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February 10th, 2010
IT’S GOING TO BE FANTASTIC!! Grab your sister, your mother, friends, cousins and come to a weekend away at the IRISH COTTAGE HOTEL!
[ Click here to view FLYER ]
Sponsored by the O’Connor show and Girlfriend Celebrations-check out the Cottage’s website @ www.theirishcottageboutiquehotel.com to take a look at the rooms, etc., but you must CALL 866 284-7474 (toll free) and ask for “Party for the Girls” rate-this is a non-published rate-the hotel doesn’t show it on their site, so you must make the call!! DO IT NOW-You need some much deserved time away!! We have lots planned-do as much or as little as you like! This weekend away will make you a much nicer person…..
March 29th
Congratulations to Mary Kanak who was first person to correctly answer our quiz question. THE ANSWER WAS: softball!!
Mary wins tickets to see “The Quiet Man Tales” downstairs at the Chicago Theatre.
TIME IS RUNNING OUT to enter the travel contest! One of our sponsors is Gadabout Travel-and they are doing a giveaway connected to the show. The contest closes Tuesday, March 31st. It’s worth about $1,800.00 and is for two people. The resort is adults only and you pay the airfare, but I believe you can travel anytime in the next year. I’ll be pulling the name of the winner on Saturday, April 11th , live on the program. So here’s what you do; go to www.gadabouttravel.com . Click on the SPECIALS button, and enter there. YOU MUST MENTION YOU HEARD OF THIS PROMOTION THROUGH THE MIKE O’CONNOR SHOW. I was thinking that you could even bring a friend –or work it out to bring a bunch of friends-anyhow, you have nothing to lose and a Jamaican Vacation to gain!! Good luck!
It’s been a heck of a week. Some of you may know that my Dad, Mike O’Connor, took a tumble down the front stairs of the family home Friday morning. He’s in the hospital now, no bones broken (Thank God), and aside from lots of colorful bruises, 5 stitches on his head, and a very sore body ,in general, he seems ok. Very scary for us all. We know we are not the first family to deal with this sort of thing-it doesn’t make it any easier.
There are some new photos in the gallery-take a look. The one is 6 of the 9 grandkids. Mairead, Conor, Nora,(back row), Tom, Sean and Paul. This was the family “New Year’s Eve” at Gaelic Park. The kids had a total blast.
We had a special visitor to the show this week. Bob Pusateri came up to the program. He calls almost every week looking for a special number to play for his wife….and has been doing so for so many years. What a sweetie!
We had members of the boy scouts from Den 9, Pack 42 up to the show as well. The kids are always so funny…you never know what they will say. Many thanks to Mary Cox for bringing the boys up. You all may remember the friend of mine who suffered a stroke two years ago at 33-I asked you to pray for her…THAT was MARY COX!! Now she’s the Den Mother to two cub scout dens(she has two boys), and doing great! Thanks to all of you that prayed for her…see, it works!
Looking out my window, I’m greeted with white, white everywhere….snow! Well, we’ve had lovely weather these past few weeks. This is the way Mother Nature laughs at us…spring is officially here, but winter doesn’t want to leave us! Keep those seedlings indoors for awhile yet. The good news is that the ground is still pretty warm, so the snow will melt quickly. Those daffodils and hyacinths that are poking their heads through the earth should be ok. This isn’t a hard freeze…just don’t put your winter gear away anytime soon.
Have a super week!! Enter the contest at www.gadabouttravel.com.
What have you got to lose?
Siobhainn
March 24, 2009
ONLINE CONTEST Win two tickets to see “The Quiet Man” playing at the DOWNSTAIRS at the Chicago Theatre. Just be the first person to answer this piece of trivia correctly:
What field game was created here in Chicago using a rolled up boxing glove and a stick?
Email me your answer here: [ here ], and I will let you know whether you’ve won!
Hello Friends!
Well, it never stops being busy…. which is really a great thing. St. Pat’s has come and gone, and our studio already seems empty. Still lots to look forward to. The St. Patrick Father’s annual dinner dance is coming up in April, Gaelic Park will have its festival over Memorial Day weekend, and, of course, all the great music around town. Be sure to visit The Abbey and The Atlantic’s websites for their full line up of entertainment. Naturally, the Carriag Pub in Gaelic Park, and the 5th Province at the Irish American Heritage Center have music on Saturdays, and so does the Three Counties. If you’re in the mood for a great steak(and so much more), head to Winston’s Ashford house for a meal. Be sure to mention you heard them on our show…it’s so important to our sponsors. Speaking of sponsors, remember, GADABOUT TRAVEL IS DOING A CONTEST JUST FOR OUR LISTENERS!! Be sure to enter to win a stay at a fancy Jamaican resort….I must say, the odds are excellent!
