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TwoMacs Podcast, Craic Theatre Coalisland, Coalisland (2026)

18/06/2026

The latest TwoMacs Podcast Ep 68
Ronan chats to The crafty Young Things based at First Steps Women's Centre
You can listen to this episode at this link on Spotify https://shorturl.at/AfyfH

A delightful and most uplifting podcast with 'Crafty Young Things', a dynamic group of women who meet weekly in Dungannon. And it is open to newcomers!

Based at First Steps Women’s Centre, they are vibrant mix of local ladies from across the community and those who have moved to the area.

CEO Michael McGolderick explains how First Steps Women’s Centre began and has grown to provide programs for up to 350 women a year.
These include counselling, health & well being, with many geared towards economic migrants and refugees, from war torn countries, who have moved to mid Ulster. Information also on Firststepswomenscentre.org website.

Nuala Montague, facilitator of the Crafty Young Things, recalls her journey to the centre after she retired, how it brought her so much fulfilment and the fun and many activities she organises.

Margaret found the Crafty Young Things during a difficult time of bereavement. She has made lasting friendships and enjoys the crafts and day trips as well as excursions they've made to Glasgow and Benidorm.

Gillian tells us about her grandfather Joe Webb who owned the ropeworks in Union Place, Dungannon from 1900 until 1980’s. She brought a wonderful black and white photograph of her grandparents at their craft.
She has learnt reflexology and Spanish since joining the group!

Mouna compares life in Dungannon with her native Morocco and is also delighted to have made friends, studied English and learnt new skills.

Isobel, who has lived in Dungannon all her life, has fabulous memories of growing up with trips to Bangor and Portrush, the parades, cattle being walked up Thomas Street and watching the style of the girls going to Dickies, the Commercial, the Viceroy and the local dance halls.

The headmaster giving her six pence to buy a cane that was 'swishy' to slap the boys was definitely of its time!
She brings such fun and stories to the group.

Maria from East Timor found adjusting to life difficult when she arrived 15 years ago. She has learnt English and crafts, including crocheting.

She is part of the community choir Gathered Voices, and sings a beautiful love song in her native language.

There is an infectious joy, vibrancy and camaraderie among the Crafty Young Things.

For further information contact First Steps Women’s Centre on 028 8772 7648 and is also on Facebook.

The group meets every Friday from 10am to 12pm.

* This podcast was recorded before the recent horrendous attack on a man in Belfast, that was cynically used to promote racist violence. The podcast is an antidote to such toxic hostility.
Ronan McSherry

Photos:
1 - (L-R) Crafty Young Things! Maria, Gillian, Isobel, Mouna and Margaret.
2 - Nuala Montague facilitator of Crafty Young Things.
3 - Michael McGolderick CEO of First Steps Women’s Centre in Dungannon.
6 - Gillian's grandparents working at the old rope factory in Dungannon.
Other pics include craft making and trips to Stormont & Majorca!

07/06/2026

The latest TwoMacs Podcast Ep 67
Ronan chats to Moortown storyteller Patsy O'Hagan.
You can listen to this episode at this link on Spotify https://shorturl.at/vdDkj

Patsy O'Hagan - the Loughshore Bard

Three times Bard of Armagh and Hall of Fame recipient, Patsy O'Hagan is a legend among storytellers.

You only have to listen to his recitations and jokes, to hear the howls of laughter and enjoyment from his audiences.
His sense of observation is hilarious.

By Lough Neagh all his life, Patsy a proud Moortown man, lives on the 'border' with Ardboe.
The podcast pays tribute to the late great Frank McGuigan, Ardboe's most famous son, recalling some of his incredible performances, including a semi-final, in 1983 against Moortown, when he was marked by his brother Stephen.

Patsy's father was a fisherman, alas many of the boats have gone from the lough. He was also a trained butcher and he recalls the killing and cutting up of a pig every year, not for the squeamish!

Not a great student but schooldays are fond memories, mostly the joy of walking home and exploring the local nature.

The podcast includes several recitations that won Bard of Armagh titles as well jokes, some 'close to knuckle' that brought tears of laughter, but didn't meet with one Parish Priest's approval!

The prose was not always comedy, with a most poignant poem 'The Child I Did Not Know' later the winning entry for a teenage girl in the All Ireland Scór competition.

Football too brings its fun with a narration before the 2021 All Ireland final meeting with the approval of Tyrone manager Feargal Logan!

There is some talent on the Loughshore as Margaret Anne Conlon also features with her beautiful singing of The Old Cross of Ardboe.

Enjoy this podcast!

* Patsy's writing is so good that professionals have been reciting his prose. Please give him the credit when you do so - it's only right!

* Thanks to Damian McLernon & 'Slicker Video' for the colourised photographs of Frank McGuigan. One was taken at a championship semi-final between Ardboe and Moortown when Frank was marked by his brother Stephen; another when 19-years-old captaining Tyrone to the 1973 Ulster championship.

