Hibernian Radio Podcast, Sat. January 7, 2023

Kevin Duffin

Fox’s Pizza, Guinness, the Cork and Kerry Irish Pub, Madden Funds and Flood Brothers Disposal present the Hibernian Radio Hour as we continue on our First Responders Tour and this week’s episode welcomes a new format to Hibernian Radio as we take a look back at some of our favorite First Responder interviews from over the years. This week we set the tone with some lovely music by Gaelic Storm called “Faithful Land”. Then Houli takes a look back at an interview from December 2019 with retired Chicago Police Department Commander of Detectives Kevin Duffin and after “35 years, 8 months, and ten days” on the job he has some great stories for us. Kevin’s father was from County Antrim and his mom from Irish Town in County Mayo and although Kevin was born here, his folks took him back to Ireland from the ages of 2-10, when his dad found the family a great place to live in 1968 on the south side of Chicago… in Englewood! Talk about a culture shock, young Kevin found himself living at 55th and Damen where he was the only white kid with a brogue as bruthas told him “you talk funny”. He grew up fast and eventually joined the police department and loved it. “You develop a bond like no other with cops.” Kevin has seen it all in his years as a cop and brings his engaging personality with him as he tells us a series of great war stories. He handled a lot of heater cases during his career and also speaks of his love of Ireland and his last trip back when his grandmother died. One of his cousins asked him if he would help with the funeral arrangements; Kev said “sure” and was promptly handed a shovel! As Commander of Detectives he took down a lot of bad guys but the pinnacle for him was bittersweet, “you take great pride when you can catch a guy who killed a policeman.” He’s enjoying his retirement as grandpa to Lucille Rose, who lives with Kevin and his family. She will keep him busy for sure! We go to another musical break with the lively, “Don’t Let The Truth Get In The Way Of A Good Story” by Gaelic Storm. Then it’s over to some upcoming local events including ‘Irish Rebel Fest’ – a fundraiser for Officer Danny Golden on Feb 26th at Gaelic Park with music from Derek Warfield and the Young Wolfe Tones. The Emerald Society will also be having their Annual Chilli Cook-Off at FOP Hall Lodge 7 on Monday, January 23rd. See you all there! That’s followed by this week’s obituaries and then it’s over to our favorite place known as “Houli-Town”.