45 mins.
A couple of months ago I spent another week in Shanghai, one of the most fascinating cities I’ve ever visited. In this episode I revisit videos I filmed during the trip and reflect on the strange mixture of colonial history, futuristic architecture, live music, electric vehicles, museums, marriage markets and everyday life that makes Shanghai feel unlike anywhere else.
Along the way:
I get sketched by a street artist while recovering from gastroenteritis Visit the Shanghai Museum and a qipao exhibition Discover Shanghai’s marriage market Hear traditional Chinese music in the park Explore the Bund and the French Concession Reflect on China’s electric vehicle revolution and BYD End up in a Queen tribute night in an old temple-turned-music venue
Shanghai is one of those cities that feels like several different worlds happening at once. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
217. Xishuangbanna - Southwest China After Dark
29/05/2026 | 15 mins.
Xishuangbanna, in China’s Yunnan Province, is a tropical city near the borders of Laos and Myanmar, known for its temples, night markets and elephant tourism.
This episode wanders through crowded markets filled with colour, karaoke, strange foods and the unforgettable smell of durian. There’s torrential rain, beautiful temples, incredible food, curious encounters with locals, and even some unexpected hotel entertainment.
A loose, atmospheric travel diary from southwest China after dark. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
About the PodcastThe Ireland Podcast is a long-form interview series creating space for unhurried conversation about life on the island of Ireland and beyond.The ConversationsHosted by Fender Jackson and produced by Salthill Media, the podcast centres on listening rather than argument. Each episode features a single guest and allows time for reflection, context, and experience to emerge naturally. Guests include artists, musicians, writers, athletes, broadcasters, historians, and cultural figures whose work or perspective offers insight into place, memory, and lived experience.There is no political or religious agenda. The podcast does not seek to persuade, promote, or argue a position. Instead, it exists as a space for careful dialogue, where complexity is allowed and difference is approached with curiosity rather than confrontation.The HostFender Jackson grew up in Ulster and later lived in England and China before returning to Ireland and settling in Galway, where most episodes are now recorded. These experiences inform a listening-led, exploratory approach shaped by distance as well as proximity, and by an awareness of how place, movement, and memory intersect.ApproachThe Ireland Podcast approaches the island as a shared, lived place - shaped by multiple histories, traditions, communities, and viewpoints. In a post-conflict society, conversation itself has value. The podcast recognises the role that respectful dialogue, storytelling, and careful questioning can play in fostering empathy and understanding.Over time, it becomes an informal record of conversations about the island and its many expressions, offered quietly and without prescription. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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