How Is He Podcast | Ep. 107
Podge's guest today has lived a life shaped by music, movement, and bold reinvention.
Tricia Hutton grew up in Carlow in a deeply musical family, where a love for traditional Irish music was part of everyday life. In her twenties, she followed that passion to Galway, performing with the trad band Lia Luachra, touring across Europe, recording albums, and even landing on the cover of Hot Press.
Her journey then took a global turn when she joined Lord of the Dance, spending years touring stages around the world. From there, she crossed the Atlantic to Virginia to work as a musician in Busch Gardens, before once again returning to the whirlwind of international touring.
Tricia’s story doesn’t stop there. She came home to Ireland to begin a completely new chapter, navigating life as a single parent, founding the Kilkenny Trad Trail, and later moving to Limerick to complete a Master’s in Traditional Irish Music Performance at UL. Not long after, she added another string to her bow, qualifying as a primary school teacher.
In recent years, her sense of adventure brought her and her son all the way to Japan. What was meant to be a two-year stay turned into three. And now, back in Ireland, she’s balancing teaching in Carlow Educate Together with running a dog-friendly café on the side.
From world stages to classrooms, from Ireland to Japan and back again. Tricia’s journey is one of resilience, creativity, and constantly embracing the next chapter.
Ireland