The Irish Snug Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with native New Yorker, seasoned Hollywood actor, and dedicated volunteer firefighter Robert John Burke. As a proud first-generation son of County Galway immigrants, Robert beautifully bridges the grit of New York City with deep Irish ancestral roots. Pull up a stool as we dive into his upbringing in Washington Heights, the rhythms of the Irish-American diaspora, and u...

What happens when you mix traditional Scottish heavy events, ancient Irish wrestling styles, stone lifting, a traveling Irish pub, and a deep respect for the elders who kept Celtic traditions alive? You get the No Fame Games. In this episode of The Irish Snug Podcast, Tim sits down with Josh MacKintosh, founder of the No Fame Games, to talk about the upcoming Celtic Strength World Championships, t...

In today’s episode, Nathan Featherstone joins us from Dublin - an elite martial artist, historian, and leader of the global renaissance of the indigenous Irish art of stick fighting. Many of us grew up with a shillelagh in our homes, viewing it simply as a traditional walking stick or an Irish souvenir. But as Nathan explains, its history is far deeper, more complicated, and entirely fascinating....

For over 40 years, Joanie Madden has led Cherish the Ladies from small pub sessions to the world’s biggest stages, helping bring Irish culture, storytelling, music, and heritage to audiences across the globe. In this episode of The Irish Snug Podcast, Joanie shares an incredible journey filled with unforgettable stories, hard-earned lessons, deep family roots, and the passion that has driven her r...

🎙️ In this episode of the Irish Snug Podcast, we sit down with legendary bagpiper Joe Brady —a cornerstone of Irish-American piping and a key figure in New York City’s rich musical and firefighting traditions. Joe shares his journey from learning the pipes as a young boy in the Bronx to becoming an elite open-level piper by age 17. He reflects on decades of experience with the FDNY Pipe Band, foun...

In this episode of The Irish Snug Podcast, I’m joined by David Keohan, widely known as Indiana Stones , a man on a singular mission to revive the lost Irish tradition of stone lifting. For centuries, these massive boulders—scattered across the Irish landscape in fields, graveyards, and coastal villages—served as rites of passage, tests of strength for jobs like stonemasonry, and even ways to honor...

This episode of The Irish Snug is a masterclass in discipline, grit, and the deep-rooted connections within the Irish-American community. Today, Tim sits down with Paige Turilli, a five-time World Champion Irish dancer, to discuss her journey from a five-year-old beginner in Pearl River to standing on top of the world stage. Whether you're an "Irish Dance Dad," a competitive athlete...

Gerry's Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gerard_devine_poetry Videos used in this podcast: The Hurley Maker: https://youtu.be/sFYIz-lzmwE?si=g0eqLbIn0cqwX415 The Quarryman: https://youtu.be/z9rkr1ONVRs?si=Yp0fn5YL-izKQBDM Website: https://www.gerarddevinepoetry.com/ Welcome back to the Irish Snug Podcast! In this powerful and deeply personal episode, we sit down with Gerard...

In this episode of The Irish Snug, host Tim Grant welcomes the inspiring Mollie Guidera, known globally as Irish with Mollie. Mollie is a visionary educator dedicated to stripping away the classroom stigmas of the Irish language and replacing them with the beauty of its history, logic, and soul. From teaching in the Basque Country to reaching over 12,000 students in 85 countries, Mollie shares how...

Welcome back to The Irish Snug! In this episode, host Tim Grant sits down with his cousin, the incredible Dawn Doherty. From being an All-Ireland tin whistle champion to her current role as a master music therapist, Dawn’s journey is a masterclass in keeping Irish culture alive and thriving in the modern world. Born in NYC and raised in Castlebar, County Mayo, Dawn shares her unique perspective on...

Welcome to The Irish Snug Podcast! In this episode, your host Tim Grant sits down with John Lee—communications executive, former President of the Irish Business Organization of New York, and co-host of the Irish Stew podcast. We are diving deep into the evolution of Irish-American identity, the art of storytelling, and the enduring power of community. From reminiscing about the old Greenwich Villa...

Join us on this episode of The Irish Snug Podcast as we sit down with one of the true legends of the bagpiping world, Eric Stein. With nearly 60 years of involvement in the piping community, Eric has evolved from a young student in Long Island’s Saffron United pipe band to one of the most influential "impresarios" in modern solo piping. He’s the driving force behind legendary events like...

“The job is Irish.” In this episode of The Irish Snug Podcast, we pull up a stool with a true legend of the FDNY, Retired Chief of Department Ed Kilduff. Over a 37-year career, Chief Kilduff rose through the ranks—serving as a leader during the recovery efforts of 9/11 and eventually becoming the department's highest-ranking uniformed officer in 2010. He joins us to discuss the history, the g...

