Irish history, revolution, and the stories that connect Ireland and Irish America take center stage in this episode of Craic on the Coast as we welcome back historian and storyteller Davy Holden. You will not believe some of the stories he shares with us.

Check out this video - ⁠https://youtu.be/gmGFA6r0sOY?si=qkQILWgGlEt2q1ix⁠

In Episode 29, we explore Irish history through a revolutionary lens, including how the American Revolution inspired Ireland’s own fight for independence, the roots of Irish republican thought, and why these stories still matter today. Davy also shares details about his first guided Irish history tour, designed to bring people to the real places where Ireland’s past was shaped.

We also discuss our spring collaboration with Davy, including a Plymouth, Massachusetts workshop rooted in revolutionary history and his role as keynote speaker at our Annual Easter Rising Commemoration in Scituate, MA.

This episode blends serious history, accessible storytelling, and good craic, making it perfect for history lovers, Irish culture enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the deep connections between America and Ireland.

🔗 Connect with Davy Holden

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davy_holden/ — Irish history content, behind-the-scenes, tour updates 🇮🇪
▶️ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@davyholden — Irish history videos and storytelling 🇮🇪

📩 Have a story to tell or a topic you want us to cover?

📧 Email:📩 [email protected]
(Story ideas, guest pitches, topics you want covered)

📸 Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/craiconthecoast
(Clips, episodes, behind-the-scenes, events)

▶️ YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@craiconthecoast
(Full video podcast episodes & bonus content)

🎧 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/1Lj0N7qJCQUz2hvCXtxb90
(Subscribe & listen to all episodes)

🎧 Enjoyed the episode?
Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who loves Irish history, culture, or heritage storytelling.

Craic on the Coast is a podcast dedicated to exploring Irish history, culture, music, community, and the stories that connect Ireland and Irish America — with a special focus on the South Shore of Massachusetts and the wider Irish diaspora.

Hosted by Michael Schilling, Greg Shanahan, and Shaun Morgan, Craic on the Coast features conversations with historians, musicians, authors, community leaders, and cultural figures who bring Ireland’s past and present to life. Each episode blends thoughtful discussion, accessible storytelling, and good craic, making history and heritage engaging for both casual listeners and lifelong enthusiasts.

Whether we’re unpacking pivotal moments in Irish history, highlighting modern cultural connections, or spotlighting community-driven initiatives, Craic on the Coast is about connection, curiosity, and keeping Irish stories alive.

#IrishHistory #IrishIndependence #EasterRising #AmericanRevolution #IrishCulture #HistoryPodcast #IrishAmerican #CraicOnTheCoast

Summary:

In Episode 28 of Craic on the Coast, hosts Michael Schilling and Greg Shanahan sit down with William “Bill” Sullivan, National Chair of the Hibernian Hunger Committee for the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH). Bill shares the origins of the Hibernian Hunger Project, a national initiative rooted in both compassion and Irish historical memory. The conversation explores:

• How the Hunger Project was founded and its mission at the national level.

• Why hunger relief resonates deeply within Irish and Irish-American communities.

• How local AOH divisions — including the Father John Murphy Division in Plymouth — put the national vision into action with community food drives, pantry partnerships, and volunteer service.

• Stories of impact from around the country and the ongoing work to educate and serve.

This episode blends history and heart — showing how remembrance of Ireland’s past fuels meaningful action today.

📌 Show Notes & Links✝️ Ancient Order of Hibernians — Official Resources

• Hibernian Hunger Project (official AOH page):
  https://aoh.com/hibernian-hunger-project/

• Bill Sullivan — National Chair, Hibernian Hunger Committee:
  https://aoh.com/nationalofficers/bill-sullivan/

• Podcast (Apple Podcasts): Craic on the Coast — An AOH Podcast Apple Podcasts

• Podcast (Spotify & other platforms): https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/craiconthecoast Spotify for Creators

• Instagram — Craic on the Coast: https://www.instagram.com/craiconthecoast/

• Email: [email protected]

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aohplymouth/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlymouthAOH/

📺 Listen & Follow Craic on the Coast☘️ Father John Murphy Division — AOH Plymouth

• Hibernian Hunger Project

• Ancient Order of Hibernians

• AOH charity work

• Irish American community service

• Food insecurity

• Food pantry donations

• Hunger relief programs

• Great Hunger history

• Irish diaspora

• Plymouth Massachusetts podcast

• South Shore Massachusetts

• Irish history podcast

• Irish culture podcast

• Volunteer community outreach

• Nonprofit service organizations

In this extended episode of Craic on the Coast, hosts Michael Schilling and Greg Shanahan welcome Irish-American singer-songwriter and master storyteller Eddie Dillon for a wide-ranging conversation that spans a lifetime in music.

