TwoMacs Podcast

Send us Fan Mail From darkness to light: a survivor's story. A huge thank you to Eamon Devlin who took time out from a flying visit to guest on the TwoMacs Podcast. It was a catch-up of sorts, as Ronan Mac and Eamon were friends as children, however Eamon's life was forever changed, at the age of 12, when his parents were brutally murdered by loyalists, acting in collusion with the &apos...

Send us Fan Mail 'Crafty Young Things' First Steps Women Centre A delightful and most uplifting podcast with 'Crafty Young Things', a dynamic group of women who meet weekly in Dungannon. And it is open to newcomers!  Based at First Steps Women’s Centre, they are vibrant mix of local ladies from across the community and those who have moved to the area.  CEO Michael McGolderick...

Send us Fan Mail Patsy O'Hagan - the Loughshore Bard Three times Bard of Armagh and Hall of Fame recipient, Patsy O'Hagan is a legend among  storytellers.  You only has to listen to his recitations and jokes, to hear the howls of laughter and enjoyment from his audiences.  His sense of observation is hilarious. By Lough Neagh all his life, Patsy a proud Moortown man, lives on the 'b...

Send us Fan Mail Music as Gift and Calling Martin's guest this week is Mairead Duffy - teacher, musician, singer/composer and director of Dungannon community choir Gathered Voices, which she founded in 2019. A native of Tuam, County Galway, Mairead came north in the early 1990s to study music at Jordanstown.  Her musical formation began early, with Mairead's grandmother teaching her some...

Send us Fan Mail Malachi Cush: Family, faith and fame. It's a long podcast, and a good one! recorded in Malachi Cush's studio amidst the scenic beauty of Drummond. Just weeks away from a concert (with his good friend Karl McGuckin) to mark the 150th anniversary of St Patrick’s Church in Dungannon, this is a wonderful podcast packed with reflections, memories and fabulous songs recorded b...

Send us Fan Mail Dixie Robinson - heading to another Cup final. As Dungannon Swifts bid to win two-in-a-row Irish Cups, assistant manager Dixie Robinson reflects on a career in local soccer and GAA, that has brought glorious days as well as heartbreak in finals of both codes. It is a podcast packed with wonderful anecdotes and memories of great players and characters. Dixie recalls taking penaltie...

Send us Fan Mail Paddy Linden - a familiar face but who is he?! An instantly recognisable face in Coalisland but who is Paddy Linden? A reader at Mass for the past 30 years, the Belfast schoolteacher, who set up home in Brackaville, is also a leading organiser of the MacRory Cup, has worked with the youth at Ógras and coached GAA teams in the area; currently Edendork senior Ladies.  He talks about...

Send us Fan Mail Amy Toner & Shane McDonald - promoting inclusively for all children.  A hugely inspiring and uplifting chat with Amy Toner and Shane McDonald, aka MacDoodle, who are doing fantastic work with young people making sure that none get left out or left behind.  With a name like MacDoodle, this podcast veers down a few side roads as we wonder why girls don't get nicknames! We a...

Send us Fan Mail The Two Seans are back A year later and local GAA afficionados Sean McCabe and Sean Quinn are back on the TwoMacs Podcast with a look at the season past and what's to come. It's a long chat but worth every minute, as the Brackaville and Clonoe stalwarts share stories, humour and memories of a bygone era of Gaelic games, including that great 1970's rivalry between th...

Send us Fan Mail John Hanna is an artist to his fingertips... He and Martin are friends in more ways than one. They get on well, as is evident from this podcast encounter. They are also cousins. Originally from Derrytresk, John is the youngest son of the late great Geordie Hanna, a traditional singer known the length and breadth of Ireland.  Seamus Heaney once said that making a living is one thin...

Send us Fan Mail Christopher Rafferty Incredible MacRory Cup and O'Neill Cup winning memories. As St Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon bid to lift the MacRory Cup for the sixth time, the incredible build-up and scenes of their first win in 1991, are vividly recalled by goalkeeper on that day, Christopher Rafferty.  He was also at the helm of Dungannon Clarkes when they ended a 64-year famine winni...

Send us Fan Mail Harry McGuigan - Mr Judo: The gentle art's giant soul.  A life-affirming conversation with Harry McGuigan, a 7th dan black belt, all of 84 years, still coaching and doing gym work-outs.  When Harry went to a Judo class in Hong Kong way back in the 1960s, it was to begin a passion he continues all of six decades later. An introduction to another judoka Brother Lewis in Dungann...