Don’t forget to do something for yourself during the kid’s spring break….meet a friend for coffee, go for a walk, get OUT. It’s spring! Why not start a little garden from seed this year? It can be a family project. If you don’t feel like digging up your yard, use some containers. Look around to see what you have on hand. I’ve seen plants absolutely THRIVING in plastic milk jugs. The kids, no matter what their age, always are fascinated with the new sprouts. After all, so are you! Another sure sign of spring that’s FREAKING my kids out are the tornado drills at school. I just tell them that every part of the country has their own type of dangerous storms. Hurricanes, mudslides, sand storms, floods, etc. Doesn’t work. They’re still dealing with the day our area had some kind of microburst that scared them to pieces. The scariest part, I think, was the fact that they were in school at the time. Lots of kids panicking. It does create quite an atmosphere… Anyhow, spring is great. Easter, tulips, daffodils-I picked up some really nice daffodils at the grocery store the other day..they are now fully open, and such a happy flower!! The storms can be nasty, but…April showers and all that.
Thanks for checking back. Enter the contest with Gadabout. What have you got to lose?
Happy Spring!
Siobhainn
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Hello, and welcome back! A huge thanks to all of you who keep on valiantly checking the site to see what’s new…at least the podcasts are up to date! Lots and lots going on at this time of year in the community. It’s quite clear from the sheer number of visitors to the studio each Saturday that St Pat’s is right around the corner(we love the company!). We hope you are making plans to celebrate the Irish in all of you sometime during the month. There’s seemingly endless opportunities to do so, especially in this city.
We hope all of you are doing well in this scary economic time we’re living through. Remember that there are lots of free and almost free things to do for entertainment . You can go listen to a session at The Abbey on Sundays at 4pm, or the Atlantic at 5pm also on Sunday. Both places feature great food specials every day of the week. The Carriag Pub at Gaelic Park features free entertainment; check the website for more details. The Irish American Heritage Center has free entertainment on the weekends in the Fifth Province pub. Here at home, we’ve started playing a few more board games, both as a family and with (adult) friends. One we recently played was “Wise and Otherwise”-it was an absolute HOOT! I picked it up because it reminded me so very much of my mother-she always has some funny sayings; you may have heard a few on the air, but trust me, there’s an endless supply. Here’s one gem she uses when discussing people who experience physical pain when spending a dollar- “He(or she) is so cheap they wouldn’t give you the froth of their pee…”, YES, that’s my mom, and we love her!!!
If you need to contact us-use the contact button on top of this page and shoot us an email. Send a request, or simply say hello. We love LOVE to hear from you!
Have a wonderful week,
Siobhainn
February 3rd, 2009
It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of Thomas(Tommy) Gibbons of Gibbons Funeral Homes. He died Saturday evening, January 31st.
His contributions to the Irish Community here in Chicago are too numerous to mention.
He was renowned for the comfort and solace he offered those suffering from the loss of a loved one.
Tommy loved the Irish community and embraced all things Irish, including our radio program. He sat across from me one frosty November morning in the studio. He was there to surprise my father. It was the 30th anniversary of the radio program, and the goal was to re-create the very first show that my father ever hosted. I never knew that Tommy preferred being a listener rather than a host; he was so gracious at fulfilling my request. He spent the next two hours sharing his humor and stories with us on the air. He may have been squirming inside, but we never saw that.
Every time I met Tommy, whether it was attending a wake at one of the funeral homes, or out and about, he displayed the same humor and wit-it was always a pleasure to meet him.
On behalf of the O’Connor Family and the radio program and all those associated with it, we share the sorrow of his family and offer our condolences to all those he left behind. May he rest in peace.
