Join Us for a Pint 🍻It’s been a whirlwind few months — travel, work, more travel, and even more work — but we’re finally back behind the mic with big news: the Shift beta app is officially LIVE. If you’re on our newsletter or listening here, you now have early access to download and test it before anyone else.Between juggling late nights with the development team, chatting through Irish pub culture, sharing parenting updates, and debating what makes a “real” Irish bar, we’re buzzing with momentum. The countdown to the full November pilot is on — and so is the craic.Episode Highlights ⭐️- The Shift beta goes live — and why the last 20% is always the hardest.- How many testers do we want? (Spoiler: you might be one.)- The reality of startup culture vs. big tech life — and why “scrappy” is a compliment.- Developers who can’t sleep until the code works (our kind of people).- Parenting updates — including Liam’s insane goalkeeper stats.- Irish heritage, world history, and how we learned it differently.- The rise of Irish stories on TV, from Derry Girls to House of Guinness.- The great pub debate: what actually qualifies as an Irish pub?- Guinness Zero toppers… yes, they’re a thing, and yes, they’re magic.- Networking, travel, and flying the Shift flag at Irish business events.- Merch madness — the unexpected popularity of our “Shift Me, I’m Irish” tees.- Planning for Chicago, TradFest, and Christmas back home.Shout Outs 📢Shift Beta Access👉 https://gettheshift.app/betaIrish Tech Week👉 https://irishtechweek.comKatie Boyle (Comic)👉 https://katieboylecomic.comIrish Network DC👉 https://www.irishnetworkdc.com Milwaukee Irish Fest👉 https://irishfest.comHouse of Guinness & Derry Girls (on Netflix)👉 https://www.netflix.comAnd of course:Shift – the App for the Global Irish👉 https://gettheshift.app

Shift: The App for the Global Irish is launching in November 2025. The Washington DC pilot is our first major step in the mission to connect the Irish - and the Irish-ish across the world.

This is a shout out for Irish and Irish American investors who care about Irish culture and understand the true value of the Irish diaspora - the 70+ million around the world.

To view the deck and learn more, please contact team@shift.irish.

We’re back from our summer travels, with tales from the motherland and "the good ol' craic" ;). Between Paul’s family trip, Patrick’s three-week stay back home, and a hike up Croagh Patrick, there’s no shortage of craic. We chat about fathers, family, and Irish identity, before diving into music, football (both American and Gaelic), and of course, where Shift is headed next. Pull up a chair, settle in, and enjoy!Episode Highlights ⭐️- Jet lag cures (or lack thereof).- Family trips home and the changing emotions of leaving.- Irish dads, Philadelphia, Here I Come, and emotional wisdom.- Damien Dempsey live in Dublin, and a tribute to Sinéad O’Connor.- Pub visits - from Belfast to Dublin, and up the country.- The Official Definition of the Craic, from the horse's mouth.- Climbing Croagh Patrick and dreams of Carrauntoohil.- Shift app progress – the last 20% is the hardest 80%.- Plans for NFL and college football events in Dublin.- GAA rule changes, hand-passing debates, and the beauty of hurling.- Guinness Zero toppers – the pint hack you didn’t know you needed.Shout Outs 📢- Damien Dempsey👉 https://www.damiendempsey.com- Galway Film Fleadh👉 https://www.galwayfilmfleadh.com- GAA for everyone:👉 https://www.gaa.ieAnd of course:Our very own Shift app is nearly ready! Shift is the world's first Irish Social & Dating App. For culture, craic and connection.Sign up for early access at:👉 https://GetTheShift.app

We try something new today, and the craic is fan-feckin-tastic! This time we pull up stools and have a pint at the main bar of the Aul Shebeen. Tim pours us pints and a fellow patrons drops in as we chat. Don’t miss our must-do recommendations in Belfast and Dublin as Paul & Patrick call out their favorite pubs. This is our best chat yet. Excited to hear what you think!

Episode Highlights ⭐️

• Old-man pubs rule - our Top 5 Pubs in Dublin (Patrick) and Belfast (Paul)

• “My ma’s behind us!” - the story of two Dublin kids that stowawayed to JFK.

• Surviving a marathon (but not planning another one!)

• Friendly interruptions as we sit at the bar - always a story!

• Losing Boarding passes and being saved by a fellow Dub.

• Irish “Spicy” from bland curries to Zinger burgers to the now famous Spice Bag!

• Tales from Irish emigration: the J1, one-way tickets, and the backpacker vibe.

• Fears of crossing borders in your own country.

• That perfect moment Anthony Bourdain has talked about.

• The history behind one of Ireland’s greatest pubs.

• What’s a “snug”: Our love for snugs and the history behind it.

• Prizes for our most supportive listeners and readers.

  
  

And of course:

• Shift.irish - sign-up for our mobile app now!

Shout Outs 📢

• ⁠Doc on One: Don’t go far…⁠

• ⁠The Crown Bar ⁠(and four others) in Belfast.

• ⁠Mulligans Pub⁠ (and four others) in Dublin.

• ⁠⁠Blakes of the Hollow⁠⁠ in Enniskillen.

