The Blackpool Sentinel
Music Blog featuring the musings of Colm O'Callaghan
'An infrequent conversation between fans of music, some of it long-lost’
(not that Blackpool, but the real one, the Cork one)
theblackpoolsentinel.com
- In our first post of 2026, we look at two hometown heroes: The Frank and Walters in Cork and Damien Dempsey in Dublin: and what their live shows say about ageing, loyalty, and the lasting pull of the Irish gig scene theblackpoolsentinel.com/2026/02/03/t...
- In our latest post on The Blackpool Sentinel @colmocallaghan.bsky.social revisits Brian, (the work of Ken Sweeney) A remarkable body of songs worth another listen. (check out the recent rerelease on @needlemythology.bsky.social Read here theblackpoolsentinel.com/2025/09/07/b...
- For the week that’s in it… a guest post on Oasis… courtesy of Eoin O Callaghan… theblackpoolsentinel.com/2025/08/14/o...
- Jarvis Cocker paused during Pulp’s 3Arena show last week to remember their first gig in Dublin — The Rock Garden, March 1993. A £10-a-night hotel, missing gear, and one unforgettable punchline. Read the full tale of Pulp’s curious Irish beginnings here theblackpoolsentinel.com/2025/06/16/p...
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- Reposted by The Blackpool SentinelI've started playing one classic Irish song every day and I'm going to share them here. Today's is Galway's 'The Swinging Swine' Them Ghosts Do Come (1987). Joanne Loughman has one of the purest voices I've ever heard, and that wonderful jangly guitar? Pure magic. youtu.be/a4m2gDMbVNI?...
- Remember the buzz of a good disco? Dave Heffernan captures it beautifully in our latest guest post - “Yes Disco.” A lovely read for anyone who was ever there — or wishes they had been: theblackpoolsentinel.com/2025/04/24/y...
- Reposted by The Blackpool SentinelFinally got around to actually doing another @libfocus.bsky.social post after what seems years. It's one I've been playing around with for ages... Some of my favourite records about libraries and librarians... I hope you enjoy (or at least enjoy the music 👇
- Our latest post... (and this one is by one of the Libfocus team, @martinoconnor.bsky.social "Ten great Records about Libraries" www.libfocus.com/2025/04/ten-...
- Boyzone’s story gets the documentary treatment in No Matter What—a sharp, stylish look at fame, media, and music @colmocallaghan.bsky.social gives his take in our latest post. #Boyzone #NoMatterWhat theblackpoolsentinel.com/2025/02/12/b...
- Well, a few days late posting this… but still… 😊
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- Remembering Mick Lynch - gone 9 years today. @colmocallaghan.bsky.social wrote a lovely tribute to Mick at the time theblackpoolsentinel.com/2015/12/18/m...
- New post alert. Just back from the Kane Gang’s recent gig in Sunderland, we dive deep into the Kane Gang and reflect along the on the iconic Kitchenware Records scene, touching on Prefab Sprout, Paddy McAloon, and Martin Stephenson. theblackpoolsentinel.com/2024/12/04/h...
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- We’ve started a starter pack for those who post about Irish rock music. If you want to be added, or know somebody who should be on this list please let us know! Let’s connect this scene upat://did:plc:34iedwthcolnq24rec6ldlxo/app.bsky.graph.starterpack/3lcdz47gtwf2x
- Shane McGowan died this day last year. Here’s a piece on Shane and The Pogues, one of the first ever pieces on the TBS - “Kiss me I’m Irish” theblackpoolsentinel.com/2015/03/17/k...
- We've started a starter pack for those who write about Irish rock music... if you're one of those, or know others let us know we'll add you / them. Thanks. #irishmusic #irishrock go.bsky.app/JfybWJSat://did:plc:34iedwthcolnq24rec6ldlxo/app.bsky.graph.starterpack/3lc6pfblhlo2p
- A new TBS post is coming soon, but in the meantime, we'll be posting some of the most read posts on the blog... First up "Prefab Sprout: From Croke Park to Langley Park to Memphis" #prefabsprout theblackpoolsentinel.com/2024/08/19/p...
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