The Greg Hughes Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with retired Bishop of Derry, Donal McKeown, to reflect on a life shaped by faith, sport, education and service.

We explore his early years, his connections to Belfast and his childhood passion for sport, before following his journey through education and theological formation towards the priesthood.

We also discuss retirement, his plans for the future and what comes next after decades of ministry. A personal conversation about the experiences behind a public life, and the beginning of a new chapter.

This week, author, regular television personality and Ambassador for Harvey’s Point hotel, Noel Cunningham, joins us for an honest conversation about growing up gay in rural Donegal, the loneliness of feeling different, and his journey through alcohol addiction to sobriety.

Known to many through his appearances on Ireland AM, Noel reflects on the experiences behind his familiar public presence. We discuss his difficult early years, the impact of his drinking, the regrets he carries, and the turning point that led him to stop.

He also shares how life opened up in recovery, finding greater self-acceptance and seeing his career flourish. It’s a personal conversation about living with the past, rebuilding a life and finding hope in a new beginning.

From the Irish underground to Coachella and the Las Vegas Sphere, DJ and producer Rebūke has taken his sound around the world. His 2018 breakthrough, “Along Came Polly”, topped the Beatport chart, while collaborations with Anyma on “Syren” and deadmau5 on “Endless” have added to an impressive career.

This week, Greg sits down with Rebūke, aka Reuben Keeney, to talk about where it all began: his early love of music, finding his own sound, and the breakthrough that helped him make his name on the international scene.

He also shares a fascinating story about one of his biggest early influences later asking him to produce a track. It sounds like the opportunity any young producer would dream of—but creative differences led him to respectfully decline. We discuss what it means to trust your own judgement, even when the person on the other side of the conversation helped inspire you in the first place.

And despite everything he’s achieved, Rebūke is already planning to take a step back. We explore his thinking, how his priorities are changing, and what he wants from the next chapter.

A candid conversation about making your name, staying true to your music, and deciding what success means to you.

From a family rooted in Ireland to the leadership of the world’s largest global law firm, Kate Barton’s story reaches across generations and continents.

This week on The Greg Hughes Podcast, Greg welcomes Kate Barton, Global CEO of Dentons and a recipient of the 2026 Tip O’Neill Irish Diaspora Award.

The granddaughter of four Irish grandparents who emigrated to Boston, Kate has built an international career while retaining a strong connection to her Irish heritage. She credits her grandparents’ resilience, storytelling and humour with helping shape her approach to leadership and giving back.

Before taking the helm at Dentons, Kate spent more than three decades at EY, rising to senior global leadership roles. Alongside her professional achievements, she supports charitable and educational organisations, including The Ireland Funds and the Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project.

As she prepares to receive her award in Donegal, join Greg and Kate for this standalone episode featuring a member of the Irish diaspora whose family roots remain an important part of her story.

New episodes of The Greg Hughes Podcast arrive every Friday at 11am. 

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A proud Carrigart man who made his life in London, Brendan ‘Tiny’ Vaughan has spent decades helping others while keeping Donegal close to his heart.

This week on The Greg Hughes Podcast, Tiny joins Greg ahead of receiving the 2026 Tip O’Neill Irish Diaspora Award for an honest, deeply personal and at times intensely emotional conversation about his life, his love of home and his plans to return to Donegal.

His commitment to charity has touched lives across Ireland and Britain. The Donegal Hospice Calendar, which he established in memory of his mother, has raised approximately €240,000, while the London Irish Vintage Club, which he co-founded, has raised more than £1 million through its annual charity event.

In this conversation, we get under the famous cap and meet the man behind those remarkable fundraising efforts. As he prepares to accept recognition for years of giving back, Tiny reflects on the life he has built away from Carrigart and what coming home will mean to him.

New episodes of The Greg Hughes Podcast arrive every Friday at 11am. Listen at highlandradio.com, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also watch on YouTube.

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From the Gaeltacht village of Rann na Feirste to the fictional shores of Ros na Rún, this week’s guest is a titan of Irish-language media whose career spans over three decades on stage, screen, and behind the camera.

Niall Mac Eachmharcaigh joins the podcast to reflect on a remarkable life in storytelling. Best known to millions as John Joe Daly—a role he inhabited for roughly 24 years on TG4’s flagship drama—Niall opens up about the tight-knit community of Donegal actors in An Spidéal and how a chance encounter watching a live stage play in his hometown at age 13 sparked a lifelong devotion to drama.

We trace his journey from starting out as a theatre prompter in Donegal in 1973 to multi-hyphenate creative work, including writing, directing, and producing the 1990s comedy series C.U. Burn through his company Lios na Si. Niall also discusses his recent screen work, including the 2024 crime series Crá, Aontas, and his dual-language voice acting debut as the Giant Deer in the 2025 animated Christmas short Nollaí.

