Hundreds of mourners, including prominent Irish musicians, entertainers, and fans, gathered at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin for the funeral of Academy Award-winning singer-songwriter Glen Hansard. The service drew a large crowd that queued for hours outside, while others watched proceedings unfold on big screens. Pallbearers carried a wicker coffin topped with flowers into the cathedral as the community came together to mourn the musician, who died at age 56 following a single-vehicle motorcycle crash on the outskirts of Dublin on July 29.
Dublin Cathedral Fills for Academy Award-Winner’s Final Farewell
William Morton, the dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, reflected on the musician’s journey during the service, stating that Hansard’s remarkable gifts and outstanding talent, which touched so many hearts, took him from the streets of Dublin to audiences across the globe.
The congregation included actors Steve Coogan and Chris O’Dowd alongside musicians Bono, Hozier, Declan O’Rourke, and Imelda May. Hansard was remembered as the longtime frontman of Irish rock band The Frames, an actor in the 1991 movie The Commitments, and an Oscar winner in 2008 for the song Falling Slowly
from the film Once.
Bono, Eddie Vedder, and Fellow Artists Pay Musical Tribute
The funeral service itself was interwoven with music, featuring poignant performances by close friends and collaborators. Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder joined Hansard’s longstanding musical partner Markéta Irglová and members of The Frames to perform The Song of Good Hope
as a tribute. Vedder and Hansard had collaborated frequently for more than 15 years, with Hansard contributing to Vedder’s solo work, touring as part of The Earthlings, and sharing a close bond with Vedder’s family.
U2 frontman Bono also participated in the service, sharing reflections with the congregation. According to ocregister.com, Everyone who met him, they just remembered the day they met him.
Bono played a mobile phone message featuring singer and poet Patti Smith performing a lullaby for the family and friends, and recited lyrics to U2’s Beautiful Day.
Additionally, Lisa O’Neill delivered a rendition of Old Note
during the service. Bruce Springsteen shared his grief on Instagram, describing the late artist as a great musician, a good friend and a generous and gracious man.
Family Remembrances and Post-Funeral Celebration at Vicar Street
During the service, Hansard’s widow, Finnish poet Maire Saaritsa, read a poem she had written for him early in their relationship and expressed gratitude to the police officers who came to his aid after the crash. She noted that their 3-year-old son was too young to attend or understand the funeral, but affirmed that the bright spirit he inherited from his father is with us.
His brother also spoke at the service, remembering Hansard as a father figure.
The commemorations continued hours after the funeral service at Vicar Street, where musicians gathered for an event billed as Glen Hansard’s Celebration of Life.
As reported by thesun.ie, Eddie Vedder plugged in his electric guitar to lead a rocking cover of Neil Young’s Rockin’ in the Free World,
backed by The Frames and Imelda May. Indie band Cronin organized the evening’s performers and acted as the house band, joined by artists including Damien Dempsey and Hansard’s nieces, Amy and Sinead Hansard, who took to the stage for a farewell song. Attendees included international fans known as ‘The Framily,’ who travelled from the US and Germany to pay their respects.
