Filmmaker Colin Flynn

This week Mike and Paddy Houlihan sit down with Irish American filmmaker and actor Colin Flynn, whose film Belief screens next Sunday at the Irish American Movie Hooley. Colin grew up around movie sets, tagging along with his dad, a Teamster transportation captain in Local 817, on sets like The Horse Whisperer. That’s where he caught the storytelling bug. After Colgate University he drove trucks for the Teamsters and tended bar, and the young people he met there, buried in debt and losing faith, inspired Belief. A pitch to a Wall Street regular at the bar landed him a career in finance. Today Colin runs Hills and Thrills Productions, a nonprofit built on what he calls “philanthainment”: telling stories to raise money for charity. He shares the heartbreaking story of actor Johnny Wactor, and previews his next film, All Saints Eve, a Halloween tale about a young man dressed as a priest. Plus, obituaries and news on Hibernian Media’s October trip to Ireland. Don’t miss the 12th annual Irish American Movie Hooley next weekend at the Wilmette Theater, celebrating 75 years of The Quiet Man. Meet the filmmakers every night! Tickets at wilmettetheater.com.

Sponsored By: Fox’s Pizza (Mokena and Orland Park), Flood Bros., Madden Funds and Local 150 Engineers

This week on Hibernian Radio, Paddy Houlihan slides into the host’s chair and serves up an absolute belter with retired CPD officer Pete Kelly. From growing up on Chicago’s wild East Side and making his way to Mount Carmel High School, to running and gunning in the 4th District, surviving shootings, and earning the Valor, Blue Star, and Life Saving Awards, Pete’s story is pure Chicago. He walks us through the madness of Cabrini Green, having a gangland hit put out on him, morphing into a burglary hunter in Lincoln Park, and eventually landing the dream gig: midnight foot patrol on Rush Street, where the drunks, the tough guys, and the maniacs all learned to “take the fountain lap or go to jail.” From there, Paddy digs into Pete’s second (and third) lives as a celebrity security man and character actor — guarding Jerry Springer, backing up Steve Wilkos, working on Transformers, trading stare downs with Shia LaBeouf, getting buried alive with snakes on Fear Factor with Joe Rogan, and bouncing around New York and Chicago on a 90-hour work week. Pete also talks about his roots in boxing, his Super Cop titles, and his current work with Gregory Boxing and the 9/11 anniversary charity first responder fights at Joe’s in Rosemont, plus his support for the Special Operations Care Fund (SOC-F) and the Chicago Charity Clays event that brings in Green Berets, SEALs, and real-life American heroes. We close with plugs for his wildly entertaining Substack (PeteKelly82), Hibernian Media’s upcoming Ireland trip, and the Irish American Movie Hooley film festival. This one’s packed with cops, characters, celebrities, and a silverback gorilla with bad intentions.

Follow Pete’s writing here: https://burtreynolds82.substack.com/

Sponsored By: Fox’s Pizza (Mokena and Orland Park), Flood Bros., Madden Funds and Local 150 Engineers

This week on Hibernian Radio, Mike Houlihan welcomes Nuala Murphy for her first appearance on the show. Originally from County Meath and now a Chicago area real estate agent, Nuala shares her remarkable journey through stage 3 breast cancer and her road back to an all clear. Nuala talks candidly about her diagnosis, mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, lymph node surgery and the long road to recovery. She also discusses the importance of screening, exercise, nutrition and understanding lymphedema, while highlighting free cancer survivor resources available through Lutheran General and UIC. Nuala’s commitment to the fight goes well beyond her own recovery. She talks about breast cancer research in Galway, upcoming fundraising efforts in Chicago and the need for better access to imaging, follow up care and affordable treatment. In true Hibernian fashion, the show also features community news, upcoming Hibernian Media events and the traditional reading of the obituaries. It’s an honest, hopeful and occasionally cheeky conversation about beating cancer, helping others and giving back to the community.