Send us Fan Mail Pascal Canavan - Reflections on a great club and county career. For over a decade, Pascal Canavan was a household name in club and county football with Errigal Ciaran and Tyrone.  In a fascinating conversation he recalls many great games and a few controversies! These days, along other Gaels, he raises awareness and funds to get critical treatment for children suffering from the g...

Send us Fan Mail Karl McGuckin - a calling to sing.   Classical singer Karl McGuckin from Edendork, takes time out from his busy festive schedule.  The much heralded 'Candlelight Christmas' shows at Clonard Monastery, with his dear friend Malachi Cush, sold out within hours. Karl also recently performed at the Royal Variety Show, an 'exhilarating experience' that will be on tel...

Send us Fan Mail Pádraig (Paudie) Hampsey - leader, role model and inspiration. Tyrone captain Paudie Hampsey lived the dream when he climbed the steps of the Hogan Stand to lift the Sam Maguire Cup. It was the cumulation of years of commitment and dedication.  National recognition, however, has never dimmed his passion for his beloved club Coalisland Fianna and local community. Two times an All S...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the TwoMacs, Martin is back in the chair talking to acclaimed novelist Anthony J. Quinn. Born on a farm in Kileeshil in 1971, Anthony was drawn to books from an early age. As a child, he would construct a wee canopy in a nearby field and lose himself reading stories by Enid Blyton. He also started to write at a young age. However, the Troubles cast a long shadow...

Send us Fan Mail Plunkett McCallan - Oz and the magic of the O'Neill Cup. Towering goalkeeper 'Big Oz' from Carrickmore reflects on two decades of championship football. On the week of the Tyrone senior club final, 'Oz' (nicknamed after Oz in the hit 1980's TV comedy series Auf Wiedersehan, Pet) reflects on a career that saw him win six O'Neill Cup medals. It is...

Send us Fan Mail Aisling Hagan (Corr) - Class is permanent. For over 25 years camogie star Aisling Hagan, formerly Corr, has graced the fields with her sublime skills.  Previously Tyrone Young Player and Senior Player of the Year, she has won awards for club, college, county, province and representing Ireland, as well as a winning summer in Chicago. Aisling recalls the inspiration from her father...

Send us Fan Mail Patsy Grant - changed times. He may not have a television or be glued to social media but Patsy Grant is well tuned into the ways of a constantly changing world.   His father Paddy fixed clocks and Father Time catches up with us all.  An artisan, Patsy has a great talent for stone sculpturing, painting and writing.  He recalls simpler times when Coalisland had a railway station an...

Send us Fan Mail Vinny O'Donnell - The making of the acclaimed 1986 'Up Tyrone' cassette. When Kevin McCabe struck a penalty to the net to take Tyrone to their first All Ireland final in 1986, the county rejoiced while musicians Vinny O'Donnell and Joe McCurry quickly penned a song, 'Come on Tyrone', that has become the theme tune of All Ireland appearances.  Literall...

Send us Fan Mail Nick Griggs - a running sensation Since hitting the running tracks just seven years ago, Nick Griggs' performances have been nothing short of sensational. At 16, he had the athletics' world sit up and take notice when he won the European Under 20 crown at 3,000 metres.  Since then the 20-year-old Newmills lad has broken a host of middle distance records, has the best  ti...

Send us Fan Mail Hurling As Poetry In days gone by, a wise old poetry-loving Kiltegan priest told Martin Mac that hurling is the poetry of Gaelic sport. He spoke of the sheer grace and beauty of the game when it is played well, it's hallowed history that dates back to antiquity and of the legendary players,  Ring, Doyle, Nicky English, Joe Canning..  featured in hurling's ever growing Ha...

Send us Fan Mail Niall Hanna: Portrait of an Artist Martin Mac returns to talk to Niall Hanna, the singer/songwriter from Derrytresk, a friend in more ways than one; since renowned singer Geordie Hanna was both Martin's uncle and Niall's grandfather.  Niall tells how he grew up listening to recordings of his grandfather's songs and learning to play trad music. But in his teenage yea...

Send us Fan Mail Feargal McCrory - From Brackaville to Brooklyn following a dream. Fearless Feargal McCrory has made huge physical and emotional sacrifices in his quest to win a World boxing title. That mission continued after last year's title challenge defeat, when the fight was stopped, leaving him hugely frustrated as he felt he had the answers to carry on.  Feargal recalls the sounds and...

Send us Fan Mail Leo Quinn - Family, Football and Fun! Leo Quinn enjoys the craic!.. Team Leader for Mid Ulster Youth Service, he is a life-long Coalisland Fianna member brought up in the traditions of the club. His father Tommy was long-term club secretary and team bus driver and older brother Martin managed the minors to championship victory.  Leo also recalls his own great minor win and happy c...