Siobhainn O’Connor
December 5, 2008
Hello All! Eight weeks have flown by so quickly! Thanks for checking the website frequently, and thanks for all the emails!! We have so much to be grateful for…Ruari is healthy and getting big already! His 2 month birthday was on the 3rd, and he is smiling, cooing and laughing (he’s ticklish) and we are all having a wonderful time playing with him. He is so lucky to have such a great brother and sister-they adore him! All of his cousins are excited to have him around too! Of course, he is a baby, so there is the fussing and crying too. As I mentioned in earlier posts the benefit of being an experienced mom is knowing that the tough days of non-stop crying, etc., will pass very quickly.
What an eight weeks! Aside from all the national news and the excitement of the elections, so much has been happening. My cousin Margaret and her husband Paddy came to visit for a few days on their way home to Wicklow…Ruari was baptized on the 9th of November (my sister in law Christine is the Godmother and my husband’s brother Ken is the Godfather), Thanksgiving (which we host) has come and gone, and Christmas is right on its heels!
We’ve had some great guests on the show..check out the podcasts to listen to the Makem and Spain brothers…they played live in the studio, and they were absolutely FABULOUS! I have a couple of CD’s to give away..Also, Margo called in for an interview. What an extraordinary lady she is! That is also available on a podcast. Just a reminder, it is FREE to download podcasts and listen to the interviews and music.
When you are shopping for Christmas, don’t forget the businesses that sponsor the radio show….a gift certificate from the Irish Cottage would certainly make someone very happy(perhaps you? Don’t you deserve a getaway?) something from Anne’s Irish knits will be remembered and appreciated-especially during the brutally cold winter months here in Chicago. She has loads of items including kilts(show off those gams, guys!), cashmere capes, mohair jackets, dresses and suits for women, hats, gloves, etc. Her website is www.annesirishknits.com . It shows just a small sample of the things she has in her new store at 522 Main Street in Evanston. Her telephone is 847 998-8426. All of her products are made in Ireland and shipped here-except for those things she makes herself!! Stop in and see Anne. Be a hero and bring some Irish sausages and black or white pudding to your next family brunch from Winston’s-or bring the family out for a great meal to the Ashford House, the Atlantic, or the Abbey. They all accept group bookings for all occasions as well. Check the website for the Abbey and the Atlantic to find out their music lineups. Gaelic Park and the IAHC always have things going on…why not give someone a membership to one or both?? Gadabout Travel specializes in Ireland…but they are also cruising and package vacation specialists…they can find some great deals for you!!
We are so grateful for ALL of our wonderful sponsors….please remember to let them know you heard about them from the radio show or this site! Without them neither the radio program nor website would exist.
Well all, I’m back in the saddle…it’s been a very difficult recovery due to a variety of nasty infections and other icky stuff…however, I am feeling much better. Thanks for all the good wishes and congratulations. We are all grateful for you, our listeners. Without you all, what’s the point?? You are the best and we appreciate you. Thank you for making our show YOUR show.
Siobhainn
October 4, 2008
This is a picture of our new baby boy!
Ruari Michael William, being held by Conor and Mairead
October 3, 2008
Hello and welcome back to the O’Connor show website! We are very happy to have you. This past Saturday found us with a full studio (my absolute favorite thing). We enjoyed live music provided by Sean Clealand’s Irish Music School….Sean and his students Kristen and Siobhan, as well as one of his instructors Marta (playing harp) filled us in on their experiences at the Fleadh in Tullamore, Co. Offaly this past August. Sounds wonderful, if a little wet. It was Siobhan’s first trip and Kristen’s second…..download the podcast to hear what they had to say(and listen to them play). Check out Sean’s website at www.irishmusicschool.com for more exciting happenings in the world of music around Chicago.
Another visitor to our studio was Michelle Lawrence. She works with the Social Security Administration to help those who are currently on disability get back to work WITHOUT losing their benefits. Whether it’s re-training, learning a new skill, or courses in computer literacy skills, there’s lots of help out there for those interested. Michelle kindly consented to come out and let our listeners know about this wonderful program. Thank you Michelle!! To find out more information regarding this and other programs offered, go to http://www.ssa.gov/work/wipafactsheet.html This is the link to the program fact sheet on the SSA website. Michelles’ direct contact information is: Michelle Lawrence, IL Division of Rehabilitation Services, Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Project, 100 W. Randolph St., suite 5-300, Chicago, IL 60601. The phone numbers are: 312-814-8660 or
800-807-6962, tty 866-444-8013.
