Well-Known Pittsburgh Musician Dies

PITTSBURGH, PA — Mike Gallagher, an Irish troubadour and mainstay on the Pittsburgh music scene for a half-century, died on March 30 after a long battle with cancer.

Gallagher, of Stowe Township, was 70.

Gallagher brought his acoustic guitar to many of the city's Irish pubs and events and also sang in churches. Over the years, he had committed 3,000 songs to memory, according to his obituary.

Gallagher was a University of Pittsburgh graduate and had a career in sales and management.

Numerous tributes to him appeared on social media.

"A fixture of Irish Pittsburgh, Mike entertained many thousands of people with his angelic voice throughout the years, regaling listeners with Irish standards, folk tunes, and American classics," a post on the Ancient Order of Hibernians Division # 32 stated.

"Mike has performed at the Irish Festival since 1991," a post on the Pittsburgh Irish Festival Facebook page stated. "He was given the PIF Lifetime Achievement Award. Mike was special and we are surely never going to see the likes of someone like him again."

"We join the Pittsburgh Irish community to express our condolences to the family and friends of Mike Gallagher on his passing," a post on the Riley's Pour House page stated. "He brought the joy of Irish music to so many of us, and the world is a little less bright today without him, but no doubt the angels in heaven are dancing."