From his earliest experiences discovering music through family and community, to stepping onto stages as a teenager, Eddie shares how Irish traditional music became a guiding force in his life. He reflects on touring and performing with legendary Irish musicians, including time spent on the road with the Clancy Brothers, and the lessons learned from decades of performing, writing, and living the life of a working musician.

With hundreds of original songs to his name, Eddie opens up about his songwriting process, the stories behind his music, and the importance of authenticity, storytelling, and staying true to your voice. Along the way, he shares memorable road stories, thoughtful reflections on legacy, and advice for the next generation of musicians.

This is a warm, thoughtful, and often humorous conversation about Irish-American music, tradition, creativity, and a life shaped by song.

📓 Show Notes

🔗 Learn more about Eddie Dillon:
👉 Official Website: https://eddiedillon.com

🎧 Listen to Eddie Dillon’s music:
👉 Streaming & albums: https://eddiedillon.com/music

📬 Stay connected with Eddie:
👉 Join his mailing list: https://eddiedillon.com/mail-list

📱 Follow Craic on the Coast:
Instagram | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

In this episode of Craic on the Coast, hosts Michael Schilling and Greg Shanahan sit down with one of Ireland’s most celebrated voices — the world-renowned tenor Ronan Tynan.

Ronan shares the remarkable story of his early life in County Kilkenny, the challenges he faced growing up, and the spirit of resilience that carried him from Paralympic competition to medical school to the world’s greatest stages. He reflects on his years touring the globe with The Irish Tenors, the moments that shaped him on and off stage, and the power of music to lift and heal.

We also look ahead to Ronan’s upcoming performance at Plymouth Memorial Hall on November 30th, what audiences can expect from this very special show, and where his tour will take him next.

A conversation filled with humor, heart, and the unmistakable soul of Ireland — this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Craic on the Coast — where stories, songs, and community come together.

📣 Call to Action

If you enjoyed this episode:

• Subscribe to Craic on the Coast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts — never miss an episode.

• Follow us on Instagram [@craiconthecoast] and keep up with the latest Irish music, history, and community stories from the South Shore.

• Grab your tickets for Ronan Tynan at Plymouth Memorial Hall — November 30th promises to be a night you won’t forget.

Show Notes

🎟️ Tickets — Ronan Tynan at Plymouth Memorial Hall (November 30th)

https://memorialhall.com

📱 Follow Us on Social Media

Craic on the Coast (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/craiconthecoast
AOH Plymouth (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/aohplymouth

About the Show

Craic on the Coast is hosted by Michael Schilling alongside rotating co-hosts including Greg Shanahan and others from the South Shore Irish community. Each episode highlights the stories, voices, and cultural traditions that connect Ireland and coastal New England — from music and history to heritage, humor, and heart.

In this episode of Craic on the Coast, host Michael Schilling welcomes playwright Amy Day, writer of the acclaimed musical In the Midst of Plenty.

Amy shares the inspiration behind the show, the historical research that shaped it, and how audiences in Ireland have connected deeply with its story of resilience during the Great Famine. She also discusses her team’s current fundraising efforts to bring the production back to the stage and the exciting possibility of an American tour.

Tune in to hear:

• The origins and history of In the Midst of Plenty

🎭 In the Midst of Plenty

• Website: https://www.inthestofplenty.com

• Instagram: @inthemidstofplenty

🏛 Strokestown Park & Museum

• Website: https://strokestownpark.ie

• Instagram: @strokestownpark

🚶 National Famine Way

• Website: https://nationalfamineway.ie

• Instagram: @nationalfamineway

☘ Father John Murphy Division AOH – Plymouth

• Facebook: facebook.com/plymouthaoh

• Instagram: instagram.com/plymouthaoh

In Episode 25 of Craic on the Coast, hosts Michael Schilling and Greg Shanahan welcome Kevin Clancy, owner of The Galway Girl Irish Shop in Duxbury, MA, and a proud native of Oughterard, County Galway. Kevin shares his journey from life in the West of Ireland to building one of the South Shore’s most cherished Irish shops, created and run with his wife, Alicia.

