Why all of Ireland is mourning Glen Hansard
Glen Hansard. 1970 - 2026.
Bob and Bruce and Van were fans. Bono was his good buddy and fellow busker. His band The Frames defined the Dublin rock scene in the Nineties. The first film he was in, The Commitments, won best film in Britain . His second film, Once, based on his own life, won the Best Song Oscar. Appropriately, when Glen Hansard died in a motorcycle crash early Wednesday morning, all of Ireland mourned. He was 56, married to Marie Sariitsa and the father of Christy, who is three. Here’s the latest from RTE. Besides his many musical accomplishments and the two fine movies he was in, Hansard was known as a good guy whose annual Christmas Eve busking on Grafton Street in Dublin raised millions of Euros for Irish people going through hard times. The President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, had this to say, "Glen was one of the vital driving influences of the Irish music world, bringing people together in the sharing of live music. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him or experienced his work.” A book of condolence for Glen Hansard will be open to all today (Thursday) at the Mansion House in Dublin (official residence of the Lord Mayor). Though he was best known as a singer/songwriter/band leader, check out this double bill for the spirit of Glen Hansard: The Commitments and Once. Watch this video and you’ll be a fan too.
I had the very good fortune to meet Glen Hansard on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in November 2012. He had played the night before in Las Vegas and rented a red Mustang convertible to visit this American landmark he heard about growing up as a kid in Dublin. I’ll be sending out a longer tribute to Hansard Sunday morning which will appear in next week’s PDX HI.
Glen Hansard is the one with the guitar. The movie was released in 1991 and is what some call a “cult classic.”
In Hansard’s footsteps, Aaron Rowe from Dublin to perform in Portland
Remember the fun of finding talent on the way up when their shows were affordable? Maybe you saw U2 at the old Paramount in September 1982. Or Elliott Smith at Satyricon. Quarterflash at Key Largo. You get the idea. TIP. There’s a singer songwriter from Dublin who might be the next Glen Hansard playing in Portland this Sunday August 2. Aaron Rowe is causing a stir in Ireland. (Hibernian Anna Hennessy writes, “Ooh...Aaron Rowe. He just opened for Dermot Kennedy for 2 nights at Aviva Stadium in Dublin.”) His biggest hit is “Hey Ma,” which Mike Phillips covered at Bloomsday 2025. He’s playing at Mississippi Studios Sunday Aug. 2. Twenty bucks’ll get you in the door.
Catch some rising Irish stars
You can put Chasing Abbey in the same category of up-and-coming Irish musicians playing soon in Portland. (Too rare a category.) Three friends from Tullamore formed a band to compete in a middle school competition. They lost, but stayed together to create a sound that’s having some success on the Irish charts. To these antiquated ears, Chasing Abbey’s mix of dance pop and Irish trad music reminds me of when Moving Hearts paired rock and roll with the olde tunes and songs. It’s got a beat. You can dance to it. The banjo is often featured. More tin whistle! Chasing Abbey plays the old Hibernian Hall, now known as Wonder Ballroom, on August 12. Tickets start at $35.
Oh, to be from Mayo this week
Families, friends and fans of the Mayo football team went wild in Westport, crazy in Castlebar, bonkers in Ballina and mad in Murrisk after their squad won the All-Ireland for the first time in 75 years last Sunday. Don’t tell any of them that this wasn’t as big as the World Cup final. They’ll tell you it’s bigger. You can read here why a uniquely Irish sporting event caught the world’s attention this week.
The Holy Mountain that put Mayo on the map
County Mayo is home to the holiest of Ireland’s Holy Mountains: Croagh Patrick. Last Sunday was Reek Sunday - the last Sunday in July - when thousands of pilgrims climb Croagh Patrick each year. Five days ago, for the first time ever, Reek Sunday coincided with an All-Ireland football final. To have Croagh Patrick’s hometown team win that final is what broadcasters call “UNBELIEVABLE.” Some of you have climbed Croagh Patrick. It’s not as easy as it looks. Believe me. Here’s how it went when I took it on in October 2025.
Not an actual item for sale. Just a picture of a Waterford bowl I got off the internet.
Irish Treasure
The PDX HI got a news tip about an Irish estate sale in SW Portland this weekend (Aug. 1 & 2). Caveat emptor. I’m taking their word for it. “A massive estate sale this weekend (8/1 and 8/2)…a huge amount of Belleek for sale, as well as Polish stoneware, Waterford crystal, and other collectibles.” Contact the All-Ireland Cultural Society for deets. Irishclubpdx@gmail.com.