Is this one of our author episodes or should it fall into our Irish Drinks category because your co-hosts have grabbed a table by the pot-bellied stove at New York’s legendary McSorley's Old Ale House for a conversation with author, cultural creator, and impresario Charles R. Hale.

Charles is known for curating lively artistic salons, producing eclectic concerts, and presenting original performance pieces that blend music, imagery, video, and storytelling.

We focus on his deeply personal new book Untangling the Shadows: Searching for the Voices of my New York Irish Ancestors. Part memoir, part family history, and something of a detective story, the book traces his search in New York and Ireland for the clues to “untangling the shadows” of his family’s stories.

Over light and dark ale, we delve into his Irish roots, family history, his unlikely path to a creative life, and the diverse art forms he explores.

Why McSorley’s? Charles wrote parts of his book at the same table we’re sitting at, the place is dripping with Irish American history, and McSorley’s has been the muse of artists ranging from famed chronicler of New York Joseph Mitchell to Ashcan school painter John Sloan. Everyone from Abe Lincoln to John Lennon has passed through McSorley’s swinging doors since it opened in 1854. It remains a welcoming refuge where one good ale inevitably leads to another…if you follow their one golden rule:
Be Good or Begone.

We were—Sláinte!

Charles Hale Links:
Websites:

• Charles R. Hale

Social Media:

• Facebook
• Facebook group: NYC: Its Culture, History, Music, Theatre, Film, Art & People - hosted by Charles R. Hale
• Instagram

Book Purchase Link:

• Amazon

McSorley's Old Ale House

• Website

Writer, performer, and force of nature, born Morag Prunty, but best known by her pen name Kate Kerrigan whisks us from London where she grew up with an Irish identity to Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way where she’s living with an English accent.

In this episode, Kate spins tales of idyllic childhood summers in Mayo, the dynamics of being Irish in England during the turbulent 70s and 80s, her challenges in navigating the complex terrain of her Irish identity, and her late-in-life recognition of the obstacles and superpowers in her ADHD.

An in-demand London magazine editor despite dropping out of school at age 15, Kate became a successful novelist with the New York Times bestseller Ellis Island to her credit. Now she’s taken her act to the stage, earning raves for her acclaimed one-woman show, Am I Irish Yet?, which dives into her “feels Irish but sounds English” dilemma in a performance resonating with audiences in Ireland, the UK, and from anyone not living where they were born.

Kate’s next goal is to bring this tour de force to the world’s capital of people not living where they were born—New York City.

Join us for a deeply personal exploration of identity, belonging, and cultural heritage, along with more than a bit of craic with the irrepressible Kate Kerrigan!

Links:
Websites:

• Kate Kerrigan
• Am I Irish Yet?
• Circus 250: Am I Irish Yet?
  
  

Instagram:

• @katekerriganauthor
• @amiirishyet

Other Social Media:

• Facebook
  
  
• Twitter/X
  
  
• LinkedIn: Morag Prunty

In this episode, cohosts John and Martin dive into the world of Olympic shot putting with their guest, Eric Favors, an athlete representing Ireland.

Born and raised in Rockland County, New York, with a rich Irish heritage, Eric shares his journey from trying various sports to specializing in track and field. He discusses the intricacies of shot put, a sport that demands not just brute strength but finesse, technique, and a fine balance between power and agility. Eric also touches on the importance of understanding the technical aspects of shot put, his training regimen, diet, and the mental fortitude needed for competing at the highest levels.

The conversation covers his personal background, experiences growing up in an Irish-American enclave, the evolution of his career, the challenges of maintaining an athletic lifestyle, and his aspirations for the Olympics. Additionally, Eric and the hosts explore the avenues of dealing with the pressures of professional sports, the rigorous drug testing protocols in athletics, and how social media and YouTube play a role in connecting with fans and showcasing the athlete's journey. The episode concludes with Eric's future plans, both within and outside of his athletic career.

Links

• YouTube
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter/X