• 
  

  The Location 📍

  • We’re at the ⁠Aul Shebeen in Fairfax⁠, VA.

  
  

We're back with another episode of The Craic, recorded live at the Four Courts in Arlington. We're at the Courts for the first Digital Irish event here in DC, that took place immediately after this recording. A nice chat followed by a great night.

Highlights:

• Irish names for the American Irish.
• St. Patrick's Day post-mortem.
• NYC parade rules and controversial slogans.
• Feedback on Shift from the people we meet.
• Narrowing in on our Shift messaging.
• Visit to Irish Network USA national conference.
• Cheap flights and one-way tickets.
• Texas culture shock.
• What's the deal with Hibernians and Knights of Columbus?
• The unavoidable pride of Riverdance.
• The Irish connection in the new "Sinners" film.
• About the Digital Irish, and helping expand in DC.

If you're Irish abroad or just love the culture, head to https://shift.irish and sign up for the weekly email that keeps you connected to the craic. Got a pub or person we should visit? Let us know at team@shift.irish.

Sure St Paddy's Day fever is rising here at the Auld Shebeen in Fairfax, as we record our latest episode. As the bartenders prepare for a hectic weekend, Patrick and Paul sit down to share the latest craic, and to celebrate the launch of the new Shift website at Shift.irish! We’ve been working like mad the past few months to get the first version of Shift launched: The Directory of all things Irish launches with all the St Paddy’s Day shenanigans and shindigs at over 80 locations across North America. Visit Shift.Irish for more on that.

Episode Highlights:

• A late night at the Ireland Funds Gala.
• The protestor family causing ruckus away from home.

• Walking in the NYC St Patrick's Day parade.
• Americans vs Irish on St Patrick's Day.
• Savannah's surprisingly legendary parade.
• Going all in on Shift, without being a Plastic Paddy.
• Patrick's parents partying for Spring Break.

• The unlikely future as an 'entrepreneur' for an Irish kid.
• Stories of fear and intimidation in Northern Ireland.
• Celebrating and learning from our first launch.
• The website is live, and the app coming this year.
• The Shift mission - connecting the Irish!
• "The Devil's at the bottom of the pint" ;)

Shout-outs:

• EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin.
• Brainstormer - the original Pub Quiz Trivia.
• Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen (Paul's early job - server)
• Joel's Restaurant, Clondalkin (Patrick's early job - bartender)
• Ireland's Four Courts (Uncle-in-law Dave Cahill).
• Solas Nua - Irish theater, film and cultural organization.
• Our very own Shift.irish - live for St. Paddy's Day!

We're at the front of the bar at The Auld Shebeen in Fairfax. The fire is roaring and we're loving our new spot with the bar in the background. Seems the staff are loving us too. Tim drops us off an extra pint while we're in session. Sure it'd be rude to refuse. Enjoy the craic as Paul & Patrick catch up, talk about the latest goings on, and what's happening with Shift, as the new website is prepped for launch later this month. Shoot over to Shift.Irish for more on that.

Highlights:

- A challenging work week for Patrick.

- Irish Pub interiors direct from Ireland.

- Prehistoric settlements preserved by boglands.

- The resurgence of Irish whiskeys .

- A lesson not to be stingy.

- The NFL is heading to Dublin.

- The latest with Shift: Launching this month!

- Come for the tool: The directory of all things Irish.

- Stay for the network: The IRL social network.

- Slow buses and short shorts.

Mentions this week:

-Irish Whiskey podcasts

-Trágmar Ale Works

-GGD Global

Our new site coming soon! Pre-Register at:

-Shift.irish

As usual, Patrick grabs the pints, while Paul hits record. We're back at the Auld Shebeen in Fairfax to kick-off the New Year. We cover a lot of ground, from modern Irish memes to long-standing Celtic traditions. We cover some of Ireland's greatest exports from Hosier to Christy Moore, Sinead O'Connor to Dolores O'Riordan, Blindboy to Tommy Tiernan, and of course U2, perhaps the most successful and divisive in Irish circles. And then there's a dive into history books, historical sites and much, much more. It's some craic alright. Highlights: - The secret to a quintessential Irish pub - geometry and democracy. - Scaring aul biddies with hard rock on afternoon radio. - Our 15 minutes of fame, both sides of the pond. - The Cherry Tomato Shrine, and how Irish madness cannot be explained. - The "sure why not" mentality of the Irish. - The genius of Blindboy (https://shows.acast.com/blindboy). - The legend of Brigid and the cross weaving traditions. - Ireland's most influential musicians, singers, and comics. - Without fail, the 'stretch in the evenings' comment. - Forget Star Wars. Sceilg Mhichíl was important long before. - Shift.irish - the ultimate guide to St Patrick's Day - launching in February. If you’re Irish abroad, head on over to “thecraic.us” (yes, that’s the site!) or search Google for “Subscribe to the Craic”. Then sign-up to receive the weekly email that keeps you up to date on all the craic from home. If you’d like us to visit your local pub to record a future episode, let us know. And, of course, stay tuned to the Craic, and you’ll be first to know about the new app arriving in 2025. Go, move, shift!