Irish Fiddle Player Clare Sands on Bringing Politics Into Folk Music

What can music do when the world feels divided?

For Clare Sands, it can be a way of bringing people together.

Clare is a sixth-generation fiddle player, singer and composer from Ireland. In this conversation, we talk about Irish culture, activism, Palestine, and the role music can play in starting difficult conversations.

Clare shares the story of swimming across the Bosphorus from Asia to Europe and raising around €12,000 for two Palestinian organisations with her sister. We talk about the pushback she has experienced when sharing Palestinian folk songs, and why she continues to use music to connect people across cultures and traditions.

We also explore the story behind the flag on Clare’s album artwork, her relationship with Irish history and folklore, and the importance of reclaiming symbols that can become divisive.

Along the way, we get into a bigger question: how do you get people to engage with difficult ideas in a way that feels welcoming?

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