‘It’s of My Rambles…’: A Journey in the Ulster Song Tradition in English with Len Graham

As part of the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026 lecture series, Len Graham presents ‘It’s Of My Rambles…’: A Journey in the Ulster Song Tradition which explores the folk song tradition of his native Ulster. His talk will be interspersed with live performances of songs in English on many themes, including early classic ballads, broadside ballads, and songs of love, politics, emigration and many other topics.

County Antrim born Len Graham has been a full-time professional traditional singer since 1982. A lifetime interest in traditional song and story brought him to older singers, musicians and storytellers from the early 1960s. Over the years Len has recorded numerous albums of songs and performed at many national and international folk festivals. He has collaborated and worked with numerous musicians, poets and stroytellers, transmitting song to younger generations of singers and bringing the art of Ulster traditional song to a world audience. In 2002 Len received the TG4 Gradam Music Award for Traditional Singer of the Year and in 2011 he received the Gradam na mBard (CCE Bardic Award) at the All-Ireland Fleadh.