“Growing Up Poor in Irish Boston” If you’re a Roman Catholic, funny and relatively conservative slant, then this is for you.

Send us Fan MailThe Rising of the Moon, Irish Songs, Episode 212This episode, “The Rising of the Moon” refers to the ballad describing the orders for the rebels to rise up in the Irish Rebellion of 1798 . It recounts the battle beween the United Irishmen, led by Wolfe Tone, against British forces during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. This song of hope and optimism is associated with the unfortunate, doomed rebellion.  Support the show

Send us Fan MailAudie Murphy, World War 2 Hero & Movie Star, Episode 209The most decorated World War 2 Hero was Audie Murphy, a 5 foor, 110 lb. Irish sharecroppers's son. Later a big time Hollwood Movie Star also. This his story.Support the show

Send us Fan MailCocoanut Grove Night Club Fire, Episode 203Boston's Cocoanut Grove Fire was a catastrophy aqnd one the worst fire US history. It happened on the Saturday after Thanksgiving just after America joined World War II on November 28, 1942. 492 people died. This episode tells the story.Support the show

Send us Fan MailMurphy's Comedy Club #18, Episode 210Jokes about priests, nuns, God and IrishmenSupport the show

Send us Fan MailJohn Boyle O'Reilly, Irish & American Patriot, Episode 107O'Reilly was an 1800s Irish poet, journalist, novelist and Irish nationalist and activist. He became a leading voice in the Boston Irish community and also nationally. He was very popular in the Irish Diaspora.Support the show

Send us Fan MailHow Did A 12 Year Old Kid Become An Opera Fan?, Episode 108Finding some old shellac 78 records and playing them on a wind-up Victrola was the key to my learning about Opera and becoming a life-long Opera Buff.Support the show

Send us Fan MailYesterday's & Today's Boston Ethnic Restaurants, Episode 204The dining scene in the 1950s Boston featured a vibrant array of eating establishments, among them were those owned and operated by immigrants or their families. That reflected the waves of immigrants from Italy, Greece, Russia, Lithuania, Germany, Portugal. Syria, Poland, China and others.The neighborhoods were in the North End, Chinatown, Cambridge, South Boston, East Boston, Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan, downtown and more. Most restaurants were small, family run spots without famous names.Support the show

Send us Fan MailDisease, Boston's 3 Deckers & Shanty Irish, Episode 203 Living in Boston, as the Murphys did in the 40s and 50s, with its crowded, small flats, minimum sanitation and lack of space, meant that infectious diseases would be plentifull, contagious and sometimes deadly. The close quarters in 3 deckers resulted in the spreading of diseases to other family members and to neighbors.  But Alexander Fleming created penecillin and we all lived happily ever after.Support the show

Send us Fan MailCockroaches, Cooties & Shanty Irish, Episode 202Today I bring you back to the 1940s and 50s, and how Boston's 3 decker dwellers lived with and fought with nasty household pests like cockroaches, head lice, mice, bedbugs, fleas and other vermin. This episode describes the battle. Support the show

Send us Fan MailFrom Catholic to Pagan, The Fall of Boston's Papists, Episode 102AHow did the devout 1950s Catholic population of Massachusetts, Boston and the USA devolve into an almost Pagan 2026 population?Lack of clergy courage; birth control pill, intermarriage, the internet, clergy abuse scandal, divorce,and many others contributed to it. I spell it out in a harsh but correct telling.Support the show

Send us Fan MailFrom Catholic to Pagan, The Fall of Boston's Papists, Episode 102BHow did the devout 1950s Catholic population of Massachusetts, Boston and the USA devolve into an almost Pagan 2026 population?Lack of clergy courage; birth control pill, intermarriage, the internet, clergy abuse scandal, divorce,and many other contributed to it. I spell it out in a harsh but correct telling.Support the show

Send us Fan MailGalway Bay, Episode 198Dr. Arthur Colahan wrote this song, Galway Bay after serving as a physician in WW! and having been hurt from mustard gas.Galway Bay is a real place in Ireland and a popular tourist destination. My family spent many days in the Connemara section of Galway, the most beautiful place in Ireland in my opinion. Visitors can explore the stunning coastlines, experience the vibrant culture of Galway City and immerse themselves in the breathtaking landscapes that inspired the song.Support the show

