Paddy Homan, well-known Chicago performer, was featured in a Cultural Conversation radio interview on Maine Public Radio's Morning Classic Music program with Suzanne Nance on March 14th. It was the day of his launch of his St. Patrick's Tour, Portland to Boston. In the 11 minute interview, Paddy told of his passion for Irish songs, the history of some of the songs and the meaning of St. Patrick. Several selections for his CD 'Far From the Land' were played and at Ms. Nance's request, Paddy recited the english translation of several well known Irish songs. The full interview can be heard on Paddy's website: www.paddyhoman.com.

John Curran, long time host of the Sound of Erin radio program in Boston (the 2nd longest running program only to the great Gay Byrne of RTE T.V. and Radio in Ireland) did a live interview with Paddy the previous week before his St. Pat's tour began. Curran, a Kerry man, engaged in good craic with Paddy, a Cork man and promoted Paddy's several performances in Portland, Maine, Newburyport, Massachusetts and Tufts University, Boston. John is a friend and radio colleague of Maureen O'Looney in Chicago. Shortly afterwards, Paddy received several inquires from Sound of Erin radio listeners of how to get to some of his concerts. Sound of Erin has featured selections from Paddy's CD since the launch in 2005.

Paddy was also interviewed live by Marry Carrier on her Top of the Morning Sunday radio program in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Mary's family is from Galway and she has been the Mayor of Newburyport. She is a long time promoter of all things Irish and played selections from Paddy's CD for several weeks prior to his St. Pat's tour.

The highlight of Paddy's New England St. Pat's tour was a concert sponsored by Tufts University Osher Lifelong Learning Institue at Brookhaven in Lexington, Massachusetts (a retirement community for academics).One hundred and fifty people were entertained after a dinner by Paddy with Don Wessels on guitar and harmonica. His songs, recitations and stories left them all in wonder and asking for more. Paddy invited another University College Cork alumnus, Martin Kelleher of Sudbury, Massachustts, to join him on the stage for a round of Banks of My Own Lovely Lee. Many in the audience came up to share their stories of Ireland and how their parents came over many decades ago. For some in the audience at Brookhaven, this was an encore performance with Paddy as they had heard him at Harvard University last October when he joined with the dean of Irish fiddlers in New England, Larry Reynolds and son Michael to provide live accompaniment for the viewing of the historic film, Irish Destiny, a silent movie made in Ireland in 1926 on the war of Independence. Paddy and the two Reynolds gave a pre-film concert and played during the showing of the film. Paddy's spirited performance of the songs on Ireland's pathway to freedom were highly appreciated by this gathering of scholars participating in the annual Celtic Colloquium at Harvard and by many of his Boston area friends.

Two weeks before he set out on his New England St. Pat's tour, Paddy was guest on WGN radio with Rick Kogan on The Sunday Papers show to talk about his social work with the elderly and his singing and the St. Pat's tour. Rick referenced the November front page feature in the Chicago Tribune which featured Paddy's use of singing in his social work with the elderly: "His Irish songs lift other's hearts". This story by Judith Graham included an on-line video of Paddy visiting a client and using his singing in his work. It elicited an enormous response and inquiry and was passed around the world in the Irish press especially via the Web. It was also picked up by many organizations working with seniors in the United States and posted on their website. Rick extended in invitation for Paddy to return and continue their spirited conversation.

Shortly before Paddy began his St. Pat's tour, he recieved word from Blarney Mills in Cork that his CD 'Far From the Land' has completely sold out. Blarney Mills was the exclusive agent for Paddy's debut CD which printed 1000 copies. Paddy now has joined up with four lads in Chicago, regularly performing at the Galway Arms Pub and he is planning on making a new CD with them for release in the autumn. Stay tuned! They need to find a good name for the band. Suggestions are welcome at info@paddyhoman.com.

Paddy has just returned from the 2008 Midwest Fleadh Cheoil, Traditional Irish Music Festival, Detroit, last weekend (May 9-12) where he was invited to perform and also served as a judge in the competition part of the program. He met many old friends on the music circuit and made many new friends with invitations to participate in future festivals and events around the county. In June, Paddy joins internationally known instrumentalist, John Williams to give two performances at the North Shore Senior Center in Northfield,Illinois. The programs are on June 13, perform music for viewing of historic silent film Irish Destiny (1926), and on June 16th, a concert of the Music James Joyce Loved for a Bloomsday program. See Paddy's website for details. The programs are part of a year long series: The Immigrant Experience:Becoming an American which is sponsored by OASIS.