Sponsored By: Fox’s Pizza (Mokena and Orland Park), Flood Bros., Madden Funds and Local 150 Engineers

This week on Hibernian Radio, the Houlihan’s head into the vault for a fascinating archival interview with retired Cook County Sheriff’s Police Officer Joe Mauriello, a Chicago cop whose career sounds like it was written by Hollywood. Joe tells the story of joining the Sheriff’s Police in 1977, then recalls responding to a burglary at John Wayne Gacy’s house before anyone knew what was really going on. He also shares his harrowing experience as one of the first responders to the American Airlines Flight 191 crash at O’Hare in 1979, along with stories from his second career officiating more than 2,000 boxing matches and working major professional wrestling events. It’s a remarkable trip through Chicago law enforcement, boxing, aviation history and some truly unbelievable moments, followed by the traditional community obituaries.

Sponsored By: Fox’s Pizza (Mokena and Orland Park), Flood Bros. Disposal, Madden Funds and Local 150 Engineers

Houli and his son Paddy are together again for a lively Hibernian Radio, talking movies, Irish America, and the upcoming Irish American Movie Hooley Film Festival, September 25–27 at the Wilmette Theater. They run through this year’s lineup, including Once We Were Punks, John Ford: Dreaming the Quiet Man, Belief, and Ghost Writer. They then get into what it means to be Irish American in 2026, why fewer Irish Americans are telling their own stories, and how YouTube and modern technology are making it easier to bypass Hollywood’s gatekeepers. Naturally, the conversation wanders into Chicago politics, public safety, post-COVID Chicago, the River Shannon Pub, and a few old South Side memories.Plus, Mike and Paddy look ahead to their Hibernian Media sponsored October Ireland trip and close things out with their traditional community obituaries.

Sponsored By: Fox’s Pizza (Mokena and Orland Park), Flood Bros., Madden Funds and Local 150 Engineers

This week on Hibernian Radio, it’s a special Skinny & Houli Show reunion, recorded live at Reilly’s Daughter on the South Side of Chicago! Houli and Skinny are back together again, bringing the old gang back to life with plenty of laughs, stories and a little bit of the old “Who Cares?” magic. The lads are also gearing up for the October 21–28 Return to Ireland Trip, joined by Brendan O’Brien and the fabulous Catherine O’Connell. They talk Galway, Connemara, the Cliffs of Moher, the Macnas Halloween Festival and all the craic waiting across the pond. Catherine also shares some family history and treats the crowd to some beautiful Irish music. It’s a classic Skinny & Houli reunion packed with old memories, new stories, great music and plenty of South Side Irish spirit. And, as always, the show takes time to remember members of the community who have passed, proving once again that nobody does an Irish radio show quite like Houli and Skinny.

Sponsored By: Fox’s Pizza (Mokena and Orland Park), Flood Bros., Madden Funds and Local 150 Engineers

Hibernian Radio heads to the diamond this week as hosts Mike and Paddy Houlihan welcome Ryan Flynn, the brand-new and first-ever CEO of Baseball Ireland. A Flynn with family roots in County Monaghan, Ryan has spent decades building baseball around the world, from Cooperstown and upstate New York to Olympic-hopeful programs in Guam, a national program in New Zealand, and now Ireland. Ryan lays out his ambitious vision for bringing baseball back to the country that helped build the game in America, growing from eight clubs and roughly 500 players into a sustainable national program with thousands of kids playing, affordable youth programs, stronger clubs, international competition, and eventually a path to the World Baseball Classic. He also explains why he wants to avoid the expensive travel-ball model and keep baseball accessible to Irish kids of every background. Paddy and Ryan discover a remarkable shared connection to Ilion, New York, before diving into the power of the Irish diaspora, the role Irish Americans can play in funding and developing the sport, and Ryan’s plans for a minor-league-style baseball hub near Dublin. Along the way, they talk Hall of Famers, Major League Baseball, Curtis Granderson, Chris Woodward, Little League, the All Blacks, and even a potential documentary series following Baseball Ireland’s rise, essentially Welcome to Wrexham with bats, gloves and a lot more rain. The lads wrap by rallying Irish Americans, especially here in Chicago, to help “bring baseball home” to Ireland. It’s a great conversation about baseball, Ireland, the diaspora, and what could become one of the most unexpected sporting stories of the next decade.

