Just the One (formerly The Craic from Shift)

The Lads from Shift

Every month, founders of Shift, Patrick and Paul get the craic on the go. They're sharing stories of life as an Irish emigrant, and their latest, boldest adventure, building Shift, the first of its kind, global Cultural Network. For the Irish, obviously. To learn more about Shift, go to https://shift.irish, or jump straight to download the app on the app store, or quick link: https://gettheshift.app.

  1. Aug 31

    Just the One: Shifting Irish Festivals with Patrick & Paul

    Join us for a Pint 🍻Paul and Patrick sit down at Tara Mór in New York City during the inaugural Mór Fest to talk about a huge few weeks for Shift as the app becomes part of a growing network of Irish festivals across America. Paul and Patrick sit down at Tara Mór in New York City, in the middle of the inaugural Mór Fest, to talk about a huge few weeks for Shift — as the app becomes part of a growing network of Irish festivals across America. Patrick has just returned from Milwaukee Irish Fest, the biggest Irish festival in the U.S., where Shift had a booth right in the heart of the action. Meanwhile, Shift is powering the festival experience at Mór Fest in NYC and Chicago Irish Fest, with more festivals already lining up. They talk about what Milwaukee revealed about Irish America, the thousands of volunteers who keep these festivals alive, discovering brilliant Irish artists, and how relationships with festival organizers across the country are beginning to snowball. On the product side, Paul talks about building Shift in real time around the festival experience — improving schedules, maps, RSVPs and calendar integration while actually using the app on the ground. There’s also plenty of pub talk: Rock Shandy, Football Special, penny jellies, Irish sweets, Mayo jerseys, Owen Colgan, Niall Quinn, late-night sessions and the strange feeling that after a year of laying the groundwork, Shift is starting to shift. Paul also reflects on an intensely personal few months — getting married and, shortly afterwards, losing his dad — and the memories of Mayo, Ballina and Killala that have come flooding back. Recorded over a couple of pints at Tara Mór, NYC. Just the One is the monthly podcast from Paul and Patrick, founders of Shift — the Irish Cultural Network for the Irish and Irish-ish. Search Shift Irish in the App Store or Google Play, or visit shift.irish. 🍀 Shift hits the Irish festival circuitFrom Milwaukee to New York and Chicago — and conversations with festivals in Kansas City, Peoria, Naperville, Dublin, Ohio and beyond. 🎪 Inside Milwaukee Irish Fest130,000-ish attendees, 18 stages, thousands of volunteers and one of the most impressive celebrations of Irish culture anywhere. 🎸 The artists making Irish America moveShane Hennessy, Colleen Eilís, Billow Wood and the realization that Shift could help Irish artists find audiences and gigs across America. 📱 Building Shift from inside the festivalPaul talks about spending Milwaukee weekend improving the app in real time — better festival maps, schedules, RSVPs, personal itineraries and calendar integration. 🚀 A year of patience starts paying offFestival partnerships, investors volunteering at the Shift booth, new relationships and opportunities appearing almost weekly. 🗽 Mór Fest takes over Tara MórThe lads record from New York during the first Mór Fest — with Irish music, comedy, sport, food, drink and Shift's Blind Date show all under one roof. 🥤 Football Special, Rock Shandy & penny jelliesA Tara Mór drinks cabinet sends Paul and Patrick straight back to childhood in Mayo and Dublin. 😂 Owen Colgan, Irish comedy & a text to Niall QuinnSomehow Big Niall's phone number enters the equation. ❤️ The highest highs and lowest lowsPaul reflects on getting married, losing his dad weeks later, getting home to Ireland and the unexpected memories that bring everything back. ☘️ Why “Shift” still worksAfter everything that's happened, the lads come back to the idea behind the name — everyone, somewhere, is shifting something in their life. Sláinte. Just the one. Highlights