There is also a photo of singer Margaret Anne Conlon at the Old Cross at Ardboe.

Thank you, as well, to Patsy for gifting us copies of his fabulous CD: 'The Hilarious Holiday In The Sun'.
Ronan McSherry Ronan McSherry

24/05/2026

We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the great Frank McGuigan, fondly remembered as 'The King'.
Not surprisingly Frank was mentioned on a number of TwoMacs podcasts as he left indelible memories on the football field.
Our guest Audi Hamilton, who played alongside him with Tyrone, said: "Frank was more than a footballer, he was a phenomenon" while Damian O'Hagan also shared great memories of the 1984 'Frank McGuigan' Ulster final.
The ballad of Frank McGuigan penned by the late Dessie Symington RIP was played on the podcast with Vinny O'Donnell that marked the 1986 'Come on Tyrone' CD.
Frank was a footballing genius that crowds flocked to see with his club Ardboe and Tyrone.
Ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann (there will never be his like again).
We extend our sincerest sympathy to Frank's wife Geraldine, sons Frank, Brian, Tommy and Shay, daughters Kristin and Caitlin, grandchildren and entire family circle and friends.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilís 🙏

* Pictured below a few years ago with his great friend and mentor, former Tyrone manager Art McRory RIP (watching their grandchildren play). Art passed away in August 2023.

21/05/2026

A huge congratulations to Micky Carolan, of the Craic Theatre in Coalisland, who recieved a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Mid Ulster Council Arts, Culture & Community Awards 2026.
Well deserved Micky for all you have given to the local community down the years!
Micky was a previous guest on the TwoMacs Podcast and talked all about the founding of the Craic Theatre and many more fascinating adventures and memories.
Comhghairdeas! 👏 ✨️CRAIC Theatre

20/05/2026

The latest TwoMacs Podcast Ep 66 Martin chats to Mairéad Duffy You can listen to this episode at this link on Spotify https://shorturl.at/eoYJh or wherever you download your podcasts.

Music as Gift and Calling

Martin's guest this week is Mairead Duffy - teacher, musician, singer/composer and director of Dungannon community choir Gathered Voices, which she founded in 2019.

A native of Tuam, County Galway, Mairead came north in the early 1990s to study music at Jordanstown.

Her musical formation began early, with Mairead's grandmother teaching her some piano chords. It was love at first sound. She practiced constantly and soon took up the harp.

Mairead's practice would eventually bring her to the famed stage of New York's Carnegie Hall, a venue she played twice - once in the august company of the Chieftains.

Mairead obviously loves performing. As a rookie music teacher in Enniskillen she put on Westside Story (her favourite musical). She has a great gift for bringing people together. Last Christmas, Gathered Voices, which includes members of the East Timorese community, sang 'Silent Night' in Tetum, the language of East Timor.

Mairead sees her music as a calling, closely related to her faith, which is evident from her second choice of a piece of music, "Sweet Surrender" by Luke Parker.

There were to have been three pieces of music, but the conversation between Mairead, Martin and Oliver flowed along with such joy and gusto that we had to settle for two. Truly, this podcast is a delight from start to finish.

To listen to more of Mairéad's music check out these links
https://maireadduffy.bandcamp.com/album/silver-tin-house

Little Bridge
https://youtu.be/dmF0EaDbtIU?si=-vfSaby3EVWAKY
Ronan McSherry

10/05/2026

The latest TwoMacs Podcast Ep 65 Ronan chats to Malachi Cush You can listen to this episode at this link on Spotify https://shorturl.at/rPklB

Malachi Cush: Family, faith and fame.

It's a long podcast, and a good one! recorded in Malachi Cush's studio amidst the scenic beauty of Drummond.

Just weeks away from a concert (with his good friend Karl McGuckin) to mark the 150th anniversary of St Patrick’s Church in Dungannon, this is a wonderful podcast packed with reflections, memories and fabulous songs recorded by the 'crooner' himself. Is he a crooner?!

He has written a song to mark the anniversary of the chapel with its great history and sacred significance to Dungannon.

Malachi reflects on his overnight rise from trainee gas fitter to stardom through Fame Academy and the unyielding encouragement he received from his parents.

Out of 50,000 entrants he reached the top 12 and his life was changed forever.

Huge record sales, chart successes and offers of radio work flooded in but it wasn't all a bed of roses as he decided to move back from London to his own people.

He pays a moving tribute to his father Paddy, 'his best friend', who passed away three years ago and recalls his parents waltzing in the kitchen as he sang a ballad he penned to celebrate their love.

As well he has special memories of manager Feargal Logan bringing the Sam Maguire Cup to the house when his father was ill and also remembers great family days supporting his cousin Adrian Cush, a brilliant player with Tyrone.

Malachi also talks about his journey in faith and an accident in Dungannon that put his whole life into perspective.

A phone call from the legendary Phil Coulter with an offer to record and go on tour was a dream come through while he has rubbed shoulders with stars of the music world.

