Hibernian Radio with Mike "Houli" Houlihan

This week on Hibernian Radio, Mike Houlihan celebrates the 50th anniversary of Riley’s Daughter with a special tribute to the late Boz O’Brien, one of the South Side’s most beloved publicans and storytellers. Built around clips from Boz’s final interview, the episode serves as both a history lesson and a love letter to a man whose personality helped define generations of Chicago Irish life. Listeners hear Boz at his absolute best, spinning stories about the legendary San Diego Chicken, St. Patrick’s Day antics, soda bread contests, political adventures with Mayor Richard M. Daley, and the origins of Riley’s Daughter itself. Whether recalling neighborhood characters, Bears events gone sideways, or Irish traditions that became community institutions, Boz’s humor, warmth, and gift for storytelling are on full display. Mike also looks ahead to the upcoming Skinny & Houli Return to Ireland trip this October and thank listeners for their support of Charlotte “Lottie” Houlihan’s NYU songwriting fundraiser. The episode closes with Hibernian Radio’s traditional remembrance of recently departed members of the Irish American community, honoring lives well lived and legacies that continue on. Part tribute, part time capsule, and part South Side Irish oral history, this episode captures exactly why Boz O’Brien remains one of the great characters in Chicago Irish history. Sponsored By: Fox’s Pizza (Mokena and Orland Park), Flood Bros., Madden Funds and Local 150 Engineers  

This week on Hibernian Radio, Mike Houlihan welcomes educator and public administrator Paul Vallas for a wide-ranging conversation on Chicago politics, education, and public safety, with a focus on the city’s current direction and the challenges facing its leadership. Vallas discusses his work with the Urban Center, a grassroots political organization focused on supporting local […]

This week on Hibernian Radio, host Paddy Houlihan sits down with Chicago mayoral candidate Liam Stanton to discuss his Irish Catholic roots, career in logistics, and vision for a stronger Chicago. Raised in a working-class family in Rogers Park, Liam shares how his upbringing shaped his values of community, hard work, and innovation. Liam highlights […]

This week on Hibernian Radio, Mike Houlihan is joined by his longtime friend and old co-host James “Skinny” Sheahan for a fast moving conversation that lands right in the center of St Patrick’s Day season, where parades, politics, and South Side tradition all come together. Mike and Skinny talk upcoming parades and local elections, with […]

This week on Hibernian Radio, host Paddy Houlihan celebrates one of Chicago’s most cherished traditions in the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the historic Parade Queen Contest, a competition that has been part of the city’s Irish-American culture for more than 70 years.Paddy welcomes this year’s Parade Queen Claire Cahill, along with court member […]

This week on Hibernian Radio host Paddy Houlihan welcomes back Father Ryan Brady, pastor of St. Christina Parish in Chicago’s Mount Greenwood and chaplain to the Chicago Fire Department, for a powerful conversation on faith, leadership, and renewal on Chicago’s South Side. Fr. Brady discusses serving 2,500 parish families and 5,000 active CFD members while […]

This week on Hibernian Radio, hosts Mike and Paddy Houlihan sit down with Brendan O’Brien to honor the life and legacy of his father, Boz O’Brien, longtime owner of Reilly’s Daughter and a cornerstone of the South Side Irish community. Brendan reflects on growing up in the bar, working alongside Boz from childhood through adulthood, […]