Sponsored By: Fox’s Pizza (Mokena and Orland Park), Flood Bros., Madden Funds and Local 150 Engineers

This week on Hibernian Radio, host Mike Houlihan welcomes acclaimed Chicago journalist, playwright, and performer Vicki Quade, creator of the international hit Late Nite Catechism. Together, Mike and Vicki reminisce about growing up in Chicago’s Irish Catholic neighborhoods, the unforgettable nuns who shaped their childhoods, and the unique blend of discipline, humor, and faith that defined Catholic school life. Vicki shares the remarkable story behind Late Nite Catechism and its many spinoffs, explaining how her religious comedies have raised more than $4 million for religious orders across the country. She talks about life on the road performing everywhere from major theaters to small Midwestern towns, the improvisational nature of audience participation, and the unexpected moments that make every performance different. Along the way, she reflects on the sacrifices made by generations of Catholic sisters and why supporting their retirement has become such an important part of her mission. The conversation also explores the changing role of the Church, the impact of Vatican II, and the sense of community that parishes and religious sisters brought to neighborhoods throughout Chicago. Filled with warm memories, plenty of laughs, and a healthy dose of classic Catholic humor, this episode celebrates the women who educated generations of Irish Americans and the enduring power of laughter to bring people together.

Sponsored By: Fox’s Pizza (Mokena and Orland Park), Flood Bros., Madden Funds and Local 150 Engineers

This week on Hibernian Radio, Mike Houlihan welcomes Mike Corrigan, owner of Corrigan Financial Services and Proviso Township Supervisor, for a conversation about family, public service, and the values that have shaped generations of Chicago Irish families. Corrigan shares the remarkable story of growing up as the youngest of eight children in a family forever changed by hemophilia. He reflects on the incredible community blood drives organized to support his brothers, the lasting legacy of his late brother Marty Corrigan, and how those experiences inspired a lifetime of helping others. The conversation also highlights Corrigan’s work leading Proviso Township, where services like senior transportation, handyman assistance, youth programs, and emergency aid quietly improve the lives of thousands of residents. Mike explains why local government and community involvement still matter and why looking after your neighbors has always been part of the Chicago Irish tradition. Houli and Corrigan also discuss the work of One for the Kids, the Irish Fellowship Club, and several upcoming Hibernian Media events, including the Irish American Movie Hooley Film Festival, the August fundraiser, the Skinny & Houli live show, and this fall’s trip to Ireland. It is another episode celebrating faith, family, and the volunteers and community leaders who make Chicago a better place.

Sponsored By: Fox’s Pizza (Mokena and Orland Park), Flood Bros., Madden Funds and Local 150 Engineers

This week on Hibernian Radio, host Mike Houlihan welcomes John Gardiner, President and Business Manager of Ironworkers Local 1, for a conversation celebrating Chicago’s Irish labor tradition and the men and women who have helped build the city’s iconic skyline. One of 13 children raised in a proud Irish family with roots in Counties Clare, Cavan, and Antrim, John reflects on a lifetime of hard work that began at age 13 and led him onto the iron at 19. He shares the history of Ironworkers Local 1, explaining how the union grew from a mutual aid society formed to care for families after fatal accidents into one of the nation’s premier building trades organizations. Mike and John discuss the dangers and brotherhood of ironworking, the importance of safety, and the pride that comes with helping shape Chicago’s skyline. They also explore the union’s apprenticeship program, which is training the next generation of skilled tradespeople, and why exposing young people to careers in the trades has never been more important. The conversation also touches on family, faith, and service, as John talks about following in his father’s footsteps, working alongside his son Joey, and carrying forward the values that have defined generations of Chicago Irish families. Along the way, Mike and John discuss organized labor’s role in strengthening communities, supporting working families, and ensuring that the next generation has opportunities to build rewarding careers without necessarily taking the traditional four-year college path.

Sponsored By: Fox’s Pizza (Mokena and Orland Park), Flood Bros., Madden Funds and Local 150 Engineers