The Thistle & Shamrock
Encyclopedia
The Thistle & Shamrock is a weekly American syndicated radio program, named after the national emblem
s of Scotland
and Ireland
, specializing in Celtic music
. It is heard on 380 National Public Radio (NPR) stations, and is available internationally on WorldSpace
via NPR Worldwide; according to NPR. Thistle is the most listened-to Celtic music program in the world. It has been produced and hosted by Scottish
native Fiona Ritchie
since its inception in 1981
.
, a newly established NPR affiliate in Charlotte, North Carolina
. At the time it went on the air in 1981, WFAE was licensed to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
(UNCC) and Ritchie was working as a volunteer, having returned there after spending a semester in 1980 there as a teaching assistant. Being a new enterprise in need of programming, WFAE invited Ritchie to create a program of Celtic music. It originally aired only locally, but was launched nationally on June 4, 1983.
Thistle features traditional music, the singer-songwriter genre, and the Celtic music contribution to world music. In-studio guests comment on the music and contribute exclusive content, including NPR’s first mp3 music download and live festival recordings.
In the summer of 1990, Ritchie returned to Scotland where she continued to produce the program for NPR.
Although WFAE is no longer licensed to UNCC and has switched to a mostly news-talk format, the Charlotte station continues to carry Thistle as one of its few music programs.
In 2006 Ritchie launched Thistlepod
, a free podcast from NPR featuring new-releases from Celtic roots.
National emblem
A national emblem symbolically represents a nation. Most national emblems originate in the natural world, such as animals or birds, but another object may serve. National emblems may appear on many things such as the national flag, coat of arms, or other patriotic materials...
s of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, specializing in Celtic music
Celtic music
Celtic music is a term utilised by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe...
. It is heard on 380 National Public Radio (NPR) stations, and is available internationally on WorldSpace
WorldSpace
1worldspace, formerly known as 'WorldSpace', is a currently defunct satellite radio network that provided service to over 170,000 subscribers in eastern and southern Africa, the Middle East, and much of Asia with 96% coming from India...
via NPR Worldwide; according to NPR. Thistle is the most listened-to Celtic music program in the world. It has been produced and hosted by Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
native Fiona Ritchie
Fiona Ritchie
Fiona Ritchie is a Scottish radio broadcaster best known as the producer and host of The Thistle & Shamrock, an hour-long Celtic music program that airs weekly throughout the United States on National Public Radio...
since its inception in 1981
1981 in radio
The year 1981 in radio involved some significant events.-Debuts:* September 22 - WCAU-FM in Philadelphia debuts a new Hot Hits format called "98 Now!" which sweeps the local ratings and inspires parent company CBS to look at converting its other FM stations to similar formats.* October — "The...
.
Background
Thistle began at WFAEWFAE
WFAE is the flagship National Public Radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina broadcasting at 90.7 MHz on the FM dial.The station went on the air on June 29, 1981 as a service of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, taking over from a student-run carrier current station that had begun...
, a newly established NPR affiliate in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. At the time it went on the air in 1981, WFAE was licensed to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte , also known as UNC Charlotte or simply Charlotte, is a public research university located in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States...
(UNCC) and Ritchie was working as a volunteer, having returned there after spending a semester in 1980 there as a teaching assistant. Being a new enterprise in need of programming, WFAE invited Ritchie to create a program of Celtic music. It originally aired only locally, but was launched nationally on June 4, 1983.
Thistle features traditional music, the singer-songwriter genre, and the Celtic music contribution to world music. In-studio guests comment on the music and contribute exclusive content, including NPR’s first mp3 music download and live festival recordings.
In the summer of 1990, Ritchie returned to Scotland where she continued to produce the program for NPR.
Although WFAE is no longer licensed to UNCC and has switched to a mostly news-talk format, the Charlotte station continues to carry Thistle as one of its few music programs.
Related products
Ritchie has also produced several CD compilations of Celtic music, and authored a volume on Celtic music for the "NPR Curious Listener’s Guide" book series, published in 2005.In 2006 Ritchie launched Thistlepod
Thistlepod
Thistlepod, is a free podcast offered by National Public Radio in which their well-known music host Fiona Ritchie picks previews and debuts of new music from Celtic roots...
, a free podcast from NPR featuring new-releases from Celtic roots.
External links
- The Thistle & Shamrock official website