-*DOCUMENTARY ON NEARY’S* *Neary’s: The Dream at the End of the Rainbow* https://www.amazon.com/Nearys-Dream-at-End-Rainbow/dp/B08B1MH7WJ In this episode of The Irish Snug Podcast (formerly Pubs & Pints), host Tim Grant sits down with Una Neary to honor the incredible life of her father, the legendary Jimmy Neary, and the storied history of Neary’s on 57th Street. For nearly 57 years, Neary’s...

In this episode of the Pubs & Pints Podcast, we sit down with John "Chickie" Donohue, the man behind the incredible true story that inspired the major motion picture, The Greatest Beer Run Ever. Imagine being 8000 miles from home, in a war zone, and you 'bump' into a friend of yours from home who just happens to be there to give YOU a beer! Chickie shares the heartwarming a...

CONNECT WITH MULVIHILL LYNCH SCHOOL OF IRISH DANCE: *Website: https://www.mlsirishdance.com/ In this episode of Pubs & Pints, Tim sits down with Debbie Lynch-Webber, the owner and director of the Mulvihill-Lynch School of Irish Dance. Together, they explore the vibrant world of Irish dance, its deep-rooted traditions, and the evolution of the sport from local parishes to global stages like Riv...

Connect with Séamus Doohan: Website: walkingdonegal.net Email: walkingdonegalireland@gmail.com Instagram/Socials: @walkingdonegal In this episode of Pubs & Pints , host Tim sits down with Séamus Doohan, a man whose life is woven into the rugged landscape of Falcarragh, County Donegal. Séamus isn't just a local; he is a storyteller, a walking guide, a historian, and a passionate advocate f...

30 Years at Guinness, Rural Ireland, and Publican Stories with Des Roche Description: In this episode of the Pubs and Pints podcast, I sit down with my good friend Des Roche. Des is a true gentleman from County Galway, Ireland, with an incredible wealth of stories. He spent 30 years working for Guinness, starting as a merchandiser and moving into sales, giving him a front-row seat to the character...

Join us for a powerful episode of Pubs & Pints as we welcome Matt Long—FDNY firefighter, 9/11 responder, and ultimate survivor. Matt shares the incredible story of his near-fatal accident and his miraculous journey from a 1% survival rate to running marathons. This is an episode about grit, the power of the human spirit, and finding hope in the darkest of times. 🍻🚒 #PubsAndPints #MattLong #R...

Tommy Feighery was born in Long Beach, New York to Tom and Nancy Feighery. In 1971, his parents moved the family to his mother’s native Country Offaly, where they spent the next eight years raising him and his eight siblings. They moved back to the United States in 1979 and settled in Carmel, New York.     For more than 30 years, Tommy owned and operated Fiddler’s Green Pub in Carmel, a gathering...

Join host Tim Grant in a fascinating discussion with Derry native, Dermot McElholm , as they dive deep into Irish culture, history, and the unique pub life both in Ireland and New York City. Dermot shares captivating stories of his family's ancestry, including his paternal grandfather's internment by the British after the partition of Ireland and his time teaching Irish to prisoners on t...

Introduction to Tommy White: The episode introduces Tommy White as a long-time friend of the host, with a friendship spanning over 30 years, originating from their time in a FDNY Bagpipe Band where Tommy was the chairman around 1994. Irish Heritage and Family History: Tommy delves into his strong Irish roots, noting that all four of his grandparents immigrated from Ireland independently and later...

In this episode of the "Pubs & Pints Podcast," [ 00:02 ] host Tim Grant interviews Donna Abraldes, whose family's Irish dance journey led to a remarkable discovery of her roots and a famous great-grandfather. Key discussion points include: Irish Dance Connection : Donna explains how her daughters' participation in Irish dance led to connecting with long-lost relatives in Ir...

In this episode of the "Pubs & Pints Podcast," [ 00:04 ] host Tim Grant talks with Ed Boles, a longtime friend, about his Irish upbringing in Woodside, Queens, and his deep connection to Irish culture. Eddie is a retired Battalion Chief in the New York City Fire Department. Key discussion points include: Family Background and Woodside : Ed's parents immigrated from Ireland; his...

In this episode of the "Pubs & Pints Podcast," [ 00:19 ] host Tim Grant talks with Tommy Brennan, who shares stories about his Irish heritage and upbringing in the Bronx and Yonkers, New York. Tommy's father hailed from County Sligo, Ireland, and his mother was born in the US to Irish immigrant parents. Key discussion points include: Family Pub in Ireland Tommy recounts growing...