Community Features & Events
CHICAGO CALLING: Fr Tom overcame loss to minister to Windy City faithful
How do we know if we’re in the middle of a personal, emotional, and spiritual crisis in our lives? You’re a 16-year-old at Marist High School in 19...
November 29, 2022
by Mike Houlihan
Community Features & Events
Houlihan's hooley makes Ireland return
I’m relaxing with room service in my suite at the Fitzpatrick Castle in Killiney, just outside Dublin. The rest of our group returned to Chicago ve...
November 01, 2022
by Mike Houlihan
Community Features & Events
Catherine O’Connell, Chicago's Celtic Nightingale
I dropped by a funeral the other day to visit an old friend. Sabina O’Donohue was 94 and had emigrated from Ballyglass, County Mayo, Ireland to Chi...
October 20, 2022
by Mike Houlihan
Community Features & Events
CHICAGO CALLING: Shout-out for Charlie Carey and the Southside Irish
“You can take the kid out of the Southside, but you’ll never get the Southside out of that kid!” That’s an ancient Chicago epigram that celebrates ...
September 30, 2022
by Mike Houlihan
Community Features & Events
Chicago Calling: Chief O'Neill's, the pub you've been practicing for
Almost 24 years ago an elegant Irish pub took up residence in the Avondale neighborhood on Chicago’s Elston Avenue, in the former home of the infam...
September 15, 2022
by Mike Houlihan
News
CHICAGO CALLING: Mike McCarthy brings Babe Ruth swagger to Windy City baseball network
It all started in Louisburgh, sez Mike McCarthy, “Mayo, that’s where my roots are.” McCarthy’s late father Johnny was the legendary grounds crew ch...
August 18, 2022
by Mike Houlihan
News
Chicago Calling: Irish Queen policing mean streets of Windy City
Chicago cops are an endangered species. They’re overworked and under-staffed. This city is a cauldron of violence. Nobody seems to be on your side,...
July 26, 2022
by Mike Houlihan
News
Chicago Calling: The Filipino piper leading the police band
Irish Elvis was born on The West Side of Chicago. Diane Short emigrated to America from New Castle, County Down, Ireland, working in a beauty shop ...
June 30, 2022
by Mike Houlihan
News
CHICAGO CALLING: Skinny - the Windy City's Irish fixer who gets things done
He’s known by many names in the toddlin’ town: Jim, Skinny, Skin, Doctor, or The Thin Man. A native of that southside of Chicago duchy of Irish Cat...
June 05, 2022
by Mike Houlihan
News
New chapter for Chicago cancer sufferer after Knock pilgrimage
Back in 2017 I was leading a tour group of Chicago characters to Ireland and the Westport Hotel gave me a complimentary massage for booking the gro...
May 16, 2022
by Mike Houlihan
Homepage
Mike 'Pickle' Joyce: In Chicago's toughest streets, this boxing club coach has Ali's daughter in his corner
There is only one “Pickle”. Growing up on the south side of Chicago you don’t get to pick your own nickname. Still, there is only one “Pickle”. Eve...
April 18, 2022
by Mike Houlihan
News
'Temper Maggie': The Chicago Paramedic Chief 'just washing the feet of sinners'
Hollywood would have to bring a young Maureen O’Hara back from the past to play Chicago Fire Department Ambulance Commander Margaret Murphy. She’s ...
April 02, 2022
by Mike Houlihan