The time is now 5:15 am Friday, October 3rd-I head to the hospital to deliver this new baby in less than 7 hours……so much to finish up by then!! People continually ask me if I am “ready”…the answer is …not really. Too much to do, too little time. Whatever doesn’t get done at this stage will have to wait for a while.(!) All I can say is thank heavens for our wonderful family and friends…where would we be without their help? We feel truly blessed to have all of you in our lives. John and I appreciate all the good wishes and prayers from all of YOU…we are so lucky to have such a listening family!!
Regarding our new arrival; we hope to have the news up on the site by tomorrow morning. Whether it makes it up or not, John will be hosting the show tomorrow along with our two children, Conor and Mairead, and you will definitely hear about it then. My cousin Roisin(O’Connor) Daly will also be along to the studio as well as my mom Margaret and Breege Looney. It might be a little crazy in the studio…I can’t wait to hear the podcasts of the next few weeks! Should be interesting.
Until next time,
Siobhainn
Thursday, September 25th, 2008
It’s been two hectic weeks since my last post…and so much happening in the Irish community. The All-Ireland was this past Sunday. We offer condolences to all the Kerry fans-and congratulations to Tyrone!! What an upset! Read all about it in the sports section of the Irish Independent online at http://www.irishindependent.ie. Sunday night was the concert with THE HIGH KINGS at the Park West. My friend Margaret accompanied me-naturally, we were twenty minutes late-we couldn’t find parking. After listening to me complain, the lovely gent at the box office explained that there was a parking garage around the corner..and most people CALLED FIRST to inquire about parking arrangements.
We enjoyed the show. They are great entertainers, and really brought the audience along with them into the music. Afterwards, I tried to get an interview but was told they were busy…so off we went. With the rush to get to Lincoln Park, I hadn’t had time for more than a breakfast bar to tide me over, so we stopped on our six block trek back to the car for a bite. Just as I was finishing up, Margaret’s eagle eyes spotted all the KINGS walking, nay, trotting, past the plate glass window. We ran after them and accosted them in the street. They were all very polite-especially considering they just flew in from Ireland that day, and the tour bus was leaving at midnight. They were headed into The Shannon pub to refresh themselves before their journey continued. Derek hung around for five minutes and told us that they’d just been signed on to a big record company out of the U.K…. which is the reason many of their tour dates were cancelled or rescheduled. The record company now seems to have control of their time… I asked about the whole working with Richard Marx dream. Derek was disappointed that Marx was in California during their Chicago show….but their two agents are working on getting them together…very exciting!! Lessons for all of us. Let people know what you are trying to accomplish, or what your dreams are, and good things will inevitably start to happen. Speaking of good things, I am feeling very generous these days. The first six people to email me with girl Gaelic baby names will each receive a HIGH KINGS DVD….YES, we’ve already chosen both a boy and a girl name, but who says we won’t change our minds?
I spoke on the show about the lovely luncheon some of my wonderful friends threw for me. Go visit www.girlfriendcelebrations.com to check out a very preggy picture of me and read about how they accomplished the afternoon(it really wowed me!).
I believe I let you all know that I will be delivering on the afternoon of Friday, October 3rd.. I actually wanted to deliver on the 1st because it’s my brother Michael’s birthday, but my doctor was not available. See, even if it is C-section, you can’t plan everything!! Consequently, this Saturday show will be my last for two or three weeks. My husband John will be taking October 4th (the day after the baby is born), Marya Gibbons will take Oct.11th and Michael might take October 18th. It will be very strange to stay home and listen to the show…..but the updates here will continue, as well as the podcasts. Please tell your friends about the website, the show, and the opportunity to listen to any podcast they desire FOR FREE. Hit the podcast button at the top of the screen, pick one to listen to, double click, and follow the directions. Feel free to post a message on the message board(you don’t have to become a member) or shoot me an email. I LOVE hearing from all of you!
Have a great week!
Siobhainn
September 6, 2008
Well, off we go!! Truly, so much going on ALL THE TIME in the Irish Community, but this is the time of year for things to really start kicking! Father Karl was a wonderful guest as usual, and graciously consented to answering the phones for us (did he really have a choice?). He alerted all the listeners that the MARGO concert is absolutely, completely, and utterly SOLD OUT. For those of you that heeded the warnings that the tickets were going fast, good work. For those of you that are disappointed….I feel for you.
