One of Ireland’s finest singer-songwriters, Mick Hanly, will play the Gig Room in Kinvara’s Community Centre next Saturday May 10. The show, which is being hosted by Kinvara Area Music, will feature some of his classic hits as well as more recent material.

Growing up in Limerick City in the 1960s, Mick was inspired by mid-50s rock ‘n’ roll and by the Liverpool beat group scene of the ’60s. He soon turned his attention to American folk singers including Woody Guthrie, and Leadbelly as well as emerging artists Paul Simon, James Taylor and Canada’s Joni Mitchell.

When he first heard Planxty he fell in love with their fresh take on Irish traditional music and this was another formative influence.

Mick went on to become one of the country’s best-known songwriters and performers, with Past the Point of Rescue, from his album All I Remember being recorded by US country star Hal Ketchum in 1991 and becoming a huge hit Stateside, receiving the BMI award for two million radio plays.

Here at home, his songs have been covered by singers including Christy Moore, Mary Black, Dolores Keane, Seán Keane and Delbert McClinton.

His 2016 album, Homeland ,which featured 10 new songs, reunited him with artists he had worked with previously, including The Voice Squad, Donal Lunny, Keith Donald, Eoghan O’Neill, Dave Keary and Ray Fean. The title track was covered by Celtic Woman and the High Kings.

Mick’s latest album is 2023’s Marathon and it features most of the Homeland line-up.

His Kinvara concert on May 10 starts 8pm (doors at 7.30pm) and admission is €20/18 with members/concessions on the door.

Tickets from www.kinvaramusic.com and in Healing Harvest, Kinvara.

Pictured: Mick Hanly