The Savannah Irish Podcast, brought to you by The Savannah Irish Festival, host Tara Reese welcomes Ireland’s Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, to discuss Ireland’s national cultural strategy and how culture, arts, media, heritage, sport, and diaspora engagement strengthen Ireland’s international presence.

Speaking from Savannah during the city’s extended “green season,” O’Donovan highlights the deep Irish roots in Georgia, the global St. Patrick’s Week outreach by Irish ministers, and the role of the GAA worldwide. He shares his background from County Limerick, work in industry, teaching, and long public service, and outlines responsibilities spanning tech and broadband, online child safety, and Ireland’s upcoming EU Council presidency in telecom.

The conversation covers famine-driven emigration, modern two-way migration, tourism, trade links, the 1926 census release, USA 250 commemorations and stamps, sports diplomacy, misinformation and civic youth engagement, and future collaboration between Ireland and Savannah.

The Savannah Irish Festival isn’t just an event—it’s the heartbeat of Green Season, a vibrant, educational, and family-friendly celebration that honors Irish culture while uniting the community. It lights the path leading to Savannah’s iconic St. Patrick’s Day parade—a beloved tradition that transforms the city into a sea of green and welcomes thousands upon thousands each year. This unique blend of history, culture, and communal joy is what keeps Savannah’s Irish spirit thriving.

The Savannah Irish Podcast is proudly supported by The Irish Pub Company - the ‘Official Partner of the Guinness Irish Pub Concept’ which means that they are rated as the best in the world at creating the most profitable and authentic Irish Hospitality Concepts. They design, manufacture and fit out your venue from start to finish.

Learn all about the Savannah Irish Festival

MEET our SHOW SPONSOR - The Irish Pub Company

MEET our PRODUCTION CREW: Proudly produced by Dee Daniels Media

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Season Three Welcome

01:23 Savannah Diaspora Spotlight

02:52 Green Season In Savannah

03:48 Minister Background And Portfolio

07:41 GAA Worldwide And Hurling

11:01 Casual Banter And Setting

12:52 Diaspora History And Famine Roots

18:42 Visitors Trade And 1926 Census

22:43 USA 250 Plans And Irish Links

27:24 Sport Diplomacy And Soft Power

28:39 Ireland and Peace

30:45 Pope and Identity

31:24 Youth and Democracy

34:53 Misinformation and AI

37:06 Racism and Intolerance

42:13 Savannah First Impressions

43:10 St Patricks Day Diplomacy

44:33 Diaspora and Sacrifice

46:38 Future Collaboration

48:42 Closing Invite to Ireland

In this episode of the Savannah Irish Podcast, brought to you by The Savannah Irish Festival, host Tara Reese sits down with members of the historic Hibernian Society of Savannah to explore the organization’s deep Irish roots and its lasting impact on Savannah’s cultural heritage.

For more than two centuries, the Hibernian Society of Savannah has been at the heart of Irish life in the city. Founded in 1812 by 44 Irish immigrants, the society was created to assist Irish newcomers in need and help them build new lives in Savannah.

The organization would go on to play a major role in shaping the city’s Irish identity, including organizing the first St. Patrick’s Day parade in Savannah in 1824—a tradition that has grown into one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the United States.

Recorded on Saturday, March 8, just one day before the annual Celtic Cross Ceremony, this discussion also touches on the deeper traditions behind Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day observances and why the ceremony is considered by many to be the true beginning of the city’s Irish celebrations.

FEATURED GUESTS:

John (Jack) E. Jaugstetter, PhD – Honorary Member and Past President

John W. Jurgensen – Chairman, Historical Committee; Archivist

Charles Harvey Ferrelle III – Current President of the Hibernian Society; Chairman, Communications Committee; Newsletter Editor; Member, Historical Committee

The Savannah Irish Podcast is proudly supported by The Irish Pub Company - the ‘Official Partner of the Guinness Irish Pub Concept’ which means that they are rated as the best in the world at creating the most profitable and authentic Irish Hospitality Concepts. They design, manufacture and fit out your venue from start to finish.

Learn all about the Savannah Irish Festival

MEET our SHOW SPONSOR - The Irish Pub Company

MEET our PRODUCTION CREW: Proudly produced by Dee Daniels Media

Welcome to the Savannah Irish Podcast brought to you by The Savannah Irish Festival. Host Tara Reese is unlocking a POWER-PACKED episode with TWO AMAZING segments.

Segment One: Tara is interviewing Georgia Southern’s Dr. Meaghan Dwyer-Ryan and undergraduate researcher Tiffany Le about “Trans-Atlantic Voices of Freedom,” a public history project on overlooked 19th-century Black American abolitionists who lectured and performed in County Wexford, Ireland.

Using newspapers and archives, Le traces figures including Moses Roper, Charles Lennox Redmond, Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield, Benjamin Benson, William G. Allen, and Frederick Douglass, highlighting shifting Irish public reception shaped by sectarian tensions, Daniel O’Connell’s activism, and the Famine era. The project aims to create a digital heritage trail with QR markers and classroom curricula.

