EPISODE 3: Irish Mad Lad Goes To War

Imagine having zero military experience, a slight drinking problem, and deciding to head straight to the frontline of the war in Ukraine... for the craic. That’s exactly what self proclaimed Lord Mayor of Leixlip did.

In this episode, I sat down with this absolute mad lad in the corner of the only pub in Leixlip where he’s not banned. We got into his wild story: from his controversial GoFundMe campaign to almost getting blown up on his first day, losing friends on the battlefield, and eventually coming back home.He joined the foreign legion as a civilian, which is rare. He soon realized he was placed in a Nazi unit and swiftly transferred to a new unit consisting of Latino soldiers. He learned Spanish drinking with Colombians. After 18 months he climbed the ranks and begrudgingly accepted the position of commander. He also earned himself 3 medals along the way for his bravery.Well I now bestow upon him a medal for the Maddest Bowzie in the whole of Ireland!

I am Joe McGucken. This is BOLD! A podcast where I get to explore the stories and perspectives you don’t hear every day. Whether it’s sitting down with someone who works as Santa Claus, chatting with a pigeon racer, or diving into the quirks of modern life. It’s all about conversations that are as entertaining as they are unexpected.

Some episodes, it’s just me sharing thoughts, unpacking interesting ideas, or telling stories from the week. Other times, I’m talking to people with jobs, hobbies, or life experiences that’ll make you stop and think - or at least make you laugh.

I’m not here to push boundaries for the sake of it. I just want to shine a light on things that are fascinating, funny, or maybe even a bit unusual. If you’re into comedy, good stories, and the kind of stuff you’ll want to share with your friends, give it a listen.

• No. of episodes: 24
• Latest episode: 2025-07-20
• Society & Culture

Where can you listen?