{"id":568354,"date":"2026-07-31T09:18:16","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T09:18:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/568354\/"},"modified":"2026-07-31T09:18:16","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T09:18:16","slug":"a-week-of-deep-emotions-in-ireland-it-started-with-unbridled-joy-ended-in-unvarnished-grief-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/568354\/","title":{"rendered":"A week of deep emotions in Ireland: It started with unbridled joy, ended in unvarnished grief \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is, to coin a phrase, a week of two halves, one that begins with the airwaves awash with unbridled joy after the vanquishing of Irish sport\u2019s most fabled hex, before being bathed in unvarnished grief following the tragic death of one of Ireland\u2019s most cherished musicians. Baz Ashmawy, for one, sounds almost dazed after hearing Wednesday\u2019s news that Dublin singer Glen Hansard has died in a motorcycle crash. \u201cThis is a big one,\u201d says Ashmawy, standing in for Oliver Callan (RT\u00c9 Radio 1<\/a>, weekdays). <\/p>\n

The presenter\u2019s palpably stunned air speaks to the wider mood. Such is the suddenness of Hansard\u2019s passing<\/a> that it inevitably casts a pall over Mayo\u2019s historic victory over Kerry in Sunday\u2019s All-Ireland football final. Ashmawy, usually possessed of a roguish mien, overcomes his initial shock sufficiently to chat with journalist Victoria Mary Clarke, who remembers Hansard\u2019s friendship with herself and her late husband Shane MacGowan. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s the first of many heartfelt \u2013 if devastated \u2013 tributes to the Dublin singer-songwriter and Frames frontman throughout the day, including Ashmawy\u2019s own recollection of the sense of ownership and pride that suffused the country when Hansard won an Academy Award for his song Falling Slowly from the movie Once.<\/p>\n

The sombre tone is in stark contrast to the euphoric mood that earlier prevails on Monday, as Mayo, along with most of the nation, celebrate the county\u2019s first All-Ireland title since 1951. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe outpouring of mania has been delightful,\u201d says Callan, in the hot seat at the start of the week. The presenter is in typically dry form as he looks back on Mayo finally lifting the Sam Maguire<\/a> Cup after many painful failures. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe never again have to hear the keening and the yearning, it\u2019s done. The whole country willed them to do it, except for a small part of the southwest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"KatieKatie Hannon and Colm \u00d3 Mong\u00e1in recap the All-Ireland final on Radio 1 Drivetime. Photograph: RTE <\/p>\n

Even Kerry people can\u2019t begrudge Mayo\u2019s long-overdue triumph, judging by the reaction of Katie Hannon, co-presenter of Drivetime (RT\u00c9 Radio 1, weekdays). A native of the Kingdom, Hannon is generous in defeat, observing that the atmosphere in Croke Park was unprecedented. <\/p>\n

\u201cI have never ever, ever, ever felt what was in the stadium at the final whistle yesterday,\u201d she says of Mayo\u2019s win. \u201cIt was the most emotional moment I have ever seen at a sporting occasion.\u201d <\/p>\n

Co-host Colm \u00d3 Mong\u00e1in attests that his colleague is taking the setback not so bad: \u201cI\u2019ve seen people more downbeat at losing a final.\u201d<\/p>\n

As to why Mayo finally succeeded in reclaiming the title after 75 years, sports psychologist Stephen McIvor suggests that Kerry\u2019s status as favourites worked in Mayo\u2019s favour. \u201cIt\u2019s always the advantage to be the underdog,\u201d McIvor says, \u201cit freed them up.\u201d <\/p>\n

Still, as \u00d3 Mong\u00e1in points out, the result was hardly a foregone conclusion. \u201cAs the great military strategist Helmuth von Moltke said: \u2018No plan survives first contact with the enemy,\u2019\u201d the presenter says, surely one of the few times that a 19th century Prussian general is invoked in relation to Gaelic games.<\/p>\n

This geekily forensic eye to detail is again in evidence on Wednesday\u2019s show, though a more solemn ambience prevails as the co-presenters cover the Hansard story.<\/p>\n

\u00d3 Mong\u00e1in reminisces about first encountering The Frames via graffiti on Dublin walls, while Hannon remembers the singer as a distinctive figure in the capital\u2019s musical landscape in the pre-Celtic Tiger era.<\/p>\n

Such anecdotes underline the impressive longevity of Hansard\u2019s career. However, the full span of his remarkable talents is best captured by his fellow musicians, as when composer, violinist and former Frames member Colm Mac Con Iomaire talks to Hannon about his old friend with clarity and affection, not to mention admirable composure. <\/p>\n

[\u00a0Glen Hansard died in single-vehicle crash in Dublin in early hours of WednesdayOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

