Dr. Eric Brown is the executive director of the Maine Irish Heritage Center and a scholar whose background spans Renaissance drama, poetry, and even insect studies. In this episode of Radio Maine, Brown joins Dr. Lisa Belisle to explore how Irish heritage, literature, and imagination intersect in Maine today. Raised in Dover-Foxcroft with deep Irish roots, Brown reflects on rediscovering his ancestry during the pandemic and how that journey led him from academia into community leadership. Now stewarding the former St. Dominic’s Church in Portland, he is helping transform the historic “Irish Cathedral” into a vibrant cultural hub—hosting music, education, and cross-cultural events like the upcoming Shalom & Shamrocks dinner. Thoughtful and wide-ranging, this conversation touches on diaspora, creativity, discomfort, and the power of shared space to build understanding across communities.

Join our conversation with Dr. Eric Brown today on Radio Maine—and be sure to subscribe to the channel.