Kevin talks about how the shop began, how the two of them balance the work of running a family business, what’s new for the holiday season, and where he sees the shop heading in the future.
We wrap with two major announcements:
• The Dublin Heritage Marker unveiling on Monday, December 8th at 11 AM
• The launch of the South Shore Irish Road Bowling League, with an interest meeting this January.
Interested players and teams can email: [email protected].

📎 SHOW NOTES & LINKS

The Galway Girl Irish Shop

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Galway-Girl-Irish-Shop-100092456124576/Instagram: @thegalwaygirlirishshop

Ancient Order of Hibernians — Father John Murphy Division (Plymouth, MA)Facebook: @PlymouthAOHInstagram: @aohplymouth

Craic on the Coast PodcastInstagram: @craiconthecoastYouTube: Craic on the CoastEmail: [email protected]

South Shore Irish Heritage Trail

Website: The South Shore Irish Heritage Trail In MassachusettsFacebook: @ssirishtrailInstagram: @ssirishtrail

South Shore Irish Road Bowling LeagueInstagram: @ssirishroadbowlingEmail: [email protected]

Most people think Halloween is an American invention. In this special Samhain episode, hosts Michael Schilling and Shaun Morgan welcome Sighle Fitzgerald, Consul General of Ireland in Boston (serving New England), to trace Halloween’s roots back to Ireland’s ancient festival of Samhain. We explore end-of-harvest rituals, the “thin veil” between worlds, how Christian observances blended with Celtic customs, and how Irish immigrants helped shape the modern holiday in the U.S. Along the way: bonfires, disguises, turnips → pumpkins, and why colcannon still tastes like Halloween.

Show Notes:

• Consulate website (Boston / New England): https://www.ireland.ie/en/usa/boston/ ireland.ie

• About the Consul General (Síghle FitzGerald): https://www.ireland.ie/en/usa/boston/about/consul-general/ ireland.ie

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irelandboston/ Instagram

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Consulate-General-of-Ireland-Boston/61579075732553/ Facebook

• Listen to the Land Speak — Manchán Magan (journey of return): https://www.rte.ie/culture/2025/0917/1522206-listen-to-the-land-speak-manchan-magan-on-his-journey-of-return/

• Why colcannon is the taste of an Irish Halloween: https://www.rte.ie/culture/2025/1014/1533202-why-colcannon-is-the-taste-of-an-irish-halloween/

• Craic on the Coast (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/craiconthecoast/

• Father John Murphy Division (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/aohplymouth/

Michael Schilling and co-host Greg Shanahan bring Craic on the Coast on the road to Cape Cod’s most authentic Irish pub, The Auld Triangle. Joined by owner Desmond Keough, they talk family roots, the pub’s history, and earning Perfect Pint status. Musician and Mayo man Dave Try brings the tunes and stories that fuel the Irish spirit on Cape Cod. Pints, music, heritage, and serious craic. Sláinte!

Show Notes:

Follow on instagram:

@auldtrianglehyannis
@dave_try1@craiconthecoast

Content Advisory: This episode includes discussion of conflict, state violence, and traumatic historical events connected to Bloody Sunday.In this powerful episode of Craic on the Coast, hosts Michael Schilling and Shaun Morgan welcome Don Mullan — author, eyewitness, and lifelong advocate for truth — to discuss the recent verdict in the trial of Soldier F, connected to the events of Bloody Sunday in Derry.

As a teenager, Don witnessed the tragedy unfold on January 30th, 1972, and decades later, his book Eyewitness Bloody Sunday helped reignite the campaign that led to the Saville Inquiry and the British government’s formal apology in 2010.

Together, we explore what this new verdict means for justice, the impact of state delay and obstruction, and how the families — and the city of Derry — continue to move forward more than fifty years later. It’s a conversation about memory, responsibility, and what true reconciliation requires.

Show Notes:
🎙️ Guest: Don Mullan – Official Website
📖 Eyewitness Bloody Sunday – available wherever books are sold
📰 Coverage of the recent verdict:

• BBC News – Bloody Sunday trial: Soldier F found not guilty

• Reuters – Soldier F acquitted in Northern Ireland Bloody Sunday case

Follow us on Instagram:

• @craiconthecoast

• @aohplymouth