Segment Two: The episode then shifts to an interview with Latrell Reed, crowned the first African American Ms. St. Patrick’s Day 2026 in Savannah after competing twice; she describes shock and pride as she won in a venue her grandmother and great-grandmother could not visit because of segregation, and shares her mother’s emotional reaction. Reed addresses racist online backlash, explains how pageantry builds sisterhood and confidence, recounts starting pageants at age six and walking New York Fashion Week, and says her goal is to use the title to educate on St. Patrick’s history and the diversity of Irish identity while encouraging others to participate.

The Savannah Irish Podcast is proudly supported by The Irish Pub Company - the ‘Official Partner of the Guinness Irish Pub Concept’ which means that they are rated as the best in the world at creating the most profitable and authentic Irish Hospitality Concepts. They design, manufacture and fit out your venue from start to finish.

Learn all about the Savannah Irish Festival

MEET our SHOW SPONSOR - The Irish Pub Company

MEET our PRODUCTION CREW: Proudly produced by Dee Daniels Media

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Season Three Welcome

01:07 Episode Topic Overview

02:13 Meet The Guests

03:07 Why Wexford Matters

05:20 Digging The Archives

07:32 Sponsor Irish Pub Company

09:17 Abolitionists In Ireland

10:58 Moses Roper In Wexford

13:35 Greenfield Benson Allen

17:40 Networks And Reception

25:08 Why This History Matters

29:12 Favorite Finds And Crowds

34:00 Project Goals Digital Trail

34:39 Curriculum and PhD Plans

35:43 African American Irish Roots

37:07 Students Abroad and Irish America 250

39:53 Next Research Focus Women

41:22 Project Strands and Wrap Up

42:51 Parade Notes and Thanks

43:46 Meet Ms St Patrick's Day 2026

46:22 Winning the Crown

50:57 Family Legacy and Kids

51:41 Pageantry Purpose and Racism

01:01:19 Learning St Patrick History

01:05:38 Legacy Message and Sign Off

In this episode of the Savannah Irish Podcast brought to you by The Savannah Irish Festival, host Tara Reese welcomes guests Don Paul (manager/chair, Pooler GAA), Will Garnett (president, Savannah Shamrocks Rugby Club), and Jared Papper (Savannah GAA) discussing how Irish identity in Savannah is thriving through sport. They explain the basics of rugby, hurling, and Gaelic football, share how their clubs formed (Shamrocks in 1978; Savannah GAA in February 2020), and emphasize welcoming, community-building, and social traditions.

The Savannah Irish Podcast is proudly supported by The Irish Pub Company - the ‘Official Partner of the Guinness Irish Pub Concept’ which means that they are rated as the best in the world at creating the most profitable and authentic Irish Hospitality Concepts. They design, manufacture and fit out your venue from start to finish.

Pooler GAA

Savannah GAA

Savannah Shamrocks Rugby Club

Learn all about the Savannah Irish Festival

MEET our SHOW SPONSOR - The Irish Pub Company

MEET our PRODUCTION CREW: Proudly produced by Dee Daniels Media

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Welcome to Irish Sports in Savannah

01:25 Meet the Guests

02:45 How the Clubs Began

07:01 Rugby Basics Explained

08:08 Hurling and Gaelic Football 101

12:51 How to Join and Practice Times

17:10 Community and Charity Off the Field

22:38 Savannah St Patrick's Rugby Tournament

27:06 Free Entry Logistics

27:16 Tournament Size Reputation

29:13 Host City Cup Details

29:58 Registration Flex Teams

31:14 Game Day Schedule Setup

32:38 After Party Plans

33:37 Savannah vs Pooler Rivalry

38:08 Growing Youth Programs

43:39 Favorite Match Memories

49:28 Quickfire Pints Rivals

51:42 Final Dates Callout

In this episode of the Savannah Irish Podcast brought to you by The Savannah Irish Festival, host Tara Reese sits down with Dr. Meaghan Dwyer-Ryan from Georgia Southern University to delve into the critical yet often overlooked contributions of Irish women to Savannah's cultural and historical landscape.

From early immigration and domestic work to community involvement and the establishment of heritage societies, Irish women have played a significant role in shaping the city's identity. The discussion also covers notable individuals like Alice Riley and reviews the socio-cultural dynamics between Irish and African American communities.

Diving into both historical and modern-day perspectives, the podcast highlights the essential role of women in maintaining cultural traditions, religious organizations, and education. Join us as we uncover these hidden stories and recognize the lasting impact of Irish women in Savannah.

The Savannah Irish Podcast is proudly supported by The Irish Pub Company - the ‘Official Partner of the Guinness Irish Pub Concept’ which means that they are rated as the best in the world at creating the most profitable and authentic Irish Hospitality Concepts. They design, manufacture and fit out your venue from start to finish.

