The Greg Hughes Podcast

For years, Nikki Hayes was one of the most recognizable voices on Irish radio. From RTÉ 2FM to SPIN 1038, she enjoyed the kind of career many could only dream of. But behind the familiar voice and public success, a very different story was unfolding. Addiction would eventually cost Nikki almost everything. Her career, her home, her relationships and, for a time, the life she had built. At her lowe...

Eight years to get 0.13 seconds faster. How do you keep believing when the stopwatch won’t budge? Irish Olympian and European 800m champion Mark English knows the patience elite sport demands. After running a personal best in 2013, he waited until 2021 to improve it — a breakthrough that also broke a longstanding Irish record and secured his place at the Tokyo Olympics. In this episode, Mark joins...

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. He reflects on some of the most memorable moments of his time in Derry...

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...

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 ea...

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...

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 internatio...

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 fl...

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...

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...

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...

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...

This week on The Greg Hughes Podcast, Donegal boxing star Jason Quigley joins the show for an honest, wide-ranging conversation that goes far beyond the ring. We dive deep into the full arc of his career—from the immense hype of his high-profile professional debut to the intensity and pressure of the big fight build-ups. Jason opens up about his shot at a world title against Demetrius Andrade, det...

In this episode of The Greg Hughes Podcast, Greg is joined in studio by Letterkenny Sinn Féin Councillor Gerry McMonagle for an in-depth conversation reflecting on his life, personal history, and political career. Gerry opens up about growing up in Derry during the height of the Troubles, his early activism, and the personal and political experiences that shaped his path—including his arrests and...

In this episode, Greg is joined by Independent Councillor Declan Meehan (Letterkenny / Milford MD) and his husband, local GP Dr Padraig (Paudge) McGuinness, for a candid and wide-ranging conversation about public life, community service, and personal resilience. In this episode: How It All Started: The Tinder match between Dublin and Belfast that led to their 2019 wedding, and how they protect the...

This week on The Greg Hughes Podcast, I’m joined by a living legend of Irish traditional music: fiddler, vocalist, and founding member of Altan, Born and raised in the heart of the West Donegal Gaeltacht of Gweedore (Gaoth Dobhair), Mairéad was immersed in music from an early age under the guidance of her father, the famous fiddle teacher Francie Ní Mhaonaigh. Over a extraordinary career spanning...

In this episode, we sit down with former Tánaiste, Cabinet Minister, and current Chairperson of the Donegal GAA County Board, Mary Coughlan. We take a wide-ranging look back at her life and career—from entering national politics at just 21 as the youngest TD in the country, to managing high-stakes government portfolios during turbulent economic times, and her recent return to public life leading G...

What does it take to become the trusted confidant to some of the world’s most powerful, wealthy, and famous icons? In this episode, we step into the extraordinary world of Dunlewey’s own Patrick Gallagher. Patrick didn’t just watch twentieth-century history from the sidelines—he was the ultimate insider. From the majestic halls of Glenveagh Castle to the exclusive social circles of Philadelphia, S...

In June 2013, 26-year-old Newry native Kevin Bell tragically lost his life in New York. The overwhelming community response that followed raised far more than was needed to bring him home. Faced with profound personal grief, his parents, Ethne and Colin Bell, made a decision that would change Irish society: they used the surplus funds to help another grieving family. That single act of kindness bi...

This week, we are joined by a truly global heavy-hitter in the medical world who remains deeply rooted right here in Donegal. Professor Dennis McGonagle is a clinical academic and top NHS consultant at the University of Leeds. This year, he made history as the first person from the Republic of Ireland to be awarded the prestigious Heberden Medal by the British Society for Rheumatology. In this bri...

What does it take to survive 34 years at the coalface of Irish politics? In this episode of The Greg Hughes Podcast, we are joined by former Fine Gael TD and Minister of State, Dinny McGinley, for an unfiltered look back at a remarkable life and career. Born and raised in the West Donegal Gaeltacht, Dinny spent his early years as a teacher and principal at Scoil Chonaill in Bunbeg before making th...

The engine notes will soon be echoing off the hills, the ditches will be lined with fans, and the biggest weekend in Irish motorsport is about to get underway! Welcome to a special, standalone edition of The Greg Hughes Podcast, dedicated entirely to the absolute crown jewel of the Irish rallying calendar—The Donegal International Rally. Whether you are a die-hard petrolhead heading out to the dit...

In this episode, we sit down with rally legend Garry Jennings for a conversation that is as harrowing as it is inspiring. After a horror crash at the 2025 Cavan Stages Rally left him fighting for his life, Garry’s future in the sport—and his future, period—was hanging in the balance. Today, he joins us to share the story of his survival. We discuss the crash, his experience of "serenity" while tra...

In this episode, we sit down with Carolynne Murray, Director & General Manager of the Shandon Hotel & Spa and Chairperson of the Donegal branch of the Irish Hotels Federation. Carolynne’s journey is one of remarkable resilience. Growing up in Derry, she learned early on that true strength is often found in the quiet sacrifices made by parents to create a better future. Her path to leadersh...

 Exclusive: Katie Taylor’s Final Homecoming.  In this special episode, we step exclusively onto the tour bus with Irish boxing legend Katie Taylor and her manager for an intimate, wide-ranging conversation ahead of her historic farewell fight at Croke Park this September. We begin by reflecting on a poignant meeting Katie had earlier today with Paddy Doherty, the Donegal man who holds the unique d...