This week on Hibernian Radio, Mike Houlihan opens the show with a packed slate of upcoming Hibernian Media events, including the Irish American Movie Hooley Film Festival (Sept. 25–27), the Movie Houli Salon at Gaelic Park on May 30, and the upcoming Skinny & Houli Return to Ireland Tour (Oct. 20–28), celebrating the spirit of the late Baz O’Brien with stops, stories, music, and plenty of Irish mischief along the way. Mike also proudly announces a special June 3rd benefit concert at Robert’s Westside for his granddaughter Charlotte “Lottie” Houlihan and her band Lottie and the Drama, helping send the talented young songwriter to NYU’s prestigious summer songwriting workshop. Make a donation or buy tix at his link: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/lottie-and-the-drama-at-roberts-westside
The featured guest this week is the legendary Skinny Sheahan, longtime Chicago special events director, South Side Irish institution, and one of the city’s all-time great storytellers. Skinny revisits decades of St. Patrick’s Day parade history, political maneuvering, and behind-the-scenes City Hall battles, including the saga of bringing the South Side Irish Parade back from the dead after city officials tried to shut it down for good. Skinny reflects on raising more than $1.8 million for Special Children’s Charities through Chicago’s famous polar plunges, shares memories of working with Special Olympics athletes, and recounts classic tales involving Mayor Daley, Rahm Emanuel, the Dalai Lama, and a Jane Byrne impersonator who nearly caused a political panic at a fundraiser. Along the way, he mixes humor, old-school Chicago politics, and heartfelt reflections on community service, friendship, and the South Side Irish tradition.
Sponsored By: Fox’s Pizza of Mokena and Orland Park, Flood Bros., Madden Funds and Local 150 Engineers
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