Music At Maddens Podcast #022 “Chaos, Craic & Granny’s Songs” with The Mulhollands

Welcome to another episode of Music At Maddens Podcast with me, Lynette Fay.This week in the snug, Lynette welcomes The Mulhollands — or, as they affectionately call themselves, the Mullhooligans — a family whose music is only matched by their mischief. From the moment they sit down, the craic is flying: the slagging starts, the childhood stories spill out, and within minutes it feels like we’ve been transported straight to their kitchen table in Ballyheifer.We talk about growing up in a house where four instruments were always being played at once — often in different rooms, to different tunes — while the TV blared and cousins ran in and out. They share memories of Comhaltas classes, banjos discovered by accident, bodhráns accidentally driven over (and somehow surviving), late-night runs to summer schools, and the chaos that seemed to follow them everywhere they went.But at the heart of all that laughter is something deeply touching. The Mulhollands speak beautifully about their granny — the woman who fed them, minded them, clapped gently along to every tune, and held their musical world together. Her favourite song, The Braes of Moneymore, now carries a new weight since her passing, and the family reflect on the privilege of having played for her right up until the end. It’s clear that so much of their music, their humour, and their closeness comes from her.We explore the joy they find in singing together, the unspoken blend siblings can create, and how music has shaped their identity — through GAA pitches, Comhaltas halls, Pipers Club nights, competitions won, and friendships forged across counties.Full of mayhem, warmth, and the kind of storytelling only a tight-knit family can bring, this episode will have you laughing out loud one moment and swallowing a lump in your throat the next.If you love family harmonies, fast wit, and the kind of memories that make songs last a lifetime, you’re in for a treat.New episodes every Monday.SponsorsBoatyard DistilleryInstagram:   / boatyarddistillery  Website: https://boatyarddistillery.com/Ardara Distillery – Ardara Malt WhiskeyInstagram:   / ardaradistillery  Website: https://sliabhliagdistillers.com/arda...