Dramatic stories, living legends and interviews with the best and the brightest of the Irish world at large have been issuing on the airwaves from a broadcast studio in Chicago for the past 50 years.

And if indications are accurate, there may be another 50 in store for the Hagerty Family Irish Hour, a tribe of Irish-Americans dedicated to bringing to the public all of the wonderful, wild and sometimes wacky traits of the Irish, whether native to the home sod or born with a Celtic soul on United States soil.

"It is an absolute labor of love," said Edward Hagerty, who, along with brother, Jack Jr., and sister, Denise, produces and broadcasts the show.

The show is a unique piece of Chicago Irish history, airing interviews with musicians, politicians, visiting dignitaries and international diplomats for two hours each Saturday morning on radio station WPNA 1490 AM. It also serves as a bulletin board for the Irish community in Chicago, promoting various humanitarian and social efforts.

"We have a simple format," said Hagerty. "We allow anyone with a not-for-profit organization to come on and promote their events and advocate their cause, as long as they're not lining their pockets. The big premise of the program is public service."

Begun in 1951 by Jack Hagerty, Sr., an Irish transplant from Co. Clare, the program fast became a weekly staple in the Chicago Irish scene.

Jack, Sr. was an Irish step dance champion and did the show every morning until he died in 1980. Ed, Jack and Denise assumed responsibility for the show after that and have turned it into a forum for music, arts, culture and politics.

It is strictly a volunteer effort and the family does not get paid for bringing the voice of the Irish to the Windy City.

"We have never taken a dime," said Hagerty. "We volunteer our time in order to give back to the community. And that gives the show integrity."

For the past 10 years, the show has tried to feature interviews with people prominent in the efforts to settle The Troubles in Northern Ireland. Those have included David Trimble, Northern Ireland secretary; Mitch McLaughlin of Sinn Fein; SDLPer David Hume and former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, who served as a special envoy to peace talks between Northern Ireland loyalists and republican leaders.

The knowledgeable and diplomatic Mitchell was one of his favorite interviews, said Hagerty. But one of the most memorable may have been Ben Briscoe, former lord mayor of Dublin in the 1980s.

Hagerty received a briefing from the Irish consul in Chicago before the interview, but nothing really prepared him for the inimitable Briscoe, who came to the studio wearing his mayoral medallion around his neck.

"He came into the studio and the first thing he said was, `There once was an Irishman and a Jew and here I am.' I almost peed in my pants," said Hagerty, still laughing at the incident. "That line was so great. I was in shock. I was wordless. That was one of my favorite shows."

The common man and common woman also get the chance at air-time on the show and the family has invited many priests and nuns as guests to discuss religious or other issues.

The program can take a lot of time to prepare – up to 50 or 60 hours when a guest such as Trimble or Mitchell is on and homework and background reading must be done. Hagerty said he and his siblings have gotten so accustomed to the routine of the program that it is practically second nature, however, and the tenor of the program is relaxed.

"We've had plenty of people on who have been very, very nervous," said Hagerty. "We always try to make people very comfortable on the show." The show celebrated its 50th anniversary April 5 and the family paid a tribute to their father.