Music, Food, Creative Arts and Headspace
Mike’s Journey
Mike’s work has taken him everywhere and anywhere working with so many fantastic people. Please keep scrolling to see his work over the years, new releases and everything in between…
1977
1977 began professional career with Maura O Connell in a duo called TUMBLEWEED.
1980
Became Stockton’s Wing guitarist, singer and songwriter
Wrote all songs on Stockton’s Wing’s ground-breaking and critically acclaimed Album Light in the Western Sky (1984) including hit Beautiful Affair and Walk Away.
Played at both Michale Jackson gigs in Cork, 1988
1989
Sammy Davis Junior invites the band to perform at his Lansdowne Road shows in Dublin
1990
Stockton’s Wing went on location to take part in the Noel Pearson/Jim Sheridan film production of the John B. Keane play The Field which featured Oscar nominee Richard Harris and John Hurt.
1994
Left Stocktons Wing to tour with Finbar Furey and pursue a solo career.
Signed to German label Wundertutte to release his first album “ Someone Like You”
1997
Favourite 10 years of his music life collaborating and performing with Ronnie Drew ( The Dubliners) on his theatre shows Ronnie I hardly knew Ya and An Evening with Ronnie Drew and Mike Hanrahan
Several runs in Dublin, Off Broadway, London and countless tours across Europe and North America.
Produced four albums for Ronnie including two with Ronnie and Eleanor Shanley which gave us the iconic duet A Couple More Years
Musical director for the critically acclaimed theatre shows Legends of Irish Music featuring Ronnie along with Liam Clancy, Finbar Furey, Johnny McAvoy, Jim McCann, and Paddy Reilly.
2000
Elected Chairman of the Board at IMRO ( The Irish Music Rights Organisation) having played a pivotal role in its set up back in 1994.
2002
Second solo album What you Know
2003
Mike elected for a second term at IMRO
2006
Mike enters the Food Industry
2017
Returned to the music and wrote a Memoir, Beautiful Affair –
A Journey in Music, Food and Friendship (2019)
2023
Study break – Post Grad and Fellowship on Equity in Brain Health at Trinity College Dublin with Global Brain Health Institute.
Now an Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health.
2025
Creating new pathways to enhance our understanding of Dementia with a particular focus on the importance of the Creative Arts in Dementia Care and Wellbeing.
Writing a book of short stories on the subject.
Back on the road with Stocktons Wing, Eleanor Shanley and Pat Shortt.
Stocktons Wing
The Wing toured extensively throughout the world collaborating with a variety of artists developing a unique soundscape drawing from a well of traditional and contemporary influences. This inimitable exciting sound encouraged many younger generations to explore their own creativity and performance beyond the boundaries of their culture. The Wing line up is, and always has been a transient collection of musicians, the coming together of talented musicians from all genres of music to perform and promote the music and songs of Stocktons Wing.
Recent Releases
Eleanor Shanley & Mike Hanrahan – The Ghost of You (2026)
These four songs take us on a journey across the shifting sands of the memories and emotions that shape our lives.
Craggy Hill written by Mike, inspired by the unsung women of the Irish revolution.
Gulf Coast Highway written by Nancy Griffiths, James Hooker and Danny Flowers is a song
of reminiscence and enduring love.
A Couple More Years, by Shel Silverstein and Denis Locorriere, reflects on experience
and the perspective that comes with age.
Four Green Fields. The final piece is a haunting rendition of a song written by Irish folk
legend Tommy Makem.
Eleanor says, “These songs carry so many memories for us. Recording A Couple More
Years again felt like stepping back into the room with Ronnie — the laughter, the stories, the
gentleness of him. The Ghost of You is our way of honouring those moments while sharing
new ones with audiences who come to our shows.”
Mike says, “This project is rooted in friendship — with each other, and with Ronnie. A
Couple More Years has always held a special place in our hearts, and revisiting it for The
Ghost of You brought a real sense of pride. Eleanor and I have spent decades in the music,
and this EP feels like a celebration of the journey, the people, and the stories that shaped us.”
Artwork Eleanor Shanley, Design Mark Nally
The Ballad of the Crimson Warrior (2023)
A film inspired by the Irish Cultural Revolution. Premiered at Templebar Tradfest, MKE Milwaukee Fest and Phoenix Arizona (2022). Filmed and recorded with Aldoc, with help from Seana Davey on harp, Sive on vocals and guitar, and Norah Constance Walsh on piano and strings. Dedicated to the women and men of the Irish Cultural Revolution
A River Rolls On (2021)
Released in May 2021 featuring Dementia Inclusive choir The Forgetmenots and my friends Nora Constance Walsh, Lisa Lambe, Sandy Kelly, & Aldoc.
Inspired by a personal story of Dementia
Upcoming Gigs…
With Stocktons Wing
July 19th Hibernacle Festival Orlagh House Dublin
Aug 9th Fleadh Belfast
With Eleanor Shanley
June 10: UCl with Grainne Hope – Lunchtime concert
June 11: Oscars Folk Club,The Hollywood Bar Roscommon-
June 18:, Murphys Hotel Tubbercurry, Co Sligo –
June 19: Carrick on Shannon (The Wild Atlantic Way with Karan Casey)
June 20: Leitrim Inn , Leitrim Village , Co Leitrim –
June 21: Matt Molloys Westport Co Mayo –
June 22: Coynes Gastropub & Pantry, Tigh Chadhain Killkieran, Connemara,
June 24: Mount Carmel Concerts Loughrea, Co Galway
June 27: Castleisland, Co Kerry – OH Folk at Brownes Bar
July 09: Bobs Bar Durrow, Co Laois –
July 10th: Culturlann Sweeney Kilkee, Co Clare
July 11: Tinnahealy Arts Centre , Co Wicklow
Aug 06: Kilkenny – The Pembroke Hotel, (Concert and Arts Exhibition by Eleanor)
Aug 07: Clonmel Buskers Festival, Co Tipperary
Aug 22 nd Glengoole centre
Mike Hanrahan Solo Gigs
May 17th Bealtainne Voices O Connell Monument Ennis
The Artfull Brain Creative arts for well being Lexicon Theatre May 12th May 18th June 8th June 9th
May 22nd Creative brainwaves Carnegie Library Swords
May 28th Bealtainne Ambassadors Choice with Liz McMaus Project Arts