Craic on the Coast: An AOH Podcast

Craic on the Coast — Episode 22 "Samhain: The Irish Roots of Halloween" (with Consul General Sighle Fitzgerald) Summary: 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...

🎧 Episode 21 —  The Commission for the Future of Ireland Guest:  Mairéad Farrell TD (West Galway, Sinn Féin) Hosts:  Michael Schilling & Shaun Morgan Release Date:  October 2025 This week on  Craic on the Coast , Michael Schilling and Shaun Morgan sit down with  Mairéad Farrell TD , who represents the  West Galway  constituency for  Sinn Féin . Ahead of her appearance in  Boston on Tuesday, Octob...

🎧 Episode 20:  A Fragile Peace — A Conversation with Irish-American Filmmaker Rory Duffy  🎬☘️ In this episode of  Craic on the Coast , host  Michael Schilling  and co-host  Shaun Morgan  sit down with  Irish-American filmmaker, historian, and educator Rory Duffy , director of the award-winning documentary  A Fragile Peace: Inside Brexit and Belfast . Rory's film examines the fragile balance of p...

Episode 19: Craic on the Road — Live from the Worcester Irish Cultural Festival 🎶 Recorded live on location at the 3rd Annual Worcester Irish Cultural Festival at Polar Park! Host  Michael Schilling  and co-host  Greg Shanahan  take  Craic on the Coast  on the road for a day full of music, laughter, and great conversation at one of New England's favorite Irish festivals. This episode features: 🎤...

In this episode of  Craic on the Coast , hosts  Michael Schilling  and  Shaun Morgan  sit down with  Dr. Oonagh Walsh , Professor of Gender Studies at Glasgow Caledonian University, whose research bridges history and science. We dig into how the  Great Irish Famine  may have left not only cultural but  biological footprints  in subsequent generations via  epigenetics . Dr. Walsh helps us understan...

In Episode 17 of  Craic on the Coast , hosts Michael Schilling and Shaun Morgan record on location at  The Tinker's Son in Norwell, MA  for their annual  Halfway to St. Patrick's Day  celebration. First up, we're joined by  Greg Shanahan , the newly elected President of the  South Shore Irish Heritage Trail . Greg shares his vision for the Trail, why preserving Irish heritage along the South Shore...

🎙️ Episode 16 – Inside the Worcester Irish Cultural Festival In this episode of  Craic on the Coast , host  Michael Schilling  is joined by  Gareth McAlinden  and  Cait Lubelczyk  from the  Worcester Irish Cultural Festival . Together, we dive into the planning, passion, and purpose behind one of New England's biggest celebrations of Irish culture. From the music and dancing to the food, sports, a...

🎙️ Episode 15 – Inside Ireland's Fenian Legacy: Honoring Denis Cashman In this episode of  Craic on the Coast , host  Michael Schilling  sits down with two special guests:  Liam Ó Culbáird  of the  National Graves Association  and  George McLaughlin  of the  Fenian Memorial Committee of America . Together, we explore the remarkable story of  Denis Cashman , a Fenian activist who endured imprisonme...

Making Irish History Go Viral: A Conversation with Davy Holden In Episode 14 of  Craic on the Coast , hosts Michael Schilling and Shaun Morgan sit down with two fantastic guests. First up is  Davy Holden , the Irish storyteller behind  @davy_holden , whose short, engaging lessons on Irish history have attracted more than 200,000 followers on Instagram. Davy shares how he got started, why his conte...

Episode 13 – In the Midst of Plenty with Amy Day 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 als...

Episode 12 – From Brockton to Ballsbridge: A Conversation with Ambassador Claire Cronin In this very special episode of  Craic on the Coast , Michael Schilling and Shaun Morgan sit down with  Claire Cronin , former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland. From her groundbreaking rise in Massachusetts politics to her impactful diplomatic service in Dublin, Ambassador Cronin shares her journey as a public servan...

