The Swinford Chats Podcast

Tommy & Cathal recorded a LIVE podcast from Padraic Horkan's Bar for MacFest in the West. MacFest in the West is a gathering of the descendants of the McNicholas and MacDonagh families of Barnacogue and Curryaune, Swinford.The McNicholas/McDonagh Swinford story began when Owen McDonagh and Nora Morris of Tyrone migrated to Barnacogue at the turn of the 19th Century where Owen opened a Blacksmith forge.They had nine children, Kitty, Maria, Nancy, Patrick, Tom, John, Bryan, Judith and Margaret. Their daughter Judith McDonagh married Thomas McNicholas of Curryane and settled in Barnacogue.by Julie Doyle, Jackie O’Rourke and Joanne Kilroy of Swinford, who are descendants of Thomas and Judith McNicholas, in conjunction with www.mayo.ie.

This week Cathal updates us on his mammoth challenge of walking the ancient pilgrimage route from Canterbury (UK) to Rome (Italy) known as the Via Francigena. Cathal hopes to reach Rome in two weeks time. For more www.kellyswalk2rome.ie

On this week's episode we check in with Cathal as he continues his 2200 kilometres walk through the 5 countries of England, France, Switzerland, Italy and ending in the Vatican all in aid of Children’s Health Foundation Crumlin and Mayo Parkinson’s Assoc. For more visit www.kellyswalk2rome.ie

This week we're coming to you from Kenny's Book Shop and Art Gallery in Galway. We chat with Sarah Kenny, Noel McNicholas, Bernard O'Hara and Donncha O'Connell.

Ahead of our Galway podcast next week we chat about Cathal's upcoming adventure 'Kelly'sWalk2Rome'. Breege Gleeson also joins us for a chat.