In one of the most moving pieces of entertainment news Ireland has seen this week, Imelda May has shared the advice that helped her navigate devastating grief after the sudden death of her longtime friend Glen Hansard. Speaking candidly on Ryan Tubridy’s The Bookshelf podcast, the singer reflected on loss, friendship and the difficult process of accepting a tragedy that felt impossible to comprehend.
May and Hansard had known each other for 35 years, building a bond rooted in music, mutual admiration and years of shared moments on and off stage. For many fans of Irish entertainment news, their friendship was best symbolised by the annual Christmas Eve busk on Grafton Street, where both performers helped raise funds for the Simon Community.
Imelda May’s grief story leads entertainment news Ireland
Recalling the shock of Hansard’s death in a motorbike crash earlier this year, May admitted she struggled to accept what had happened. She described him as “a wonderful, wonderful writer” and said she saw him as a major creative inspiration, praising his songwriting and the emotional connection they shared while performing together.
She also remembered the conversations that defined their friendship beyond music. According to May, Hansard was deeply curious, thoughtful and spiritually engaged, with a fascination for the stars and the wider mysteries of life. Those memories, she suggested, are now part of what makes his absence feel so profound.
The advice that changed her perspective
May revealed that fellow musician Liam Ó Maonlaí helped her through the earliest stage of grief with a simple but powerful message: stop fighting the loss and “lean into it.”
- She said she had been resisting the reality of Hansard’s death because it felt too sudden and too cruel.
- Ó Maonlaí encouraged her to accept that it was not for anyone else to decide the timing of a person’s life.
- May said that advice brought her real comfort and continues to guide her.
It is the kind of heartfelt reflection that resonates far beyond celebrity news Ireland, touching on a universal experience that many listeners will understand.
A wider reflection on loss in Irish entertainment news
May also spoke about another deep personal loss: her friendship with Sinéad O’Connor. In comments that have drawn attention across entertainment news Ireland, she said she still misses the late singer intensely and found reading O’Connor’s memoir especially emotional.
What stayed with her most was the feeling that O’Connor’s voice lived on through the pages. May said she delayed finishing the final chapter because she did not want to say goodbye all over again. That image, carrying the last chapter for weeks, offered a striking glimpse into how grief can linger in small, private rituals.
Why this story is striking a chord
This moment in entertainment news Ireland stands out because it is not driven by glamour or headlines alone. It is a reminder of the human stories behind Irish celebrity news and the emotional bonds that shape the music world.
For readers who follow music news Ireland, Irish music news and broader pop culture Ireland, May’s honesty offers something rare: a public figure speaking plainly about sorrow, friendship and healing without performance or pretence.
Conclusion
At a time when so much entertainment news Ireland moves fast, Imelda May’s reflections invite people to pause. Her memories of Glen Hansard and Sinéad O’Connor are not just tributes to two important artists, but reminders that grief rarely follows logic. Sometimes, as she learned, the only way through loss is to stop resisting it and gently lean into it.