Send us Fan MailMurphy's Comedy Club, Episode 192Some more Paddy Murphy jokes plus Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and other jokesSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThe Night Visiting Song, Celtic Dalliances?, Episode 147This ancient song is also known as, "I must away now".The roots of this song are from our Celtic cousin, Scotland. Luke Kelly's rendition is the best, I think.Support the show

Send us Fan MailIs It an Irish Song or Is It a Scottish Song?, Episode 143For centuries Irish and Scottish music has passed over national borders freely. Many Irish songs have other nation's elements but are performed and love by the Irish, This episode delves into that whole magilla.Support the show

Send us Fan Mail"The Town I Loved So Well", Episode 143A wonderful, moving song by Phil Coulter about the Irish town of Derry and its centuries of battle against much more powerful British usurpers. Protestants against Catholics, British kings against other British kings, poor folks against rich folks, England against France, Greed against kindness and Hibernians against Saxons is this story.Support the show

Send us Fan MailToo Ra Loo Ra Loo Ra, That's an Irish Lullaby, Episode 189 TooRa LooRa LooRa had its beginnings at least as far back as 1837 with a humorous doggerell in the New York Monthly Magazine. It likely has roots in a nonsense word, “tur el lur elu” that was used in a 1720 French-language Christmas song, "Patapan". It has become associated with Irish American singer and songwriter Chauncey Olcott. Bing Crosby also had a hit record with this song.Support the show

Send us Fan MailDublin City in the Rare Old Times, Episode 150This is a redo. I think I forgot to include the song in the first attempt.The song is a heartfelt nostalgic lament, a bittersweet reflection on how Dublin has changed over the decades. Through the eyes of the narrator, Sean Dempsey, the song mourns the loss of the old city that he grew up in during the mid-20th century. The song expresses deep regret for the modernization and urban redevelopment of Dublin. The narrator feels like a relic of the past, displaced by so-called progress, redundancy, and the demolition of familiar landmarks. He fondly remembers a time when life revolved around oral traditions such as songs, stories, children’s rhymes, community spirit, traditional trades, and the human scale of the city. Now, he sees soulless “glass cages” which he calls the modern office blocks and high-rises, that replaced the old buildings. He feels alienated in his own hometown. Murphy recalls Boston's urban renewal/Destruction.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe Old Bog Road, Episode 190This song is a nostalgic Irish ballad about an emigrant's homesickness while working in New York on Broadway. This experience is duplicated by many other ethnics after moving to the States. This Irishman was from County Kildare's Ferrans Lock in the boglands.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe Mountains of Mourne, Episode 159This song written in 1896 by Percy French is a singalong favorite among Micks everywhere. It is a satirical and humorous treatment about an Irish emigrant in London seeing big city things never before seen. He writes back naively to his sweetheart in the Mountains of Mourne about digging for gold in the streets and other funny things.Support the show

Send us Fan MailCatholic Puberty & How Murphy Discovered Girls, Episode 9511 year old Boston Catholic School boy begins puberty and notices girls in a different way. Begins to have "crushes" on girls.  In high school he develops his own, non-credit course "Broads 101". Other adolescent adventures ensued.Support the show

Send us Fan Mail"It's A Long Way To Tipperary", WW One & Irish Songs, Episode 178"It's A Long Way To Tipperary", The Marching Anthem on the WW1 Battlefields of Europe was written by an Irishman living in London in 1912. I added some Murphy history about my two uncles fighting in France with the French in that war.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe Stone Outside Dan Murphy's Door, Episode 188An 1880 Irish ballad written by Johnny Dane. It recounts Innocent days gone by when local Hibernians gathered in front of Dan Murphy's Shop. They would sing to Murphys fiddle music. The location was maybe Ennis or Fermanagh or County Kerry.There is also a short history of the royal Murphy family.Support the show