Unsurprisingly, Hansard\u2019s dreadfully untimely passing dominates Wednesday\u2019s edition of Arena (RT\u00c9 Radio 1, weekdays), as host Rick O\u2019Shea invites guests to reflect on the singer\u2019s life and music. There\u2019s an additional poignancy to the coverage; with bitter symmetry, it\u2019s one day short of a year since the equally jolting death of O\u2019Shea\u2019s beloved predecessor, Se\u00e1n Rocks, who had helmed the arts show since its inception.<\/p>\n

Despite this emotive backdrop, O\u2019Shea navigates the occasion with thoroughness and sensitivity. Singer and actress Maria Doyle Kennedy recalls starring alongside a young Hansard in The Commitments, while commending his instinct for community and support. It\u2019s a trait also highlighted by singer Lisa O\u2019Neill: \u201cHe believed in younger musicians.\u201d <\/p>\n

As to Hansard\u2019s tireless activism, singer-songwriter Mundy recalls the origins of his late friend\u2019s famed annual Christmas Eve busking session for Dublin Simon Community. However, while Mundy goes on to perform a full-throated rendition of The Frames\u2019 signature song Revelate, it\u2019s clear that he\u2019s reeling from the news. \u201cI\u2019ve been crying all day,\u201d the singer says, \u201cit\u2019s just bamboozlement to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Indeed, as O\u2019Shea admits, all his guests are numb with grief: \u201cYou can hear it\u2019s not the easiest thing to talk about.\u201d As with the tributes heard elsewhere, the rawness of such testimony captures the broader feeling of disbelief and bereavement in a way that radio \u2013 a medium suited to intimate immediacy \u2013 is uniquely capable of. Moreover, by the time the programme ends, the listener is in no doubt about the depth and breadth of Hansard\u2019s creative gifts, not to mention his profound personal decency.<\/p>\n

Awful as the circumstances are, the programme also underscores O\u2019Shea\u2019s abilities as a broadcaster. He has made the show his own, despite taking over in the stricken aftermath of Rocks\u2019s death, and indeed despite the inexplicable foot-dragging of RT\u00c9 management in making his post permanent. <\/p>\n

As Wednesday\u2019s difficult programme demonstrates, O\u2019Shea is an astute judge of tone as well as content. In his quietly self-effacing manner, he concedes that it\u2019s too early to assess Hansard\u2019s legacy, but goes ahead and asks anyway.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an impossible question, really. Yet, even as people mourn the immeasurable loss of such a towering musician \u2013 above all for his wife and young son \u2013 it\u2019s Hansard himself who perhaps provides the best answer, certainly when it comes to inspiring artists and those who \u2013 like O\u2019Shea and the Arena team – value Ireland\u2019s cultural life. When accepting his Academy Award in 2008, Hansard concluded with a rousing call to action, one that\u2019s repeatedly aired in the aftermath his passing: \u201cMake art.\u201d <\/p>\n

Amid the tragedy, it\u2019s a triumphant valediction.<\/p>\n

Moment of the Week\"SarahSarah McInerney shares her family links to Mayo. <\/p>\n

Such is the wave of elation following Mayo\u2019s All-Ireland win that several Radio 1 presenters attempt to surf it, despite lacking obvious affiliations to the county. <\/p>\n

For instance, while discussing the match on Drivetime (see above), Kildare native Colm \u00d3 Mong\u00e1in opportunistically claims Mayo loyalties via his in-laws. In a similar vein, sports correspondent Darren Frehill sounds faintly discomfited as he chats to presenter Sarah McInerney on Morning Ireland (RT\u00c9 Radio 1).<\/p>\n

\u201cI have to say, that as a fellow Galwegian, I think you\u2019ve gone a step too far this morning,\u201d Frehill says, before revealing why he\u2019s so perplexed at his Galway compatriot: \u201cYou\u2019re kitted out in the Mayo jersey, fair play to you.\u201d <\/p>\n

McInerney replies in defiant yet oddly sheepish manner. \u201cIt\u2019s family links,\u201d she says, \u201cvery strong family links.\u201d <\/p>\n

Heavy on the Mayo, as it were.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It is, to coin a phrase, a week of two halves, one that begins with the airwaves awash…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":568355,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[257253,48125,146,143751,85,46,48124,155156,257254,48123],"class_list":["post-568354","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-entertainment","tag-baz-ashmawy","tag-colm-o-mongain","tag-entertainment","tag-glen-hansard","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-katie-hannon","tag-mayo-gaa","tag-rick-o-shea","tag-sarah-mcinerney"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/568354","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=568354"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/568354\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/568355"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=568354"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=568354"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=568354"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}