We try something new today, and the craic is fan-feckin-tastic! This time we pull up stools and have a pint at the main bar of the Aul Shebeen. Tim pours us pints and a fellow patrons drops in as we chat. Don’t miss our must-do recommendations in Belfast and Dublin as Paul & Patrick call out their favorite pubs. This is our best chat yet. Excited to hear what you think!

Episode Highlights ⭐️

• Old-man pubs rule - our Top 5 Pubs in Dublin (Patrick) and Belfast (Paul)

• “My ma’s behind us!” - the story of two Dublin kids that stowawayed to JFK.

• Surviving a marathon (but not planning another one!)

• Friendly interruptions as we sit at the bar - always a story!

• Losing Boarding passes and being saved by a fellow Dub.

• Irish “Spicy” from bland curries to Zinger burgers to the now famous Spice Bag!

• Tales from Irish emigration: the J1, one-way tickets, and the backpacker vibe.

• Fears of crossing borders in your own country.

• That perfect moment Anthony Bourdain has talked about.

• The history behind one of Ireland’s greatest pubs.

• What’s a “snug”: Our love for snugs and the history behind it.

• Prizes for our most supportive listeners and readers.

  
  

And of course:

• Shift.irish - sign-up for our mobile app now!

Shout Outs 📢

• ⁠Doc on One: Don’t go far…⁠

• ⁠The Crown Bar ⁠(and four others) in Belfast.

• ⁠Mulligans Pub⁠ (and four others) in Dublin.

• ⁠⁠Blakes of the Hollow⁠⁠ in Enniskillen.

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  The Location 📍

  • We’re at the ⁠Aul Shebeen in Fairfax⁠, VA.

  
  

We're back with another episode of The Craic, recorded live at the Four Courts in Arlington. We're at the Courts for the first Digital Irish event here in DC, that took place immediately after this recording. A nice chat followed by a great night.

Highlights:

• Irish names for the American Irish.
• St. Patrick's Day post-mortem.
• NYC parade rules and controversial slogans.
• Feedback on Shift from the people we meet.
• Narrowing in on our Shift messaging.
• Visit to Irish Network USA national conference.
• Cheap flights and one-way tickets.
• Texas culture shock.
• What's the deal with Hibernians and Knights of Columbus?
• The unavoidable pride of Riverdance.
• The Irish connection in the new "Sinners" film.
• About the Digital Irish, and helping expand in DC.

If you're Irish abroad or just love the culture, head to https://shift.irish and sign up for the weekly email that keeps you connected to the craic. Got a pub or person we should visit? Let us know at team@shift.irish.

Sure St Paddy's Day fever is rising here at the Auld Shebeen in Fairfax, as we record our latest episode. As the bartenders prepare for a hectic weekend, Patrick and Paul sit down to share the latest craic, and to celebrate the launch of the new Shift website at Shift.irish! We’ve been working like mad the past few months to get the first version of Shift launched: The Directory of all things Irish launches with all the St Paddy’s Day shenanigans and shindigs at over 80 locations across North America. Visit Shift.Irish for more on that.

Episode Highlights:

• A late night at the Ireland Funds Gala.
• The protestor family causing ruckus away from home.

• Walking in the NYC St Patrick's Day parade.
• Americans vs Irish on St Patrick's Day.
• Savannah's surprisingly legendary parade.
• Going all in on Shift, without being a Plastic Paddy.
• Patrick's parents partying for Spring Break.

• The unlikely future as an 'entrepreneur' for an Irish kid.
• Stories of fear and intimidation in Northern Ireland.
• Celebrating and learning from our first launch.
• The website is live, and the app coming this year.
• The Shift mission - connecting the Irish!
• "The Devil's at the bottom of the pint" ;)

Shout-outs:

• EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin.
• Brainstormer - the original Pub Quiz Trivia.
• Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen (Paul's early job - server)
• Joel's Restaurant, Clondalkin (Patrick's early job - bartender)
• Ireland's Four Courts (Uncle-in-law Dave Cahill).
• Solas Nua - Irish theater, film and cultural organization.
• Our very own Shift.irish - live for St. Paddy's Day!