Galway has been carrying a quiet sadness this winter, the kind that settles gently but deeply. Maeve Joyce-Crehan’s passing last January marked the end of a life lived fully in the service of this city — across media, commerce, culture and community. For her husband, Mick Crehan, the loss is both immeasurable and intensely personal.
Almost a year on, Mick speaks with a mix of steadiness and fragility that feels honest. He admits he is not entirely sure how he is doing. “I’m very, very busy,” he says, simply. “And that’s keeping me rolling along.” Being busy, he acknowledges, has helped. It distracts, it fills the days, and it keeps the silence at bay. But Maeve’s absence is everywhere.
“I miss Maeve in so many ways,” he says. “It’s a massive change.”
For Mick — musician, promoter, and owner of The Crane Bar, one of Ireland’s most important traditional music venues — music has always been both a livelihood and a refuge. It was also what first brought him and Maeve together. That shared love now forms the heart of a concert in her honour, taking place on January 17 in the Galway Bay Hotel, with all proceeds going to Galway Hospice.
The event will feature who Mick describes as “the crème de la crème of Irish traditional music,” artists who knew Maeve personally and who did not hesitate when asked to take part. The likes of Matt Molloy, Frankie Gavin, Mairtín O Connor, Catherine McHugh, Sean Ryan, Cormac Cannon, Cathal Hayden, Kathleen Loughnane, and of course, the Crane House Band.
“There wasn’t any hesitation from any of them,” he says. “I’m so grateful. They were very, very happy to do it.”
For Mick, gratitude has become a central language of grief.
Time together, time given
Maeve was diagnosed with cancer six and a half years ago. Throughout her illness, she continued to live with remarkable energy and engagement, remaining involved with The Crane, meeting musicians, chatting to customers, and doing what she loved most — connecting people.
“She was physically and mentally strong,” Mick recalls. “In spite of chemo every two weeks, she coped incredibly well. It was really only the last couple of months that she began to struggle.”
During those final months, one thing mattered more than anything else to Maeve: being at home. Thanks to the Galway Hospice, that wish was honoured.
“The Hospice made that possible,” Mick says quietly. “We’re extremely grateful for it. You hear about what Hospice people do, but until you experience it yourself, you don’t fully understand. It’s all-encompassing. They don’t just look after the person who’s dying — they look after the whole family.”
That care, compassion and humanity left a profound impression on him. The concert, while deeply personal, is also Mick’s way of giving something back.
“I have the ability to put on a major event,” he says. “It’s a great opportunity to raise funds, but also to heighten awareness of the hospice and the work they do.”
A city’s loss
Maeve Joyce-Crehan was known to many long before she became known as Mick’s wife. Her career spanned journalism, public relations, education and leadership. From her early days with the Galway Observer, where her humour and insight enlightened so many, to more than two decades with Galway Chamber, she became a central figure in the city’s civic life.
She joined the Chamber in 1999 and went on to serve as general manager, shaping initiatives that still define Galway’s business community. She was instrumental in establishing the Galway Chamber Business Awards and in publishing Tribes to Tigers, the history of the Chamber. In 2021, she received a Special Recognition Award in honour of her extraordinary contribution.
“She had her finger on the pulse,” Mick says. “She was a people person. She built relationships everywhere — City Council, business organisations, cultural groups. She had this incredible ability to break down barriers.”
Colleagues often spoke of her persuasive warmth, her attention to detail, and her mischievous wit. She was equally passionate about the arts, commissioning local artists, hiring musicians, and quietly championing creativity wherever she found it.
Yet for all her public achievements, Maeve never lost her personal touch. She was inseparable from her daughter Sarah — “more like sisters,” Mick has said — and later found immense joy in the birth of her grandson, Tommie.
Love in the everyday
Some of Mick’s most cherished memories with Maeve are not of big occasions, but of ordinary days made extraordinary by companionship. During Covid, when The Crane closed for 18 months, life slowed down in a way it never had before.
“It was a real blessing in disguise,” he reflects. “We had so much time together. We went for walks along the Prom, had nice meals, just spent time. I’m very grateful for that in hindsight.”
It was time they might otherwise never have had — uninterrupted, unhurried, precious.
Music, too, continues to offer Mick solace. “Music is like a portal,” he says. “Once you start playing, it takes you away. You lose yourself in it.” At times, the emotions are overwhelming; at others, they are healing. Either way, music remains a companion.
The upcoming concert on January 17 is shaping up to be something special. Tickets are selling fast. Friends and family are travelling from near and far. The Galway Bay Hotel feels like the right setting — a place where Maeve had strong connections and where she organised many events over the years.
“It’s a lovely way to remember her,” Mick says. “In one sense, it’s like one big session.”
He admits to feeling nervous, but also quietly proud. “She’d probably be embarrassed,” he smiles. “But she’d also be telling me how to do it properly.”
Maeve planned her own funeral with characteristic humour, instructing Mick not to turn it into a “fleadh cheoil,” while still requesting upbeat music. Her spirit — practical, warm, gently directive — seems woven through everything he does now.
On the night of the concert, Mick believes she will be there in spirit. “I think she’d be proud,” he said. “She knew she made a contribution to Galway. And she knew how much this city meant to her.”
Carrying it forward
Grief, Mick has learned, is not something you move past. It is something you carry. Some days are heavier than others. Some days are buoyed by music, work, or memory.
This concert will raise vital funds for Galway Hospice. It will also raise awareness, honour generosity, and remind a city of what one woman gave — and continues to give — through love, work and example.
Galway Hospice Chief Executive Mary Nash told the Advertiser that Galway Hospice is deeply grateful to Mick and to everyone involved in organising and supporting the Maeve Joyce Memorial Concert.
“The commitment, generosity, and community spirit behind events like this make a real difference to the work of Galway Hospice.
“Community fundraising enables us to deliver services that go far beyond the basics, ensuring that patients and families receive the highest standard of care and support during very difficult times.
“Events like this help us to provide programmes such as our Walk & Talk bereavement support group, our Bereavement Café, and dedicated support groups for families who have lost loved ones.
“We are continually inspired by the kindness and generosity of our community, and we sincerely thank everyone who helps us continue our vital work,” she concluded.
For Mick, that is a consolation. For Galway, it is a reminder of Maeve Joyce-Crehan’s enduring presence in the city she called home.
Her life may have been cut short, but her impact was anything but.
Tickets for the concert are available at https://www.eventbrite.ie