Jack Coulter of The Irish Cottage phoned in and we had a lovely chat. This past weekend was a “Ladies Getaway Weekend” at the Cottage. There were spa treatments and a Mojito making contest involved…sounds wonderful! No doubt there will be some great stories out of all the fun! Jack promised to write up a little synopsis to fill in all of us envious girls. My husband John observed that it would be a great weekend for single guys to head up to the Cottage-the odds would definitely be with you! Maybe Jack will throw another one together sooner rather than later. The Irish Cottage is gearing up for a very big time of year in Jo Davies County, specifically Galena-FALL. All the glorious colors before the trees give up their colorful coats for the winter.
New photos have been added-check out the “Contact” page-also, I was able to identify the podcast that has the “If You’re Irish” principle players on it-March 8th-with a bonus-a chat with boxer Henry Coyle.
Congratulations to Sean Cleland’s Irish Music School of Chicago-their 15-18 Grupai Cheoil Team came in 2nd place against 11 other teams during the Fleadh Cheoil in Tullamore, Co. Offaly!! Go to their site for more info at www.irishmusicschool.com. We’ve got some photos up of some of the contestants. A big thanks to Maureen Wojcik who took the time to email some of them. My, the great Chicago tradition of excellent music is sure to continue with committed students like these. The contest continues for the High Kings DVD giveaway-look at the update from August 9th , and answer the question (all the way at the bottom) in an email to me. Don’t forget the HIGH KINGS are playing at the Park West on September 21st.
There will be other giveaways online and on the air as well. We gave away tickets to the IAHC’s new play, The Day Patient this past week. Feel free to email a request or a question-there’ve been a number of people ask what particular artist we played on the program-I do my best to remember and answer those. It IS so frustrating when you hear a song you enjoy, and miss the title or the artist!
Don’t forget-the message board is up and running. You DO NOT HAVE to join to post a message!
Thank you for checking back to see what’s new…by the way, Celtic Fest is happening on Saturday and Sunday this weekend. It’s a free event and loads of fun. Check out the city’s site at www.cityofchicago.org/specialevents. Click on the picture of the Book of Kells design to access the full schedule. Two or the featured acts are THE ELDERS on Saturday and LEAHY on Sunday-both groups are high energy and perform great shows-again, IT’S FREE. Head downtown and enjoy our beautiful city in the final warm days of the year!!
Have a wonderful week!
Siobhainn
August 30th, 2008
Well, another busy week. The kids are back in school, and my c-section has been scheduled. October 3rd is the big day, one day PAST my due date. My brother Michael’s birthday is October 1st, so I thought it would be great to have the baby on that day. Alas, my Doc is not available to deliver me then, so….Friday, October 3rd is the day. We’ll let you all know how it went on the 4th-please keep those positive thoughts and prayers coming!! I feel fine, except that I am beginning to swell up these past few days….. Things are getting busier and busier as the fall approaches..our social season is kicking off with a variety of events. The Margo concert at the IAHC is fast approaching, and very nearly sold out! If you don’t have tickets yet, give the St. Patrick’s Fathers a call to set it up at (773) 973-3737. We hope to interview Margo sometime before the concert-keep on listening, it might happen soon… The IAHC theatre group Shapeshifters Theatre, is getting ready for their new play THE DAY PATIENT running through September…check the IAHC’s website for more details, or go to www.shapeshifters@irishamhc.com for more info. We are so lucky to have such musical talent here in Chicago…be sure to check out one of the sessions that run every week… The Abbey has theirs every Sunday at 4pm and Gaelic Park’s session resumes beginning this Thursday evening. Save the date for Gaelic Park’s Heritage and Harvest Day festival on September 21st-great fun for everyone. The Gaelic Park Players are working on their new play-a comedy. Listen for more details in the coming months, or check out Gaelic Park’s website for more info.
The new podcasts will be a bit delayed..but we’ll get them up soon! Our webmaster is working on fixing the glitch that’s preventing the downloads for so many of you….baby steps, my friends. We’ll get it all worked out in time. Thanks for all the emails!! It is so wonderful to hear from all of you!! Keep them coming, or take some time to join the Message Board if you are interested in starting a discussion...
Have a wonderful week!
