S6E8: Kate Kerrigan asks, Am I Irish Yet?

Irish Stew Podcast

Writer, performer, and force of nature, born Morag Prunty, but best known by her pen name Kate Kerrigan whisks us from London where she grew up with an Irish identity to Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way where she’s living with an English accent.
In this episode, Kate spins tales of idyllic childhood summers in Mayo, the dynamics of being Irish in England during the turbulent 70s and 80s, her challenges in navigating the complex terrain of her Irish identity, and her late-in-life recognition of the obstacles and superpowers in her ADHD.
An in-demand London magazine editor despite dropping out of school at age 15, Kate became a successful novelist with the New York Times bestseller Ellis Island to her credit. Now she’s taken her act to the stage, earning raves for her acclaimed one-woman show, Am I Irish Yet?, which dives into her “feels Irish but sounds English” dilemma in a performance resonating with audiences in Ireland, the UK, and from anyone not living where they were born.
Kate’s next goal is to bring this tour de force to the world’s capital of people not living where they were born—New York City.
Join us for a deeply personal exploration of identity, belonging, and cultural heritage, along with more than a bit of craic with the irrepressible Kate Kerrigan!
Links:
Websites:

• Kate Kerrigan
• Am I Irish Yet?
• Circus 250: Am I Irish Yet?
  

Instagram:

• @katekerriganauthor
• @amiirishyet

Other Social Media:

• Facebook
  
• Twitter/X
  
• LinkedIn: Morag Prunty

Chapters

1. Intro (00:00:00)

2. Mayo Childhood Summers (00:03:45)

3. Child of Irish Teachers (00:06:08)

4. Educational Challanges (00:08:41)

5. ADHD and Neurodiversity (00:10:12)

6. Executive Function Meets Creative Whirlwind (00:14:11)

7. Being Irish in London (00:19:15)

8. An Irish Hierarchy of Rejection (00:25:37)

9. Being a Plastic Paddy (00:29:21)

10. Ireland Before the Celtic Tiger (00:31:58)

11. Writing and Performing: Am I Irish Yet? (00:36:35)

12. Geography and Reaction to: Am I Irish Yet (00:45:10)

13. Seamus Plug (00:51:28)

14. Irishness Blind Spots (00:53:00)

15. John and Martin Recap (00:59:12)

16. Credits (01:00:46)