Author name: greghughes

In this episode of The Greg Hughes Podcast, Greg is joined in studio by Letterkenny Sinn Féin Councillor Gerry McMonagle for an in-depth conversation reflecting on his life, personal history, and political career. Gerry opens up about growing up in Derry during the height of the Troubles, his early activism, and the personal and political […]

In this episode, Greg is joined by Independent Councillor Declan Meehan (Letterkenny / Milford MD) and his husband, local GP Dr Padraig (Paudge) McGuinness, for a candid and wide-ranging conversation about public life, community service, and personal resilience. In this episode: How It All Started: The Tinder match between Dublin and Belfast that led to

This week on The Greg Hughes Podcast, I’m joined by a living legend of Irish traditional music: fiddler, vocalist, and founding member of Altan, Born and raised in the heart of the West Donegal Gaeltacht of Gweedore (Gaoth Dobhair), Mairéad was immersed in music from an early age under the guidance of her father, the

In this episode, we sit down with former Tánaiste, Cabinet Minister, and current Chairperson of the Donegal GAA County Board, Mary Coughlan. We take a wide-ranging look back at her life and career—from entering national politics at just 21 as the youngest TD in the country, to managing high-stakes government portfolios during turbulent economic times,

As Canon David Skuce officially steps into retirement following seven years as Rector of the Dunfanaghy Union of Parishes, we sat down with him just days before his final service to look back on a remarkable 38-year career in ordained ministry. In this broad-ranging conversation, Canon Skuce reflects on his time serving Holy Trinity, Raymunterdoney,

What does it take to become the trusted confidant to some of the world’s most powerful, wealthy, and famous icons? In this episode, we step into the extraordinary world of Dunlewey’s own Patrick Gallagher. Patrick didn’t just watch twentieth-century history from the sidelines—he was the ultimate insider. From the majestic halls of Glenveagh Castle to

In June 2013, 26-year-old Newry native Kevin Bell tragically lost his life in New York. The overwhelming community response that followed raised far more than was needed to bring him home. Faced with profound personal grief, his parents, Ethne and Colin Bell, made a decision that would change Irish society: they used the surplus funds

This week, we are joined by a truly global heavy-hitter in the medical world who remains deeply rooted right here in Donegal. Professor Dennis McGonagle is a clinical academic and top NHS consultant at the University of Leeds. This year, he made history as the first person from the Republic of Ireland to be awarded

What does it take to survive 34 years at the coalface of Irish politics? In this episode of The Greg Hughes Podcast, we are joined by former Fine Gael TD and Minister of State, Dinny McGinley, for an unfiltered look back at a remarkable life and career. Born and raised in the West Donegal Gaeltacht,

In this episode, we sit down with rally legend Garry Jennings for a conversation that is as harrowing as it is inspiring. After a horror crash at the 2025 Cavan Stages Rally left him fighting for his life, Garry’s future in the sport—and his future, period—was hanging in the balance. Today, he joins us to

What does it take to completely turn your life around when you’re facing rock bottom? This week on The Greg Hughes Podcast, Greg sits down with Donegal entrepreneur Francie, who at just 31 years old has built two thriving fitness businesses in the county: Intensity Fitness and ECA Donegal. But his path to success was

Over twenty years since he captured the nation’s attention on You’re a Star and represented Ireland at the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest with the number-one hit “We’ve Got the World,” Mickey Joe reflects openly on the reality of sudden fame, the mechanics of the music industry, and his life off-stage. In this candid conversation, Mickey

What happens when the party stops, but the drinking doesn’t? This week, we sit down with well-known DJ and radio contributor Joe Decks for an incredibly raw, honest, and powerful conversation about his battle with alcohol addiction. From the early days of student life and the high-energy nightlife of the DJ booth, Joe details how

In this episode, we sit down with Mirenda Rosenberg, the voice behind the massive “Homestead Donegal” community and a tireless advocate for survivors of domestic abuse. Mirenda’s story is one of incredible resilience. Raised in a restrictive religious environment outside Washington D.C., she eventually moved to Ireland over 20 years ago. What was intended by

At 95 years old, Paddy Kerrigan’s journey from south Donegal to the Snowy Mountains of Australia is nothing short of legendary. This week, we sit down with the Bundoran native to discuss his recent investiture at Government House, where he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) by Governor-General Sam Mostyn. Paddy