Siobhainn
August 23, 2008
Hello and welcome back to the O’Connor show website! This was a week of giveaways on the show. We had tickets to see American English on September 13th, cover charge waived and dinner for two for the ½ way to St Pat’s Day party, AND free entry to view the Cork/Kerry semifinal Sunday August 24th, all courtesy of The Abbey Pub. If you didn’t win any of the above, don’t despair-no doubt they’ll be more opportunities in the future. See the full schedule of events at The Abbey by going to the sponsor page and clicking on The Abbey. In addition, we gave away The High Kings CD AND a CD from the IRISH MINSTRELS. The Irish Minstrels were a huge group based out of Chicago, and their records have been digitized and converted to CD format. Get one at Maureen O’Looney’s Irish Imports on Laramie in Chicago. The number for the shop is 773 286-6866. Congratulations also to the lovely gentleman who won the tickets to go and see a new play put on by the Seanachie players-to find out more info go to www.dcatheatre.org. So much happening in the Irish Community here in Chicago ALL THE TIME…it’s hard to keep up!
The end of the summer is quickly approaching. So hard to believe my kids will be back in school on Wednesday. We’re seizing the last true weekend of the summer for our family and heading out to Springfield to see the new Lincoln museum and assorted sights. Maybe the kids will actually remember some of what we did when their teachers ask instead of saying “Nothing much….”
Many of you have been inquiring about my Dad’s health. Thank you for your concern. Mike O’Connor is doing ok at the moment. The Parkinson’s is not too terrible-he has trouble moving around, and turning is really hard for him, but it could be so much worse. The Graves disease seems to primarily affect one of his eyes-it gets really droopy when he’s tired. He has type2 Diabetes, so his diet needs to be monitored(which he really doesn’t like). He also has memory/dementia issues, but not nearly as bad as he could be. Smokes as much as ever, and still gets great joy out of eating. He is a very different person than he was, but still Mike O’Connor. The neurologist asked him how long he’d been smoking, and he answered with a smirk; “Since I was five, smoked whatever I could lay my hands on…” Clearly, a great deal of wit still in him (he actually started at the ripe old age of 12).
By the way, hunt around the site and you will find some photos. There will be more in time…
Thanks for visiting, and have a wonderful week. We hope to hear from you via email or on the message board! Or give us a call when we’re on the air...
Siobhainn
August 20, 2008
Thank you for coming back website-you are very welcome! August 16th’s show was loads of fun. We enjoyed a visit from an unexpected guest, Danny O’Flaherty originally from Clare-Galway, Ireland. Danny spent a good deal of time here in Chicago, and ultimately ended up opening a pub in New Orleans (unfortunately, it became a victim of Hurricane Katrina), and now resides in Texas. He is a native Gaelic speaker, musician, and writer. Listen to the podcast to hear an interview with Danny, as well as a live a cappella performance by this talented vocalist. If you would like to find out more about Danny, or order one of his CD’s or his children’s books, go to his website at www.dannyoflaherty.com.
Another busy week….getting ready for Back to School, Dr.’s appointments, last minute(isn’t everything?) birthday party planning for my two summer birthday kids……as we say here in Chicago, HOLY COW! AND we’ve all been losing lots of sleep due to the Olympics….but they are sooo exciting!
Also, as we mentioned last week, we have a dozen DVD’s to give away courtesy of EMI records featuring THE HIGH KINGS. The first 12 people to email with the correct answer to my quiz question (check last weeks’ update) will win one FREE. Be sure to include your name and address in the email. What will happen this Saturday on The O’Connor Show…tune in live on Saturday 11-1pm CST, 1490 AM, listen via the internet to the live stream at www.wpna1490am.com, or download a free podcast. Email us, use the message board, we’d love to hear from you! You can always email in a request as well to be assured it will be announced on Saturday. Go to the “contact us” button, and send it on!
Have a great week!
Siobhainn
August 13, 2008
Welcome to the O’Connor Show site! It is great to have you here with us. Come and check us out weekly for updates on our most recent [ radio shows ] and upcoming news. Also, we will be doing giveaways exclusively online … so check back often!! This week, we are giving away a dozen DVD’s of The HIGH KINGS in Dublin (the PBS special) courtesy of EMI records to the first twelve people to email me with an answer to a question about Darren Holden … read on for the quiz question. Download the [ August 9th podcast ] (as always, it’s free!) to hear the interview with Darrren Holden of the HIGH KINGS … he spent quite a bit of time with us. Darren is a highly acclaimed composer and vocal artist whose talents have been featured in such hits as RIVERDANCE, Billy Joel’s MOVING OUT, and most recently, The HIGH KINGS. They are coming to Chicago on September 21st to perform at a great venue … The Parkwest. Tickets are available online at [ www.ticketmaster.com ], and through the band’s website
at [ www.thehighkings.com ]. The performance is 8pm, and Darren promised that the band will be out and about after for some adult beverages at a local pub in the area...
