Glen Hansard to perform as Late Late spotlights Irish culture
One of Ireland’s greatest musicians, glen hansard, will appear on The Late Late Show’s St Patrick’s Day special, reflecting on a career that began on the streets of Dublin and led to an Oscar, before performing one of his favourite Irish songs. The guest list points to a wide-angle celebration of Irish creativity, bringing together music, comedy, film, and language revival in a single broadcast.
Glen Hansard performance focus
Glen Hansard will be in studio to discuss the journey from busking in Dublin to winning an Academy Award, then perform one of his favourite Irish songs for the holiday weekend. He will also share why he believes Irish music remains one of the country’s greatest exports. The pattern suggests the special is framing music as the connective tissue of the night’s storytelling.
After being pre-empted by Ireland’s 6 Nations match with Wales, the programme returns on Friday, March 13 with a bumper lineup. By centring glen hansard and pairing him with artists from different corners of Irish culture, the booking strategy signals a night designed to reach both long-time fans and newer audiences drawn to contemporary Irish voices.
Joanne McNally’s 3Arena milestone
Joanne McNally joins Patrick Kielty to discuss making history as the first Irish comedian to headline back-to-back 3Arena shows and to preview her Pinotphile tour dates in Australia. She will reflect on the surge in demand for her work and on being “officially classed as superhuman. ” The figures point to comedy’s escalating pull alongside music on national stages.
Language takes centre stage too, with How to Gael hosts Louise Cantillon, Doireann Ní Glacháin and Síomha Ní Ruairc set to talk about the podcast’s rapid rise, the revival of the Irish language, and the joy they find in working together. Their appearance underscores how Irish-language content is attracting mainstream attention, bridging everyday entertainment with cultural renewal.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers interview
Jonathan Rhys Meyers will discuss the loss of his home in the LA wildfires and his move to a farm in Co Wexford, describing how he is embracing rural life and what comes next in his career. The shift from Los Angeles to Wexford hints at a broader theme of personal reinvention threaded through the night’s conversations.
Storytelling is also set to take a theatrical turn as Tommy Tiernan and Mick Flannery discuss The House Must Win, a new musical drama written by Flannery and starring Tiernan. They will share how the project came to life and reflect on their shared passion for music and narrative, with Flannery potentially offering a tune to preview the work. The collaboration suggests porous lines between Ireland’s comedy and music scenes, where performers routinely cross disciplines.
Poetry and trad keep the St Patrick’s Day spirit expansive. Cork writer Darragh Fleming brings a specially commissioned poem exploring St Patrick’s Days past and present, while Irish trad group Biird will take the stage with their signature sound. Together with Glen Hansard’s performance, these segments highlight how contemporary artists reinterpret tradition for a modern audience.
The St Patrick’s Day special is scheduled for Friday, March 13. If the mix of guests lands as planned, the night’s blend of music, comedy, language, and personal storytelling suggests a template the show could revisit for future cultural celebrations.
