UPR’s Thistle and Shamrock airs last show

After 41 years, the National Public Radio’s only Celtic radio show “The Thistle & Shamrock” aired its final episode on Sept. 30, 2024. 

 According to the 2021 U.S. Census Bureau, at least 31.5 million Americans claimed to have Celtic heritage. This demographic pushed the show’s status to the most listened-to Celtic radio show in the world as stated by NPR. 

 As a member station, Utah Public Radio also aired the show, leading it to have a dedicated Utah fanbase. Member stations are independently-owned radio stations across the country. They air shows from NPR and other public radio stations or host their own.  

 Tom Williams, UPR’s program director, said two new shows will fill in the gap.  

 “We will replace ‘The Thistle & Shamrock’ with two popular programs from NPR, which are ‘All Songs Considered’ and ‘Alt.Latino,’” Williams said.  

 “All Songs Considered” hopes to introduce listeners to new music from a variety of genres including rock, soul and hip-hop. The broadcast for “Alt.Latino” consists mostly of Latin alternative and rock.  

 Fiona Ritchie, “The Thistle and Shamrock” founder and host throughout the entirety of its time on air, decided to retire the show this year.  

 On June 24, Ritchie made a statement to NPR.  

 “I am blessed to work in a way that doesn’t feel job-like, so I’m certainly not retiring, but it is time for a change. Although I want to bid farewell to weekly deadlines, it’s not goodbye to listeners. I hope to connect differently, including curating archives and producing special programs for NPR,” Ritchie said.  

 After it was announced that the show would end, fans expressed gratitude and sorrow.  

 “Listeners are sad to see the show end and are grateful for its long run. I think that ‘The Thistle & Shamrock’ contributed greatly to Celtic music and culture in Utah,” Williams said.  

 Celtic music has roots in the Celtic Nations, consisting of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall and the Isle of Man. Music featured on the show came from both the United States and Europe, introducing listeners to a variety of artists and bands all within the same genre. The name “The Thistle & Shamrock” references the national emblems of Scotland and Ireland, further intertwining the show’s identity with the cultures it represents.  

 While sharing Celtic music with new listeners and giving Celtic-Americans a taste of home, Ritchie and her show earned various awards while on air. This includes six world medals from the New York Festivals’ International Competition for Radio Programming and an induction to the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame. These honors show the impact the program fostered.  

 On Sept. 26, UPR hosted a farewell party for the show at the Barrel and Stave bar. This allowed local fans of the show to get together and enjoy Irish and Celtic-themed drinks and food while listening to the show’s second-to-last program.  

 “We need to create chances for the next generation of music hosts and allow diverse young voices to claim a space on these precious airwaves, just as I did. Let’s find them, encourage them and hear them!” Ritchie said.