A born entertainer, it has been a quite a journey for Malachi who finds most fulfilment performing and sharing life with his wife and family and dear friends.

* Thank you to Malachi for his hospitality and gifting Ronan and Oliver with two of his fabulous CDs. Ronan McSherry

29/04/2026

The latest TwoMacs Podcast Ep 64 Ronan chats to Dixie Robinson You can listen to this episode at this link on Spotify https://shorturl.at/kynw3

Dixie Robinson - heading to another Cup final.

As Dungannon Swifts bid to win two-in-a-row Irish Cups, assistant manager Dixie Robinson reflects on a career in local soccer and GAA, that has brought glorious days as well as heartbreak in finals of both codes.

It is a podcast packed with wonderful anecdotes and memories of great players and characters.

Dixie recalls taking penalties in front of 100,000 spectators at the League Cup final in Wembley way back in 1979, and playing in the Irish league while trying to help his beloved home club Maghery win a first senior championship.

He has forged a remarkable bond with Joe McAree and his son Rodney (co-manager) at the Swifts and works full-time with Dungannon United Youth... a labour of love.

A classy winger, he remembers the first soccer pay cheque, a stint with Armagh seniors and reflects on the demands nowadays as players are pulled between both games.

Cup defeat was hard to take but the Swifts and Maghery both reached the Holy Grail, occasions of huge emotion.

The story of Johnny Montgomery is remarkable, a life-time soccer player who lined out for the first time with Maghery, when he was well into his 30's, and was on the team won their first senior Armagh championship.

Then there were the Brackaville Gaels who arrived at the carpark at the Swifts' ground, which cumulated in a historic Ulster championship win for the Owen Roes.

On his way to another Cup final, with the excitement around Stangmore Park building to a crescendo, as Dungannon Swifts face Coleraine in the Cup final, hopefully Dixie will get another singalong beside Philomena Begley leading the club's new anthem.. The Blanket on the Ground! Ronan McSherry

* Photos:
1 - Celebrating last year's Cup final win with Rodney McAree.
6 - Soccer playing days: Dixie back row, first from left.
7 - Gaelic football playing days: Dixie back row, 4th from right.
8 - Action from the 1991 Armagh club championship final. A heartbreak day for Dixie & Maghery.
9 - Johnny Montgomery in goals for Maghery, won two Armagh club championship medals although he played his first game at nearly 40 years of age.
10 - Dixie and Declan Fox managed Brackaville to win the 2000 Ulster Intermediate championship.

26/04/2026

Amy Toner from Fianna All Stars and youth worker Shane McDonald of Fianna Runners were on a recent TwoMacs Podcast.
As they told us, the Fianna All Stars do fantastic work with local children with additional needs. The Fianna Runners are raising funds for the All Stars this year.
Link below... please give generously ✨️

19/04/2026

The latest TwoMacs Podcast Ep 63 Ronan chats to Paddy Linden You can listen to this episode at this link on Spotify https://shorturl.at/fqlsE

Or wherever you access podcasts...

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2209034/episodes/19040226

Paddy Linden - a familiar face but who is he?!

An instantly recognisable face in Coalisland but who is Paddy Linden?

A reader at Mass for the past 30 years, the Belfast schoolteacher, who set up home in Brackaville, is also a leading organiser of the MacRory Cup, has worked with the youth at Ógras and coached GAA teams in the area; currently Edendork senior Ladies.

He talks about the importance of his faith and how it can be our refuge when trying to make sense of tragedy and loss.

Paddy recalls his childhood on the war-torn Falls Road in Belfast and the trauma his beloved mother, and others, endured while bringing up young families.

His father, also Paddy, was an accomplished boxer, which young 'Pat' didn't know until he was told by a coach at the local boxing club. There are special memories of his father bringing him to Barry McGuigan world title fights.

There was also a meeting with the legendary George Best, whose father Dickie was a friend of Paddy's dad.

The first time he went to play Gaelic football at school he arrived wearing a Manchester United jersey and shinpads. However Paddy went onto to play for Antrim minors and recalls the friends-for-life he made on the Christian Brothers' college team.

His teaching career soon had him working with great coaches and former McRory Cup adversaries at St Pats Maghera.
On the Ulster Coaching and Games committee, he is the Ulster Council Colleges representative.

Paddy names lads he taught who went on to be sport stars and the local club players he coached he would most want on his team.

Paddy also bemoans the attitude missing in Antrim that brings success in Tyrone.

Paddy and Ronan both recall a local sports' writer who made scathing comments about them in a newspaper.

It is a life well lived that includes great days following Manchester United, the joy of his children and grandchildren and trips away with his wife Emma.

You won't be able to say you don't know that man who does the readings at Mass in Coalisland, after listening to this most uplifting podcast! Ronan McSherry

Photos:

3/4. Paddy's parents Margaret and Paddy Linden (Snr). His father was pictured in Antarctica in 1958.

8. The last MacRory Cup team Paddy played on in 1984. Middle row 1st left (no 2).

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