By Izzy Cusack
Skinny and Houli are at it again!
It could be the most anticipated journey since Magellan embarked for the East Indies, without any booze in his kit bag.
Long time friends and legendary radio hosts Skinny Sheahan and Mike “Houli” Houlihan have agreed to once again travel to Ireland, “one more time before we croak!”
The lads have traveled to the Old Sod many times over the last decade, with large groups of friends, many of whom have now gone on ahead to heaven, including old pal Dick Haggerty, CFD retired Chief Mike Miller, and total whack job Greg “Walking Eagle” Peckham, who almost got them thrown out of a hotel in Killiney after asking a waitress “would you like to pet my weasel?”
Skinny was interrogated by Guarda in Donegal after being accused of stealing a pillow from the hotel. While visiting a castle in Ireland, a tour guide inquired of the group how long they were going to be in Ireland and Chief Miller famously quipped, “Until we run out of underwear!”
Houli sez, “Ireland is a preview of heaven, but we’re not in a hurry to get there….just yet.”
This band of rogues have aged gracefully and promise to behave themselves in the Emerald Isle this October. It’s a pilgrimage in every sense of the word and past trips have featured a miracle at Our Lady of Knock shrine in Mayo, musical epiphanies and plenty of laughs along the way.
Houli sez, “We’ve brought many gorgeous Irish musicians with us over the years including Kathleen Keane, Katie Grennan, and the “darlin’ girl from Clare” Eimear Arkins, but this year we’re luckiest to have the ‘Celtic Nightingale’ herself , joining us, the one and only Catherine O’Connell, Chicago’s own1976 Queen of the Paddy’s Day parade, and a fixture on the windy city’s Irish scene ever since.”
Catherine recently celebrated her 50th anniversary of being crowned Queen with a bevy of former queens out at Gaelic Park in March and they are all invited to join the trip as well!
Also joining Skinny & Houli, and the Celtic Nightingale is legendary publican Brendan O’Brien from Reilly’s Daughter pub on the south side, where they just celebrated their 50th Anniversary in June. Brendan has joined Skinny & Houli thrice in the old country himself. No doubt Brendan’s dad, the late, legendary Boz O’Brien, will be joining in spirit as well.
In the past Boz had demurred on joining Skinny & Houli trips for fear of falling off the wagon. But now that’s he’s in heaven the tour will be doubly blessed. All Reilly’s customers are encouraged to join this tour to celebrate fifty years of Irish joy.
This year’s trip starts just outside Dublin at Fitzpatrick Castle for first and last night in Killiney, as we have celebrated almost every journey. Houli sez, “My first trip to Ireland, Eithne and John Fitzpatrick hosted my family and it’s now a tradition to return where the shenanigans first started.”
Then it’s on to Galway at the Ardilaun Hotel for the next four nights as we roust about Galway, Kylemore Abbey, Connemara day trips to the Spanish Arch, and Latin Quarter Galway, all culminating in the magnificent MACNAS festival in the streets of Galway on Sunday. The Irish invented Halloween and MACNAS will not disappoint with their legendary parade and internationally acclaimed spectacle of Halloween 2026!
One more night then at Fitzpatrick Castle before returning home with huge grins on all faces.
Join Skinny & Houli, Catherine O’Connell, Reilly’s Daughter’s Brendan O’Brien for the most unforgettable journey of your lives!
Info and itinerary available when you call 1-800-664-7474 or contact Eimear Tuffy at Specialized Travel at
Bring someone you love with you to the Skinny & Houli Return to Ireland 2026. You will never forget it!
Join Skinny Sheahan & Mike Houlihan as they return to Ireland in 2026
