Patrick Vincent (“Vinny”) O’Malley is a beloved figure in Portland’s Irish community and a steadfast advocate for Maine’s working people. Growing up on Portland’s West End, Vinny became deeply involved in community life and later played a key role in the revival of...
The Heart of Maine
The Heart of Maine is an original interview series produced by the Maine Irish Heritage Center and now airing on Portland Community Television. Each episode features conversations with Mainers whose lives and work reflect the character, culture, and resilience of our state.
Through personal stories and reflections, our guests share experiences that connect Maine’s heritage with its present-day communities — from public service and the arts to local history and civic life. The Heart of Maine offers an engaging portrait of the people and values that continue to shape our region.
The Heart of Maine – Episode 8 – Michael Brennan
Michael Connolly sits down with former Portland Mayor Michael Brennan, a lifelong public servant whose impact on Maine spans decades. From social work and child welfare advocacy to legislative leadership and city governance, Brennan’s career reflects a deep commitment...
The Heart of Maine – Episode 7 – Coilin Hernon
In this episode of The Heart of Maine, host Michael Connolly sits down with Cóilín Hernon (Cóilín Ó hIarnáin)—a renowned boatbuilder from Galway, Ireland—whose life’s work has been dedicated to preserving the craft of the Galway Hooker, Ireland’s iconic traditional...
The Heart of Maine – Episode 6 – Bob Greene
Explore the inspiring life of Bob Greene, who grew up in Portland, Maine’s Black neighborhood on Munjoy Hill during the 1930s and ’40s. After graduating from Portland High School in 1953, Greene began a journalism career that spanned five decades as a global sports...
The Heart of Maine – Episode 5 – Kevin Battle
In mid-20th-century Ireland, thousands of babies born in church-run “Mother and Baby Homes” were taken from their unwed mothers and sent abroad for adoption, often without consent, in a system that blurred charity, coercion, and profit. Battle was one of those...
The Heart of Maine – Episode 4 – Sam Webb
Born in Hallowell, Maine in 1945, Sam Webb's political journey began far from the centers of power. Educated at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia and the University of Connecticut, he was deeply influenced by the American War in Vietnam and the political...
The Heart of Maine – Episode 3 – John Kerry
In this episode of The Heart of Maine, we sit down with John Kerry, a Portland native whose remarkable career has spanned public service, sustainable energy leadership, and national policy. From serving as a Maine state senator to leading energy initiatives across the...
The Heart of Maine – Episode 2 – Margaret Connolly Craven
In this episode of The Heart of Maine, host Michael Connolly sits down with Margaret Connolly Craven for a heartfelt conversation about identity, heritage, and belonging. Born in Galway and raised in Ireland, Margaret later made her home in Maine, where she served in...
The Heart of Maine – Episode 1 – Kevin Concannon
In the debut episode of The Heart of Maine, Michael Connolly talks with Kevin Concannon, a Lewiston native whose career in public service has spanned decades and crossed state and federal lines. From his early days in Maine state government to his appointment as Under...