🎙️  Episode 11 – "Diamonds & Brotherhood: Irish Baseball and Hibernian Pride" In this episode of  Craic on the Coast , host Michael Schilling is joined by two distinguished guests: John Fitzgerald , CEO of the Irish American Baseball Society, and Sean Pender , National President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. They reflect on the recent baseball game between the Irish Wolfhounds and the Boston...

In this international edition of  Craic on the Coast , hosts  Michael Schilling  and  Shaun Morgan  sit down with  Michael Kennedy , CEO of  Ireland Lacrosse , for an inspiring conversation about sport, identity, and global community. Recorded shortly after meeting at the  Great Hunger Institute Summer School Conference  in Strokestown, Roscommon, this episode explores the Native American origins...

🎙️  Craic on the Coast  – Episode 9: " Songs of the Heart: Declan Houton of Devri and the Power of Community" In this heartfelt episode of  Craic on the Coast , hosts  Michael Schilling  and  Shaun Morgan  sit down with beloved Irish musician  Declan Houton , lead singer of  Devri . They trace Declan's journey from Donegal to the South Shore and explore how his music—and his unwavering commitment...

🎙️  Craic on the Coast  – Episode 8: "Walking Memory: The Story Behind the National Famine Way" In this powerful episode of  Craic on the Coast , host Michael Schilling welcomes  Caroilin Callery , founder and driving force behind the  National Famine Way  in Ireland. From its origins in the haunting records of Strokestown Park to its emergence as a 100-mile commemorative trail—and now its expansi...

🎙️ Bloomsday on the Coast: Joyce, Poetry and 38 Years of Tradition In this special  Bloomsday episode  of  Craic on the Coast , hosts  Michael Schilling  and  Shaun Morgan  are joined by  Jennifer Harris  and  Miriam O'Neal  of  America's Hometown Laureates  to celebrate the language, legacy, and literary revolution of not only  James Joyce  but Irish poets and poetry in general. Together, they ex...

In this moving episode of  Craic on the Coast , hosts  Michael Schilling  and  John Sullivan  recount their unforgettable six-day journey walking the  National Famine Way —a 100-mile path from  Strokestown, County Roscommon to Dublin . Retracing the footsteps of 1,490 Irish men, women, and children who were forced to emigrate during the Great Hunger of 1847, the hosts reflect on the historical wei...

In this episode of Craic on the Coast , Michael Schilling and Shaun Morgan welcome special guest  Michael Reardon , Guinness Brewery Ambassador, for a deep dive into the rich history and surprising harmony of  Guinness and oyster pairings . From the origins of Guinness at St. James's Gate to the briny, bold world of oyster tasting on the South Shore, the conversation blends tradition, flavor, and...

🎙️  Craic on the Coast – Episode 4: "Heritage, Hunger, and One Last Pint" In this heartfelt and history-rich episode, host  Michael Schilling  and guest co-host  Greg Shanahan  take listeners on a journey through Ireland's past, present, and future — all from the shores of Massachusetts. First, they preview two powerful upcoming events from the  Father John Murphy Division  of the Ancient Order of...

Episode 3: Beyond St. Patrick's Day: Honoring Irish Heritage Year-Round Fresh off the heels of St. Patrick's Day celebrations, hosts Michael Schilling  and  Shaun Morgan  reflect on how Irish heritage continues long after the parades have passed. In this episode of  Craic on the Coast , we explore the lasting legacy of Irish-Americans on the South Shore through our "Talk of the Trail" feature. We...

Episode 2: March Madness (The Irish Way!) March is designated as Irish Heritage Month by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and in this episode of  Craic on the Coast , we're diving into all the festivities, events, and celebrations happening across the South Shore and beyond. Whether you're looking for parades, live music, AOH gatherings, or the best spots to raise a pint on St. Patrick's Day, we'v...

Episode 1: Introduction & Patrick McDonough Welcome to the Craic on the Coast , the podcast bringing you all things Irish from Plymouth County and beyond! Hosted by Michael Schilling and Shawn Morgan from the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Plymouth Division , we're here to share the stories, history, and events that celebrate Irish culture on the South Shore of Massachusetts. In this first episode,...