Learn all about the Savannah Irish Festival

MEET our SHOW SPONSOR - The Irish Pub Company

MEET our PRODUCTION CREW: Proudly produced by Dee Daniels Media

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Introduction to Savannah's Irish Women

01:08 Meet Dr. Meaghan Dwyer-Ryan

01:21 Dr. Ryan's Journey to Savannah

04:01 The Overlooked Role of Irish Women

05:12 Alice Riley: The Ghost of Wright Square

08:10 Irish Immigration in the 19th Century

11:25 Wexford Women in Savannah

15:41 Cultural Expectations and Domestic Service

20:58 The Role of Nuns in Savannah

25:36 Widows and Their Struggles

29:34 Rosanna McGuire: A Case Study

31:05 Exploring the Story of Rosanna

31:53 Irish Catholic Elite in Savannah

34:02 Women in the Irish Community

34:20 Gone With the Wind and Real Stories

36:50 Savannah's Unique School System

40:21 Irish and African American Communities

47:46 Women in Irish Nationalism

49:23 Modern Day Contributions of Irish Women

57:20 Rapid Fire Questions and Conclusion

In this episode of the Savannah Irish Podcast brought to you by The Savannah Irish Festival, host Tara Reese sits down with Arthur Edward "Ned" Guinness, a member of the illustrious Guinness family, known for their world-renowned stout beer and extensive philanthropy. Edward shares his family’s rich history, from the humble beginnings of Arthur Guinness, who signed a legendary 9,000-year lease for the St. James's Gate Brewery, to the remarkable achievements in social and political impact by later generations. The two also chat about Edward's book - Guinness: A Family Succession: The True Story of the Struggle to Create the World's Largest Brewery.

The discussion covers Edward's personal experiences, the importance of giving back, and reflections on the family's contribution to Irish society. The episode also touches on the Netflix series 'The House of Guinness,' contrasting dramatization with historical facts. Edward speaks passionately about preserving the family legacy and promoting community welfare, embodying the values his ancestors held dear.

Whether you are a history buff, a Guinness enthusiast, or just curious about impactful legacies, this episode offers a captivating glimpse into the world behind the iconic Guinness name.

The Savannah Irish Podcast is proudly supported by The Irish Pub Company - the ‘Official Partner of the Guinness Irish Pub Concept’ which means that they are rated as the best in the world at creating the most profitable and authentic Irish Hospitality Concepts. They design, manufacture and fit out your venue from start to finish.

Learn all about the Savannah Irish Festival at the Alee Temple on Saturday, February 7, and Sunday, February 8, 2026

MEET our SHOW SPONSOR - The Irish Pub Company

MEET our PRODUCTION CREW: Proudly produced by Dee Daniels Media

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Introduction to the Special Guest

00:07 First Encounters and Memorable Meetings

01:16 Welcoming Edward Ned Guinness

01:50 Savannah's Irish Festival and Guinness Connection

04:08 Discussing the Book: Guinness of Family Succession

05:56 The Legacy of Arthur Guinness

13:22 Philanthropy and Community Impact

31:16 Navigating Religious and Social Challenges

36:16 Restoring Ivy Gardens and Dublin Memories

37:37 The Turning Point: Edward Cecil's Impact on Guinness

41:16 Brewing Legacy: From Edward Cecil to Modern Times

47:31 Guinness Family's Political and Social Contributions

53:00 Netflix Series and Family Archives

58:44 Rapid Fire Questions and Reflections

01:01:27 Closing Thoughts and Future Plans

In this special episode of the Savannah Irish Podcast brought to you by The Savannah Irish Festival host Tara Reese explores what makes Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day so special through the heartfelt stories of repeat visitors who have turned the celebration into a beloved tradition. Featuring personal anecdotes, memories, and insights from long-time attendees, this episode highlights the unique charm, culture, and community spirit of Savannah’s iconic celebration. Join us as we delve into the parades, the parties, the local traditions, and the connections that keep people coming back year after year.

The Savannah Irish Podcast is proudly supported by The Irish Pub Company - the ‘Official Partner of the Guinness Irish Pub Concept’ which means that they are rated as the best in the world at creating the most profitable and authentic Irish Hospitality Concepts. They design, manufacture and fit out your venue from start to finish.

Learn all about the Savannah Irish Festival at the Alee Temple on Saturday, February 7, and Sunday, February 8, 2026

MEET our SHOW SPONSOR - The Irish Pub Company

MEET our PRODUCTION CREW: Proudly produced by Dee Daniels Media

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT:

00:00 Introduction to Savannah's St. Patrick's Day

00:26 Meet the Regulars: Elevator Speeches

02:45 First Impressions of Savannah's St. Patrick's Day

04:05 Memorable Moments and Traditions

09:20 The Irish Air Corps and the Ostrich Prank

12:54 Ancestry and Irish Heritage

21:18 Engagement and Personal Stories

24:50 Evolving Perspectives on St. Patrick's Day

28:22 Hunting for the Best Scottish Eggs

28:52 Favorite Savannah Spots and Memories

29:28 Must-Visit Places in Savannah

35:20 Parade Watching Tips and Traditions

38:44 Evolving Traditions and Respect for Savannah

42:43 Rapid Fire: Fun Questions and Memories

47:47 Advice for First-Timers

50:02 Closing Thoughts on Savannah St. Patrick's Day