Episode 32 | Eilish O'Carroll

Joe and Sherin are joined by the brilliant Eilish O'Carroll — best known as the loveable Winnie McGee from the smash-hit Mrs. Brown's Boys — for a hilarious and heartfelt episode 32. Before they even get into the interview, Joe has to come clean about being left standing in the freezing cold at the wrong City West Luas stop while waiting for Eilish to collect him — a mix-up that had been weeks in the making. Once they get past that, the conversation flows beautifully.Eilish opens up about her journey into theatre, her work directing and mentoring a community women's show, and what it's really like to play Winnie alongside her real-life brother Brendan O'Carroll for over 26 years. She reveals the private backstory she wrote for Winnie in her own head — never shared with Brendan — that helped her stay in character through all the on-screen abuse. She also talks candidly about filming the Mrs. Brown's Boys mini-series while going through chemotherapy, growing up in Finglas and Stoneybatter, her mother's remarkable career as the first female Labour TD, her own one-woman show Do Level of Laugh, and her deep admiration for Brendan's late-bloomer success story. Funny, warm, honest, and full of great craic.Timecodes:00:00:00 – Intro / cold open00:00:10 – Joe welcomes listeners to Episode 32 and introduces Eilish O'Carroll (aka Winnie McGee)00:01:00 – The mix-up that almost never was: Sherin's scheduling chaos and dual alter egos00:02:00 – Joe's Luas adventure — wrong City West stop, freezing cold, 30+ minutes waiting00:05:00 – Eilish finally arrives (kind of) — the full story unravels00:08:00 – Eilish talks about her ADHD and how she relates to Joe00:09:00 – The Sister Sheds community show: how it started and how Eilish got roped in00:11:30 – Directing the women's show, rehearsals in kitchens, and the chaos of putting it together00:14:25 – The show's standing ovation and Eilish's impact as a director and mentor00:22:00 – Eilish's theatre background and love of performing00:35:30 – The chemistry between Eilish and Brendan on stage and the art of reading your scene partner00:37:30 – Playing Winnie: the private backstory Eilish invented that Brendan never knew about00:40:30 – What she loves most about Mrs. Brown's Boys and the power of making people laugh00:41:00 – Filming the mini-series during chemotherapy: flying Glasgow–Dublin and straight back into chemo00:42:00 – Brendan on Strictly Come Dancing and the real family bonds on the show00:44:00 – Fan encounters: Australian fans, being "mobbed," and staying grounded despite fame00:47:00 – Never really feeling "famous" — and why that's a good thing00:48:30 – How Eilish joined Mrs. Brown's Boys: starting as wardrobe, coming back from England00:49:20 – Her one-woman show Do Level of Laugh and its personal, emotional content01:11:35 – Brendan's Christmas routines and life between Dublin and Florida01:12:10 – Returning to Finglas: community spirit, Coronation Street vibes, and going home on TV01:14:45 – Emotional visit to the family home and memories of her mother dancing in the lounge01:15:30 – Her mother: the first female Labour TD, the Ballymun house, and moving to Finglas in the night01:17:40 – Other O'Carroll family members and why Brendan didn't find success until his 40s01:19:00 – Brendan's early struggles: debt, running a pub in Finglas, and finding comedy as a way out01:20:00 – Brendan's legendary first Late Late Show appearance with Gay Byrne01:23:00 – What's next for Eilish: The Circle writing group and a trip to Lourdes01:25:00 – Wrap-up, big shout out to Pat Sullivan, and Joe's promise to have Eilish back on