Crafty Rogues

It is the last Crafty Rogues episode for a while, so it felt appropriate to visit a place with a new beginning. What was once Irish on Grand, is now Moloney's Irish Imports on Grand Avenue in St Paul. Prior to officially opening, the conversation with new owners, Emma and James covered everything you need to know about opening a new business. They also have great taste in music! Check them out after you listen to their story here. It will motivate you to head east to St Paul!

Mark Smith has been playing music since he was a wee lad in St Paul. Now he is in bands and orchestras! Many strings to his bows and he shares some stories that have lead him to great venues and playing with great artists over the years. Merged with a couple of solid tune choices, grab a craft beer and enjoy!

Steve Brown, lead singer with rock legends, Johnny Clueless, visited the Crafty Rogues emporium to share stories of rock n' roll, spiritual experiences and kindness. He still finds time to write songs, co-host a podcast called "The Kindness Chronicles" and work as well! How does he do it? Listen and find out. The tunes he picked are pretty stellar too. Maybe he does have a clue...

Shelagh Geraghty Mullen showed up this week with a beautiful fresh loaf of sourdough and a batch of stories and yarns that would warm the coldest heart. From graphic design to cooking for friends to taking visitors to Ireland to all the cool places, Shelagh has taken it all in and is now ready to spill the beans. Feast on that.

On the road again this week to DT Minneapolis and into O'Donvovan's Irish pub to chat with the force that is Dermot Cowley. From the village of Monasterboice in Co. Louth to the mean streets of NYC to the even meaner boulevards of Minneapolis, Dermot has been bobbing and weaving his way through life in the world of hospitality. He also has a strong sense of connection to the homeland and this all adds up to a great chat. Stick the kettle on or pour yourself a strong one. This one is a keeper...

At the Crafty Rogues we want to cater to your podcast tastes and this week we dish up a great guest. Angela Ward from City Girl Catering joined the chat with some great stories about moving from MN to NYC and back to MN. Ever wonder what it takes to start a catering business from an itch? Listen here and enjoy the feast!

An action packed episode this week featuring Michael CA Dempsey. A real character with many stories and we are lucky enough to enjoy three of them on the show. If you want to know how to approach a large national organization with an idea you have burning in your soul, Michael Dempsey has some great advice. He also has pretty decent taste in music and for that we are relieved and grateful. Enjoy!

Guests this week on the Crafty Rogues feature a unicorn...a Kilkenny Football coach! Did you know that there is a Kilkenny in Minnesota and it is "sistered" with Kikenny in Ireland?? Imagine! Eon Hennessey and Shane Kavanagh joined the show this week to talk about that connection and an upcoming event at the Celtic Junction. That and a review of the Kansas City Irish Fest means that the letter K features heavily in the show and the baseball play-offs haven't even started...If you know, you know.

Ruairi Barnwell stopped by for a quick chat and some exciting updates on what is going on with the Ireland Network home and in the homeland. We reviewed the Irish Fair that was and Liverpool's chances of a two-peat. A few tunes including a rouser for the Ireland World Cup Campaign that starts on September 6th. Put 'em under pressure!

As we all still recover from the Minnesota Irish Fair, we are joined by world traveler and explorer, John O'Sullivan. He has tips about what to look for when you visit a city and how not to be too niave when landing in a country, particularly Ireland. The man has yars and he's not afraid to share them. We have some reflections from the Irish Fair that was and that includes a couple of tunes. Tune in!

We had two forces of nature on the show this week as we get ready for the Minnesota Irish Fair this weekend! Eileen Ivers, world class fiddle player and proper Bronx Irish dropped in for a quick chat about how she won 9 All-Ireland fiddle championships despite being of Mayo stock! Sharon Austin who spent part of her childhood in Cork and part in Westmeath, is on the Irish Fair board and brings the craic and a few yarns that are worth their weight in gold. Join them both and the rest of us this weekend at Harriet Island in St Paul. It will be ojus!

We all marched to the beat of our special guest this week, Ryan Lacey, who is the percussionist for the Irish Fair Headliners, Gaelic Storm. Ryan gave us plenty of insight into how the band got it's start on the Titanic and somehow didn't sink after that. They are sure to reign at this year's Minnesota Irish Fair, so this chat is definitely the craic of thunder we needed!

After a month away, the Crafty Rogues is back, fresh, rested and full of craic...The Trip to the motherland included a visit to the Boann Distillery in Co. Meath and a chat with one of their distillers and character, Harry Evans. Enjoy the interview and get ready to tip a glass with Harry himself at the Minnesota Irish Fair!

On the road again in historic St Anthony Main to catch up with the incomparable Dawn Kuehl. Dawn has three main areas of interest: Gardening, Events and Punk music! We covered all of those topics and more including a little history lesson and ghost stories about some of the buildings along the Mississippi river. Strap in for a magical mystery show!

Crafty Rogues welcomed Macy Ashby who is the Board Chair of the Minnesota Irish Fair! We discussed how whelming the job can be, Donegal connections, love of Hozier and of course what to expect from the Fair this August...spoiler alert, it's alot! Now get after it!

Multiple guests this week on a lively show. Ruairi Barnwell stopped by the studio for some updates on Global Minnesota (Irish wing), Ireland Network (Twin Cities wing) and DLR Buildings (Left wing). In between chats, we also heard from Livinia Finnerty and Tom Frawley from TCRE Club about how they are getting the youth involved in both hurling and Gaelic football. Craic on!

It's not every week that a Double All-Ireland winner comes on the show and has plenty of gas to burn. Colm O'Neill, from one of the most famous whiskey towns in Ireland, Midleton in Co. Cork joined us from his home in Boulder, Colorado where he has been for many years. Pub owner, father of 6 including two MLS players and now a drink called "Hard Chaw". There wasn't enough space to fit the whole chat in the show but we did our best!

Wild Colonial Bhoy, Adam Coolong dropped by for a chat this week. From exceling at Pub Quizzes to playing in front of thousands, he has lived the dreams of many. Among topics discussed were the art and work of songwriting, finding a melody and maybe thinking about getting a minivan. It is all that and more in this weeks episode. Get after it!

Dave "Moose" Muslof was our special guest this week. It is not every week you hang with someone who has had a Papal blessing (thanks to a couple of Aussies) and a moment with the Queen. These and many other yarns spun like New Zealand wool in what was a rather chatty edition of the podcast. Enjoy at your leisure.

On the road again this week at Padraigs Brewing in NE Minneapolis to chat with the "car"ismatic proprieter, Pat Carey. Hailing from SoCal, through NoDak he ended up in MSP. Along the way he was introduced to the great sport of Hurling and beer. He wants the world to know that there is more to Irish beer than Guinnness and he is putting his hops, grain and yeast in the tank to prove it!