In 1969, the heat of re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere reached nearly 3,000°C. Protecting the Apollo 11 astronauts from incinerating was a heat shield coated in a specialized resin—a resin developed by a young chemist from Inver, County Donegal. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Peter Coyle as he approaches his 89th birthday. Despite

In the most northerly peninsula in Ireland, geography can often be a barrier to safety. For over 30 years, Mary Doherty has been breaking down those barriers. Mary is one of the founding figures of Lifeline Inishowen, a service that began as a response to a desperate local need and has grown into a gold-standard

In April 1986, a fire at the O’Donnell family home changed the course of five lives and left a community in shock. It has been forty years since that night, yet for Angela O’Donnell and her sons, the memory of those lost—Sharon, Joanne, Adrian, and baby Kevin—remains a constant presence. This week, Angela and her

After three decades of unwavering service, Timmy Boyle has officially stepped down as Officer in Charge of the Bunbeg Coast Guard. In this episode, we sit down with the man who helped shape the face of maritime rescue in Donegal. From the grassroots community fundraising that launched St. Colmcille Cliff & Coastal Search in 1996

At 90 years of age, most people have been retired for decades—but Martin O’Donnell only hung up the keys last October. For 65 years, Martin was a constant presence on the roads of Milford, Carrigart, Ramelton, and Downings. From his early days driving for Pat Kelly to becoming a self-employed fixture of the community in

This week, we mark a profoundly significant and somber milestone. Friday, March 20th, 2026, marks the 10th anniversary of the Buncrana Pier tragedy. On that evening in 2016, five members of one family—Sean McGrotty, Mark (12), Evan (8), Ruth Daniels (57), and Jodie-Lee Daniels (14)—lost their lives when their car slipped into Lough Swilly. The

As he prepares to hang up his scrubs at Letterkenny University Hospital on March 12th, Mr. Michael Sugrue joins Greg Hughes to look back on a career defined by innovation, advocacy, and a deep love for his adopted home of Donegal. From his early days in Galway to two decades at the forefront of trauma

“Things Can Only Get Better” was more than just a hit; it was the soundtrack to a generation’s optimism. But for D:Ream frontman Peter Cunnah, the journey to finding his own “better” has been a complex, lifelong pursuit of identity and home. In this candid interview, Peter takes us behind the platinum records and the

For years, the public narrative around eating disorders has been framed almost exclusively as a female experience. But the reality is far more complex, and for Conor Nolan, that reality began in the most ordinary of places: a football pitch at the age of 11. In this powerful bonus episode of the Greg Hughes Podcast,

In this episode, Greg Hughes speaks with Maeve and Ian Gallagher following the inquest into the tragic death of their three-year-old son, Darragh. Darragh passed away in March 2023 after a rapid onset of Invasive Group A Streptococcal (iGAS) which led to bacterial sepsis. This episode provides a detailed look at the timeline leading up

What does it feel like to plan your daughter’s funeral while she is still alive? In this raw and deeply personal episode, Bernadette McConnell joins us to share her journey as a mother navigating her daughter Bailey’s decade-long battle with cocaine and prescription drug addiction. Bernadette pulls back the curtain on the “silent suffering” of

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, we sit down with renowned Irish journalist Brighid ‘Biddy’ McLaughlin. While her new book, Tales of a Patchwork Life, covers a storied career in the Sunday Independent, it also serves as a searing account of her family’s 20-year journey through tragedy. Biddy opens up about the 2006 murder

In 2002, James White was a man at the peak of his powers. As the head of the White Hotel Group, he commanded a commercial titan that employed 1,500 people and operated with a marketing budget—exceeding £500,000—that was almost unheard of for the time. Yet, behind the commercial success lay a storied and often turbulent

In this episode, Clarice’s twin sister, Bernadette, joins us for a raw and courageous conversation. She pulls back the curtain on the devastating aftermath of a fatal road traffic collision, from the trauma of the 1:00 AM phone call to the pain of combating false headlines during her sister’s wake. We discuss: The Reality of

Episode 2: In Conversation with Gerry McKeever In this episode of The Greg Hughes Podcast from Highland Radio, we step away from the fast-paced news cycle of the daily show to conduct long-form interviews with local figures. Greg is joined in studio by Gerry McKeever. Known to many as a Letterkenny barber and local author,