A huge thank you to Marya Gibbons who filled in for Breege Looney this past weekend. Breege was enjoying time with all of her kids and grandbabies on a much deserved holiday in Branson. I called Marya and asked her if she would be interested in helping out on the phones. She was busy, but she re-arranged things(including a sitter for her 4 young children), and came up to the radio show to help out. WHAT A NATURAL! She juggled all the calls and handled all the announcements we threw at her, all with a great sense of humor and aplomb. We hope she’ll find her way back to the studio soon.
The St. Patrick Fathers are hosting a concert with Margo….YES, MARGO, at the Irish American Heritage Center. The concert won’t be all… there will be a bit of a hooley after in the 5th Province pub at the Center with additional guests and opportunities to speak to the lady herself. Call the Irish American Heritage Center for more details at (773) 282-7035, or contact the St Patrick Father’s at (773) 973-3737. Ticket prices are very reasonable-the show is sure to sell out, especially since Margo is officially “retired”. We sincerely hope we’ll have the chance to speak to the “Queen of Country Music” during her stay in Chicago …..(are you getting the hint, Fr. Karl??).
The last few weeks have been very hectic. My husband John has been spending lots of time training on his bike for the MS150 ride in Wisconsin-the ride took place on August 2 and 3rd. Check out the website to view his photo and to find out more about the crippling disease, MS.
There is still plenty of time to donate to the cause, and the great thing is that there has been real progress in MS research and drug therapies.
Visit [ http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/J.VanSanten ]
John claimed the most difficult part of the ride was getting back on the bike the second day. He had one sore rear after riding 78 miles on day one! How do the Tour riders do it?? Talk about Buns of Steel!
Thank you for all the kind congratulations on the news of our “bonus baby”… it WILL be strange to have a brand new baby after a seven year hiatus. One nice thing about this experience is that you know with certainty that all the stages are temporary….sleep will eventually come again, nursing will stretch from every 2 hours to 3,to 4 , etc. The baby will eventually stop going through a dozen diapers a day… showering will not seem like a luxury in a few months time (YIKES). We’ll get through … and with nine year old Conor, and seven year old Mairead, I know I’ll have loads of help! At least, in the beginning while it’s still a novelty.(!)
Many of you have asked if we know the sex of the child-the answer is no. John and I didn’t find out for the other two, and decided not to find out for this one either. We really don’t care, we only hope for a healthy, normal child. My due date is October 2, but the Docs want to schedule it earlier. With two previous c-sections, they think that that is the safest way to deliver. We’ll see about how much earlier … as my mom says … “ They’re easier to take care of inside than out.”
Tune in live to our broadcast on Saturday mornings at 1490am, 11-1 CST, or listen online at
[ www.wpnaradio1490am.com ]. The [ podcasts ] of the shows will make it to this site, so if you miss one, download a [ FREE podcast ] and make your co-workers wonder what the he?? is playing on your computer while you work. Always a conversation starter. Make it your mission to put your friends in touch with their Irish heritage, and send them the info on the website. Right, getting as carried away in print as I do on the show… NOW, the question you’ve been waiting around for… Darren Holden mentioned during our interview that his fondest wish is to work with a world famous artist that resides here in Chicago. He is huge fan of this gentleman, and would love to collaborate on some song writing with him. Who is he??? Email me with the answer using the email link in the website (include your name and address) and the first dozen to get the answer correct will receive a FREE DVD of THE HIGH KINGS courtesy of EMI RECORDS. Thank you for checking out the site. Be sure to patronize our sponsors and let them know you heard them on the O’Connor Show, or saw them on the radio show website. Without their support there would be no radio show…use them whenever you can! It’s been great spending time with you-contact us via email, post a message on the message boards, let us know what you think of the site, the show, etc...
we look forward to hearing from you!
Siobhainn
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