Day in the Life - Mike Hanrahan of Stockton’s Wing at Kilkenny Tradfest

Mike Hanrahan is an author, songwriter, guitarist, producer, and a chef, from Ennis, Co Clare.

This week he will take to a Kilkenny stage for a very special Kilkenny Tradfest concert with the reinvigorated Stockton’s Wing in Hotel Kilkenny on St Patrick’s Night

The reinvigorated Stockton’s Wing in concert

Mike began performing professionally with Maura O’Connell in 1977 in a duo called ‘Tumbleweed’ before joining Stockton’s Wing in 1980. Hanrahan spent  15 years with Stockton's Wing as songwriter, guitarist and singer, and ten years with Ronnie Drew as guitarist, writer and producer.

Stockton’s Wing was formed in Ennis, County Clare in the late 1970’s. The band emerged from the trad scene playing in local pubs to playing concerts and festivals across the USA and Europe in the height of their career during the 1980’s.

The group’s music evolved taking influences from rock, pop, and world music, with fans delighted that they are performing again.

However, before that, Mike left the music industry for a number of years to train and work as a chef. So here is a glimpse into his music and food…

In 2020, you started back performing with the reinvigorated Stockton’s Wing and released a number one collection Beautiful Affair A Retrospective. What prompted you to bring Stockton’s Wing back to the stage?

We had played a few shows in the previous years and then Universal Music called to say they had secured the entire back catalogue of our music, much of which had disappeared.

We were delighted. The young generation of music fans needed to hear the work we created. I felt it was still valid and had not lost its spark despite the passing years.

(L-R) Mike Hanrahan, Paul Roche, Paul Roche, Karol Lynch, Tara Breen & Paul McSherry of the reinvigorated Stockton’s Wing

The current line-up features founding members Paul Roche and yourself. You have been joined by fiddler extraordinaire Tara Breen, Karol Lynch on banjo and mandolin, and guitarist Paul McSherry. How hard was it to work with a new band and younger musicians?

Some of the old members were busy in their own careers so we needed to keep the engine running. Stockton’s Wing were always quite a fluid membership band with lots of people coming and going over the years, we have had several different line-ups so playing with new people is never a problem once we all buy into the Wing sound and live concert ethos of total commitment to the music and the audience.

Tara Karol and Paul are steeped in the Wing tradition, so it was easy for them to slip in and be part of the big picture. It’s a joy to perform with them.

In 1990 Stockton’s Wing took part in the Noel Pearson/Jim Sheridan film production of the John B. Keane play THE FIELD. How amazing was that experience?

Incredible experience. Great to share a space in the world of film and watch wonderful artists committed to their work. They work hard and I saw extraordinarily little tinsel, lots of great art and superb performances. Beautiful people.

Stockton’s Wing also supported at both Michael Jackson gigs in Cork in 1988.

We never met him, but we had some fun as a band at it.

I met our old manager yesterday Oliver Barry who promoted both of those shows and we had some nice reminiscences on the build-up, the excitement, and the gigs.

I will never forget the Cork welcome as we arrived on stage. It is one of those memories that will always give me joy.

In 2006 you trained and worked as a teacher at Ballymaloe Cookery School, spending ten years in kitchens before returning to his music and writing. Why the career change?

I had spent 12 years on the board of IMRO, six in the chair, as well as performing and to be honest I had burned out. I was tired of the business and tired of the people in the business.

I found it increasingly difficult to fight for our rights in Europe, without the full support of the Irish writers who were signed British based publishers who had different agendas.

I loved cooking so I enlisted for a three-month course and stayed in the industry for ten glorious years. 

I ran two memorable kitchens at Pat Shortt’s Bar (yes that fella) in Castlemartyr, East Cork and The Artisan Parlour in Ringsend Dublin. We cooked interesting food from local producers and received many awards, reviews, and accolades for our efforts.

I had great people working with me at both places. In 2019 I released my memoir on my life of food and music.

It chronicles the early days growing up in Clare, my entire music career, and the sudden change of step to train and work as a teacher at Ballymaloe Cookery School. Resulting in spending ten years in kitchens before returning to my music and writing.

Food and music have been parallel lines that have kept me on track my entire life.

Your memoir ‘Beautiful Affair’, is it a cookbook with a twist?

It is a book about my life of food, music, and friendship. It was a chance to put it all together. Harper Collins loved the idea, and we produced Beautiful Affair. It was just that.

I feel privileged that I was able to go back through my life and salute all those who made it worthwhile by teaching me the good things and the importance of friendship.

I asked this question to your good friend Paddy Cleere last week, so I must ask you too. What would be your desert island disc - the one album you would take if you were stranded on a desert island? 

Ohhhh Shootenanny by Eels. It has got all the emotions, love, hurt, anger, and lots of fun. And great songs.

Stockton’s Wing will perform at Kilkenny Tradfest on March 17 in Hotel Kilkenny. What do you think of our ten-year-old traditional music festival?

It's a testament to those who organise and support Kilkenny Tradfest that you are thriving ten years on. A festival is only as good as the people who create the space for artists to perform and audiences to enjoy.

What are your memories of Siamsa Kilkenny in Nowlan Park and the many gigs in Rosehill Hotel and Nowlan Park?

I remember The Dubliners going on stage without Barney McKenna who was missing. When he ambled up Ronnie walked to the microphone and spoke Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the late Barney McKenna. I will never forget that. We had a brilliant gig there.

All our shows in Kilkenny were super. We connected with the audience.

The Rosehill (now Hotel Kilkenny) was like a home away from home. We were treated like lords and the gigs were electric.

I remember one gig when I was down with the flu and the lads decided I would do the gig but sing all the songs at the beginning and then go back to bed and they would continue with the tunes. We did just that and no one complained.

That is because we had a beautiful relationship with Kilkenny audiences. That was before we started beating them at hurling!

For a full list of concerts at this week's Kilkenny Tradfest visit https://kilkennytradfest.com/ concerts-2023/

Kilkenny Tradfest runs from March 15 - 19, 2023.