RIGHT: GLEN Hansard accompanies Paddy Reilly singing The Fields of Athenry at the remembrance celebration following the funeral of songwriter Pete St. John in Dublin in April 2022. PHOTO: Ciaran Reilly and O’Brien Press from the book Paddy Reilly – From the Fields of Athenry to The Dubliners and Beyond

Passing of Glen Hansard, a fan of The Fields of Athenry

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THE music world was in shock last week with the sad passing of Oscar-winning singer-songwriter Glen Hansard in a road accident in Dublin.

While best known as a Rock singer with The Frames and for his role in The Commitments, a lesser-known fact about the late Glen was that he was a huge fan of the Folk singer, Paddy Reilly’s hit The Fields of Athenry.

When Paddy sang the song informally at a celebration remembering the life and times after the funeral of songwriter Pete St. John in April 2022, Glen, who was an admirer of both Pete and Paddy, accompanied the latter on guitar and backing vocals.

Glen was much respected across all genres of music and his tragic death is mourned by all but especially by his wife and three-year-old son.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam uasal.

Tom Gilmore
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