Ok, so since we’re within the St. Patrick’s Day marching season, inform me why you received’t be a number of the 100,000 marchers or the 1,000,000 spectators who end up to watch the town’s greatest parade up Fifth Avenue on March seventeenth.
It is going again to 1981. I used to be in Ireland doing a little paintings on my grandparents farm in Limerick when the starvation strike began and I used to be again in New York for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Myself and a few of my buddies had indicators that stated, “Save Bobby Sands” and “Support the IRA Hunger Strikers.”
The New York parade which is at all times a yr to two in the back of the days kicked us out as a result of they don’t need political banners within the parade. Now when you see the County Antrim banner, it has a large image of Bobby Sands. But the place had been the parade folks when it might have carried out him so excellent whilst he was once nonetheless dwelling. I’m going the Woodside parade, St. Patrick’s Day for All and I’ve had probably the most organizers, Brendan Fay, on my display time and again and helped him get on different displays.
Tell me the way you landed the radio display with WBAI?
I were again to Ireland for probably the most funerals of the IRA starvation strikers. I take into accout Joe McDonnell’s specifically. The British didn’t need the IRA to give an army funeral via firing over the casket in order that they attacked the mourners. I take into accout the casket was once dropped and all through the graveside carrier a British Army helicopter swooped so low over the group you have to slightly listen the audio system. I assumed geez, they received’t even allow us to bury our lifeless.
When I were given again to New York once more, WBAI knew that I had numerous connections with the Irish group right here and were to probably the most funerals, in order that they requested me if I sought after to do a display. I referred to as it Radio Free Eireann, and I’ve been doing it ever since.
And how did you return to workforce up with Malachy McCourt, the final surviving of the well-known McCourt brothers. (Brother Frank McCourt is a former Stuyvesant HS trainer who went on to write the mega bestselling Angela’s Ashes. He and Malachy had been regulars on the Lion’s Head and Malachy for awhile owned his personal pub, The Bells of Hell. He additionally had a bestselling memoir of his personal about their arduous scrabble upbringing in Limerick and New York referred to as A Monk Swimming.
About ten years in the past, WBAI requested me about doing a Wednesday display and I requested Malachy if he’d like to workforce up with me. Malachy had his personal display and is a smart raconteur and he most often did his as one guy display. I really like having any person else to play off. And to my marvel Malachy stated “yes.”
The display now airs on Sunday mornings from 11 am to midday. How has it been teaming up with Malachy?
It’s been nice, if I ask Malachy a query, I received’t have to communicate for every other 20 mins. Just don’t ask him about rising up deficient. Nobody does deficient higher than Malachy. If you inform him you grew up deficient, he’ll say. ‘You grew up poor, did ye? Did ye have indoor plumbing?’
And the how did you return to pick out up the nickname “Johnny Two Pints?
I was driving a cab early one morning, and customer didn’t have the cab fare. It was in the days before cabs could take credit cards. He said, “If you ever get to Dublin, I’ll repay you with two free pints at Gaffney & Sons Pub that I run with my father’.” He signed the again of the shuttle sheet. For some explanation why, I stored it.
After I wrote the play, Off the Meter, which was once going to have a restricted run within the Sean O’Casey theater in Ireland-where I discuss turning into the native information to British actor Stephen Fry and the Richard Hammond, the radio host of Top Gear that I took to Katz’s Deli–I figured I’d drop in on Gaffney’s. And I figured, I’m going to be there for per week, this is usually a a laugh tale. The Irish Mirror jumped on it with a complete web page tale. Once they did, the RTE and the BBC picked it up. Gaffney’s post a large signal out entrance. It was once a ways to opt for a pint, however as a result of all of the exposure the play offered out for all 3 nights. Guinness emailed me and stated “if you’re available we’d like you to come and tour our facility at St. James Gate.” And I assumed, ‘if I’m to be had?!’ That’s just like the pope asking you, ‘are you available to visit the Vatican?’
Once I were given again to New York, everybody from the [weekly Irish American newspaper] The Irish Voice to Fox Channel 5 had picked up at the tale. Once native Fox did the display, it went out at the nationwide community, Piers Morgan began speaking about it, someway Melbourne, Australia began listening to about it. And that was once how I picked up the nickname “Johnny Two Pints.”
When are you going again to Ireland?
I’m going again in May to line up puts for the play in September. It received’t be a significant cash maker, however I’m hoping it breaks even. I requested Guinness in the event that they sought after to sponsor. Nothing. I went from “Johnny Two Pints” to “Johnny Who?” Fame is fleeting. But I nonetheless were given my day process.