Music At Madden’s Podcast #024 “Kitchen Table Sessions” with the McKenna Family

Welcome to another episode of Music At Madden’s Podcast with me, Lynette Fay.This week, the snug goes on the road — swapping Madden’s Bar in Belfast for Canavan’s of Garvaghy, County Tyrone, as Music At Madden’s records its first ever live episode at the inaugural Tyrone Tradfest.And for a Christmas special, there could only be one family around the table.Joined by Mary and Martin McKenna and their remarkable musical clan, this episode feels less like a podcast and more like Christmas Day at the kitchen table — full of tunes, yarns, slagging, and stories that spiral gloriously out of control.We talk about raising seven children steeped in traditional music; long car journeys to classes and fleadhs; sleeping bags, scaffolding, and sessions; and the quiet philosophy that shaped it all — no pressure, no expectations, just a deep love of music and community.There are tales of missed pickups, naked babies at the fleadh, Japanese sessions in caravans, alarm clocks that don’t work, siblings who definitely exaggerate stories, and a family dynamic where you have to be able to give the abuse as well as take it.At the heart of it all is something deeper: how traditional music builds families, friendships, and entire communities — across counties, borders, and generations.We also hear about the McKenna siblings’ upcoming debut album, recorded on their own terms, and why now feels like the right moment for it to arrive.Warm, hilarious, chaotic, and deeply moving — this is a celebration of tradition, family, and the people who keep the music alive.