    Just the One: Shifting Irish Festivals with Patrick & Paul
  2. 11/14/2025

    The Craic before Shift Launches

    Join Us for a Pint 🍻It’s been a whirlwind few months — travel, work, more travel, and even more work — but we’re finally back behind the mic with big news: the Shift beta app is officially LIVE. If you’re on our newsletter or listening here, you now have early access to download and test it before anyone else.Between juggling late nights with the development team, chatting through Irish pub culture, sharing parenting updates, and debating what makes a “real” Irish bar, we’re buzzing with momentum. The countdown to the full November pilot is on — and so is the craic.Episode Highlights ⭐️- The Shift beta goes live — and why the last 20% is always the hardest.- How many testers do we want? (Spoiler: you might be one.)- The reality of startup culture vs. big tech life — and why “scrappy” is a compliment.- Developers who can’t sleep until the code works (our kind of people).- Parenting updates — including Liam’s insane goalkeeper stats.- Irish heritage, world history, and how we learned it differently.- The rise of Irish stories on TV, from Derry Girls to House of Guinness.- The great pub debate: what actually qualifies as an Irish pub?- Guinness Zero toppers… yes, they’re a thing, and yes, they’re magic.- Networking, travel, and flying the Shift flag at Irish business events.- Merch madness — the unexpected popularity of our “Shift Me, I’m Irish” tees.- Planning for Chicago, TradFest, and Christmas back home.Shout Outs 📢Shift Beta Access👉 https://gettheshift.app/betaIrish Tech Week👉 https://irishtechweek.comKatie Boyle (Comic)👉 https://katieboylecomic.comIrish Network DC👉 https://www.irishnetworkdc.com Milwaukee Irish Fest👉 https://irishfest.comHouse of Guinness & Derry Girls (on Netflix)👉 https://www.netflix.comAnd of course:Shift – the App for the Global Irish👉 https://gettheshift.app

    The Craic before Shift Launches
  3. 06/04/2025

    Legendary Snugs & Old Man Pubs

    We try something new today, and the craic is fan-feckin-tastic! This time we pull up stools and have a pint at the main bar of the Aul Shebeen. Tim pours us pints and a fellow patrons drops in as we chat. Don’t miss our must-do recommendations in Belfast and Dublin as Paul & Patrick call out their favorite pubs. This is our best chat yet. Excited to hear what you think! Episode Highlights ⭐️ Old-man pubs rule - our Top 5 Pubs in Dublin (Patrick) and Belfast (Paul) “My ma’s behind us!” - the story of two Dublin kids that stowawayed to JFK. Surviving a marathon (but not planning another one!) Friendly interruptions as we sit at the bar - always a story! Losing Boarding passes and being saved by a fellow Dub. Irish “Spicy” from bland curries to Zinger burgers to the now famous Spice Bag! Tales from Irish emigration: the J1, one-way tickets, and the backpacker vibe. Fears of crossing borders in your own country. That perfect moment Anthony Bourdain has talked about. The history behind one of Ireland’s greatest pubs. What’s a “snug”: Our love for snugs and the history behind it. Prizes for our most supportive listeners and readers. And of course: Shift.irish - sign-up for our mobile app now! Shout Outs 📢 ⁠Doc on One: Don’t go far…⁠ ⁠The Crown Bar ⁠(and four others) in Belfast. ⁠Mulligans Pub⁠ (and four others) in Dublin. ⁠⁠Blakes of the Hollow⁠⁠ in Enniskillen. The Location 📍 We’re at the ⁠Aul Shebeen in Fairfax⁠, VA.

    Legendary Snugs & Old Man Pubs
  4. 03/16/2025

    Paddy's Day Craic (at the Auld Shebeen)

    Sure St Paddy's Day fever is rising here at the Auld Shebeen in Fairfax, as we record our latest episode. As the bartenders prepare for a hectic weekend, Patrick and Paul sit down to share the latest craic, and to celebrate the launch of the new Shift website at Shift.irish! We’ve been working like mad the past few months to get the first version of Shift launched: The Directory of all things Irish launches with all the St Paddy’s Day shenanigans and shindigs at over 80 locations across North America. Visit Shift.Irish for more on that. Episode Highlights: A late night at the Ireland Funds Gala.The protestor family causing ruckus away from home.Walking in the NYC St Patrick's Day parade.Americans vs Irish on St Patrick's Day.Savannah's surprisingly legendary parade.Going all in on Shift, without being a Plastic Paddy.Patrick's parents partying for Spring Break.The unlikely future as an 'entrepreneur' for an Irish kid.Stories of fear and intimidation in Northern Ireland.Celebrating and learning from our first launch.The website is live, and the app coming this year.The Shift mission - connecting the Irish!"The Devil's at the bottom of the pint" ;) Shout-outs: EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin.Brainstormer - the original Pub Quiz Trivia. Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen (Paul's early job - server)Joel's Restaurant, Clondalkin (Patrick's early job - bartender)Ireland's Four Courts (Uncle-in-law Dave Cahill).Solas Nua - Irish theater, film and cultural organization.Our very own Shift.irish - live for St. Paddy's Day!

    Paddy's Day Craic (at the Auld Shebeen)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Every month, founders of Shift, Patrick and Paul get the craic on the go. They're sharing stories of life as an Irish emigrant, and their latest, boldest adventure, building Shift, the first of its kind, global Cultural Network. For the Irish, obviously. To learn more about Shift, go to https://shift.irish, or jump straight to download the app on the app store, or quick link: https://gettheshift.app.