An inspiring, funny, and deeply engaging conversation celebrating Gaeltacht culture and a legendary career in broadcasting.

Starting school is a milestone every parent marks with excitement — the tiny uniform, the brand-new shoes, the photo by the front door. But for Alicia McHugh, this week’s school run brings a painful reminder of the little boy who should have been standing in that photo.

In November 2021, Alicia’s son Andrew was stillborn at 36 weeks. Facing an unimaginable grief, she turned to a tiny patch of dirt in her back garden, finding solace in caring for growing plants when she couldn't care for her son. That small plot eventually grew into Butterfly Bears Flower Farm in Killygordon — a living tribute where every bloom honors Andrew's memory.

In this moving bonus episode, as Andrew would have taken his first steps into primary school alongside his siblings, Alicia shares her journey through grief, the deep symbolism behind the farm’s name, and how nurturing nature helped her find a way forward.

In This Episode:

A Milestone Marked in Silence: Navigating the emotion of the first day of primary school when a child is missing from the front door photo.

Finding Solace in the Soil: How tending to a small garden plot provided a tangible way to care for Andrew when he was gone.

Butterfly Bears Flower Farm: Building a flower farm in Killygordon as a lasting, living memorial.

The Story Behind the Name: The powerful meaning connecting the Ursa Minor ("Little Bear") star named for Andrew and the symbolic butterfly wings.

On September 11, 2001, 19 al-Qaeda militants hijacked four commercial airliners in a coordinated terrorist attack against the United States, taking 2,977 civilian lives—including 343 firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice at the World Trade Center.

Marking the upcoming 25th anniversary of that fateful day, a team of six Donegal firefighters is preparing to travel to the US East Coast for the 2026 Ride for Resilience—a five-day, 343-mile charity cycle from Boston to New York City. The trek will raise vital funds for three major organizations: Friends of Firefighters, Livestrong, and the Boston Fire Cancer Foundation.

Joining me on the podcast to discuss the journey, the deep transatlantic bond between Donegal and New York, and the lasting legacy of 9/11 is Conor McGuigan, Chairperson of the Donegal Firefighters Association, along with Nancy Carbone, Founder and Executive Director of Friends of Firefighters.

We are also privileged to be joined by two FDNY veterans who were on the ground on September 11th: Captain Liam Flaherty of Rescue Co. 2 and Deputy Chief John Corcoran. Together, they share their personal accounts from Ground Zero, reflect on how technical rescue has evolved over the last quarter-century, and discuss why community, remembrance, and standing together still matter so much today.

This week on The Greg Hughes Podcast, Greg is joined by one of the sharpest storytellers in Northern Irish comedy—West Belfast’s own Paddy McDonnell!

From his early days launching his stand-up career back in 2011 to quickly supporting comedy giants like Des Bishop and Ardal O'Hanlon, Paddy has carved out a massive reputation across Ireland and beyond. In this episode, Paddy sits down with Greg to chat about drawing hilarious material from his former life behind the wheel as a taxi driver, balancing family life, breaking records as the first comedian to perform at the West Belfast Féile six times, and taking his stand-up across the globe to Irish audiences in America and Australia.

Plus, Paddy talks about his massive headline runs—from selling out Belfast’s Waterfront Hall, Ulster Hall, and back-to-back SSE Arena shows—to bringing his hit new solo show to Donegal!

Catch Paddy McDonnell Live in Donegal:

Letterkenny: Paddy Power FULL at An Grianán Theatre — Saturday, September 12th at 8:00 PM (Age 18+)

Ballyshannon: Abbey Arts Centre — October 10th, 2026

Ballybofey: Balor Arts Centre — October 16th, 2026

🎟️ Tickets & Info: Book directly through the An Grianán Theatre Box Office or via Paddy's official website.

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On this week’s episode of The Greg Hughes Podcast, Greg sits down with retired teacher, union leader, and veteran politician Doreen Sheridan-Kennedy.

Those who listen to Greg and Doreen on live radio know that while the respect is deep, the on-air verbal jousting is guaranteed! True to form, this civil yet spirited conversation covers four decades in education, a lifetime in Donegal politics, and why she hasn't ruled out another run for office...

In this episode, Doreen opens up about:

Life, Family & Letterkenny: Growing up in Wolfe Tone Place, working at Dillon’s and the Mount Errigal, and raising five children with her husband Cyril.

40 Years in Education: Her career as Deputy Principal at Illistrin National School and two decades on the national committee of the INTO.

Grassroots Politics: Her deep Fine Gael roots, working alongside Paddy Harte, and her thoughts on Joe McHugh’s departure and the defective blocks crisis.

The Future of Fine Gael: Why Ireland needs more female leaders, her admiration for Helen McEntee, Hildegarde Naughton, and Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, and why you shouldn't write her off for a political comeback just yet.

New episodes drop every Friday at 11am on highlandradio.com, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.