I spent two weeks in the USA recently performing at the La Crosse and Milwaukee Irish festivals and a couple of gigs in between.
While there I was overwhelmed at the effect Irish culture has on American people. I spoke to one woman who burst into tears when she told me about the first time she set foot on Irish soil. I was amazed at the diverse views Irish American's have both on politics and religion. I met Republicans, Democrats, Socialists, Believers, Non-believers, Survivalists, Drinkers and Teetotalers.
In this episode I interviewed Bret Lipshutz an American Jewish man who can play the tin whistle as well as I've ever heard, The Celtic Tenors, Ed McAllen who was dressed as a leprechaun and told me he built his own house and hunts all his own meat, Joanie Madden of Cherish The Ladies who runs an Irish themed cruise called Folk n' Irish Cruise and a Trad/Punk band called Whiskey Of The Damned from Milwaukee whose lead singer is from Tallaght.
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