Send us Fan MailAI & The Crisis of America's Young Men, Episode 181Is there really a Crisis Among America's Young Men? According experts there is. I have a different take on it. Maybe not so dire.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe Irish Brigade, The Civil War & My Family, Episode 186If your Irish ancestors came to the USA in the years before the Civil War, you might have someone in your bloodline who fought in the Irish Brigade for the Union in the Civil War. The Irish Brigade was the most celebrated, most decorated and most devastated unit in  American military history. It was formed from Irish immigrants from Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania. I have 3 such relatives from Milford Mass. They were originally from Galway.Support the show

Send us Fan MailIs That All There Is? or Giving The Finger To The World, Episode 127Retirement? Bah Humbug!Those of us over 60 need to step up. What happens when a generation that built the modern world learns to use AI? Not as a parlor trick. Not to generate mediocre blog posts. But to teach, create, and contribute in ways that weren’t possible five years ago. We’re not technologically illiterate. We built the internet. We invented most of the systems younger people now take for granted. We just prefer tools designed for clarity instead of chaos, and purpose instead of distraction.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe Belle of Belfast, Irish Songs, Episode 185"I'll Tell Me Ma When I Go Home" or "The Belle of Belfast" is and Irish traditional childrens song from the 18th Century. It's been passed down orally and Its very lively rithyms continiues to make it popular.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThomas Ashe, Irish Catholic Hero & Poet, Episode 128The 1920's Easter Rising was the final rebellion against Britain's Reign of Terror in Ireland.  There were many patriots who died in those many risings. Thamas Ashe was a poet, a teacher and a hero. He died to free Ireland. He also was a devout Catholic and he wrote a poem/prayer that I recite in this episode. It is called, "Let Me Carry Your Cross For Ireland, Lord"Support the show

Send us Fan MailMurphy's Comedy Club, Episode 179More Irish jokes like King Kong's balls, the erudite gorilla, Linoleum Blownapart and Mrs. Murphy's physical exam.Support the show

Send us Fan MailYes There Was Protestant Support For A United Ireland, Episode 149This Episode remembers a Presbyterian clegyman, Rev. James Irwin as a hero of the early 1900s battle against Britain for a Free Ireland. He was born near Derry and had a parish in Antrim. He traveled through America and Canada with Eamon DeValera, the first Teasoich of Free Ireland, on fund raising efforts. He was jailed by Orange men for his efforts. Support the show

Send us Fan MailWhen You and I Were Young, Maggie, Episode 183George Washington Johnson of Ontario, Canada wrote this famous ballad in honor of his wife, Margaret, Maggie Clark in 1864. She was suffering from tuberculosis and died soon after they married in 1865. It became globally popular and was "acquired" sort of by the Irish.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe Indestructible Irish Character, Episode 180If you have Irish ancestry, there is something in you that does not bend. Sometimes it is mistaken for stubborness but it isn't. It is 800 years of practice, bred into you. From the first Norman incursions in the 12th Century to the bloody battles to secure the Irish Partition in 1921, the British tried to erase us. But "Up Yours, Brits, It didn't work".Support the show

Send us Fan MailTroop 13 Boy Scouts, Little Roddy Learns to Swim, Episode 175This podcast combines two previous Boy Scout story podcasts and adds color, context and details. Support the show

Send us Fan MailMurphy's Comedy Club, Religious Jokes, Episode 176St. Peter & Donald Trump, Nellie Murphy, Noah & the Ark, Duck Hunting, Bill Clinton & Barry Obama, and others make us laugh, I hopeSupport the show

Send us Fan MailWeinstein's Fence 2026 Edit, Episode 173The adventures of two 10 year old delinquents who decide to raise pigeons and build a pigeon coop on a 3 decker roof in Boston. Larceny including stealing fencing, stealing building materials, subterfuge, night time destruction of property, cops, plus other minor crimes were incidental to our efforts. However with crime comes punishment.Support the show

Send us Fan MailMurphy's Comedy Club, Donald Trump, Ullian Pipes & Jeff Bezos, Episode 1708 additional jokes, mostly related to Boston or to Irish subjects. Donald Trump and Jeff Bezos make an appearance.Support the show

Send us Fan Mail"When Irish Eyes Are Smiling", Irish Songs Series, Episode 172The most well known and ubiquitous Irish song ever. Who wrote it. What presidents sang it publicly. Who recorded it like Bing Crosby. And then, Gasp!, I sing it. Support the show