A fuel swirler for a gas turbine engine fuel nozzle, comprising: a swirler housing defining an interior chamber having a fuel outlet at a downstream end (D.E) relative to a fuel flow direction through the fuel swirler, the interior chamber defining a tapering transition portion, axially disposed upstream of the fuel outlet, and a socket portion upstream of the transition portion; a swirler core having a generally cylindrical exterior surface, the swirler core mounted inside the interior chamber, the swirler core having a cylindrical shank portion and a downstream end portion axially disposed downstream of the cylindrical shank portion, the downstream end portion having one or more fuel channels disposed thereon, the shank portion concentrically positioned within the socket portion, the downstream end portion engageable with the transition portion of the interior chamber, the one or more fuel channels in fluid communication with the fuel outlet, an internal bore extending longitudinally through the swirler core, the internal bore having an inlet connectable to a source of fuel, and one or more exit holes fluidly connecting the internal bore to the one or more fuel channels, wherein the end portion includes a frustoconical portion and a protruding tapered abutting portion extending axially from the frustoconical portion, wherein the frustoconical portion begins to taper axially upstream of the transition portion of the interior chamber, creating an annular fuel gallery, the annular fuel gallery fluidly connecting the one or more exit holes to the one or more fuel channels; and an annular air gap radially between the swirler housing and the swirler core for thermally shielding the internal bore, the annular air gap defined between the shank portion and the socket portion; wherein the interior chamber of the swirler housing includes a radially thicker portion at the downstream end of the socket portion, wherein the thicker portion provides a barrier between the air gap and the annular fuel gallery to prevent fuel in the annular fuel gallery and the air in the annular air gap from mixing. a swirler housing defining an interior chamber having a fuel outlet at a downstream end (D.E) relative to a fuel flow direction through the fuel swirler, the interior chamber defining a tapering transition portion, axially disposed upstream of the fuel outlet, and a socket portion upstream of the transition portion; a swirler core having a generally cylindrical exterior surface, the swirler core mounted inside the interior chamber, the swirler core having a cylindrical shank portion and a downstream end portion axially disposed downstream of the cylindrical shank portion, the downstream end portion having one or more fuel channels disposed thereon, the shank portion concentrically positioned within the socket portion, the downstream end portion engageable with the transition portion of the interior chamber, the one or more fuel channels in fluid communication with the fuel outlet, an internal bore extending longitudinally through the swirler core, the internal bore having an inlet connectable to a source of fuel, and one or more exit holes fluidly connecting the internal bore to the one or more fuel channels, wherein the end portion includes a frustoconical portion and a protruding tapered abutting portion extending axially from the frustoconical portion, wherein the frustoconical portion begins to taper axially upstream of the transition portion of the interior chamber, creating an annular fuel gallery, the annular fuel gallery fluidly connecting the one or more exit holes to the one or more fuel channels; and an annular air gap radially between the swirler housing and the swirler core for thermally shielding the internal bore, the annular air gap defined between the shank portion and the socket portion; wherein the interior chamber of the swirler housing includes a radially thicker portion at the downstream end of the socket portion, wherein the thicker portion provides a barrier between the air gap and the annular fuel gallery to prevent fuel in the annular fuel gallery and the air in the annular air gap from mixing.