Glen Hansard funeral: Life of ‘ordinary Ballymun man’ celebrated by fellow musicians

Main Points

• The funeral of Glen Hansard took place at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin city centre on Tuesday afternoon
• Crowds gathered to pay respects and more than 40,000 people watched the service online
• The Very Rev William Morton said the service was held ‘in thanksgiving for and in celebration’ of the musician’s ‘life, talent, generosity and kindness’
• Public figures such as Bono, Damien Dempsey, Eddie Vedder and Hansard’s Once costar and ex-partner Markéta Irglová spoke or performed, alongside brothers of the late singer
• On Monday, mourners queued at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham to pay their respects to Glen Hansard at a public wake

Key Reads

• Glen Hansard was a leader, an indomitable force and a natural disruptor
• Tributes paid to Glen Hansard: ‘A troubadour whose gift for storytelling brought so much joy’
• Glen Hansard: A life and music career in pictures

The reaction on social media to the funeral has been immense, with one clip of the closing ensemble performance of Bob Dylan’s Forever Young amassing over 60k views on X.

In a post shared by Ian Willoughby, he says the video is “impossible to watch this with a dry eye”.

Ronan McGreevy has shared a clip of crowds applauding as Hansard’s funeral procession makes its journey to Mount Jerome cemetery and crematorium in Harold’s Cross for a private ceremony.

The video shows huge numbers of people lining Patrick’s street and applauding as the funeral cortege passes.

With such a plethora of Irish musical talent, we should have expected a few encores.

An impromptu cover of a Glen Hansard speciality The Auld Triangle was performed as mourners filter out of the church, featuring long-time friend of Hansard’s Imelda May.

That concludes a service filled with song, poetry and heartfelt tributes to a giant of Irish music.

Glen Hansard’s funeral is expected to depart St Patricks’s Cathedral for a private ceremony at Mount Jerome, with rolling road closures en route according to gardaí.

An soaring ensemble performance, featuring all the musicians who played throughout the service, delivered Bob Dylan’s Forever Young as a final parting.

Dylan was a huge source of inspiration and a hero of Hansard’s and one he got to support on tour.

The congregation joined in a resounding chorus, raising the roof of the Cathedral.

Hansard’s wicker coffin, covered in foliage and greenery, was carried out to a standing ovation as mourners bid their last farewell to the musician.

Bono took to the altar to read U2’s song A Beautiful Day.

Before the reading, he shared a voice note he received from Patti Smith “another one of his [Glen Hansard] best friends”, which he described as a lullaby for Glen’s family and friends, which “she was happy to share with you all”.

He asked the crowd to join him in singing “a beautiful day”, as he concluded his reading.

Inside the church, the musical performances continued, with Lisa O’Neill, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Joseph Doyle and Michael Buckley dealing a beautiful version of Old Note.

Old Note was immediately followed by Damien Dempsey signing All Our Cares Away with The Frames.

Before his tribute, Dempsey joked, “Glen used to slag me, he used to say ‘you’re only half a north sider your da is from Pearse street’. It’s only 200 yards away.

“Say hello to Sinéad, Seamus, Shane and Christy and all those great soul singers.”

Outside of the cathedral, fans gathered in their droves to watch the broadcast of the funeral.

Gary Hansard performs

Brother of the late musician Gary Hansard shared a heartfelt thanks the thousands of mourners on behalf of the family, before his performance of I Can See God with The Frames.

“We want to say how absolutely blown and humbled and thankful we are for the incredibly huge amount of love, honour, and dignity that the people of this country and around the world have shown my brother. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

The Address

The Very Rev William Morton led the address, saying that “there are some people who are remembered not only for what they achieved but for the goodness they brought to the lives of others. Glen was one of those people.”

He emphasised Hansard’s “talent, generosity and kindness”.

“Glen leaves behind friendships that enriched us, acts of generosity that will never be forgotten, encouragement that gave others confidence and memories that time itself will never erase.”

Maire Saaritsa speaks

Maire Saaritsa, wife of the late artist, opens her address by thanking the Gardaí and first responders who came to Glen’s aid in wake of the crash “and for the humanity they showed me in my most desperate hour”.

She also shared a poem she “penned for Glen in return for the songs he wrote for me”.

Her poem was followed by performance of The Song of Good Hope, which was led by Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, Hansard’s Once costar and former romantic partner Markéta Irglova, Thomas Barlett and his band The Frames.

Glen Hansard’s brother Richard speaks

Richard Hansard, Glen Hansard’s younger brother describes the musician as “more than an older brother, he was a father figure”.

“He had a way of making you feel you mattered,” said Richard.

“He made me feel like the world was a far more magical place than it seemed at the time to a young shy boy from north Dublin.”

“I know he made ripples, I know he made waves. He has an impact on so many – look at this room. But those ripples and waves began at kitchen tables in Ballymun and Killester, and it is at those kitchen tables that for us he will remain,” he said, to a congregation that stood and clapped when Richard Hansard finished his words.

After a moving rendition of Port na Pucaí, performed by Colm Mac Con Iomaire alongside uilleann piper Séamus Ong and Liam Ó Maonlaí of the Hothouse Flowers on keys, Breandáin Ó Beaglaoich paid tribute.

The performance was followed by a poem by Breandáin Ó Beaglaoich who described the late star as “an ordinary Ballymun man” and a “one off person who the likes of which we won’t meet again,” before saying farewell to “A dhuine áláinn aoibhinn”.

The funeral service began with Críost Liom, sung by Peadar Ó Riada and Cór Chúil Aodha, the west Cork Gaeltacht male choir.

The Very Rev William Morton led the funeral, welcoming the congregation. He said that Hansard’s wife and family appreciated huge out pouring of support for the funeral. Morton added that the service was being held “in thanksgiving for and in celebration” of the musician’s “life, talent, generosity and kindness”.

Among the gifts brought to the altar were an acoustic guitar as well as a photograph of his wife Maire and his son Christy.

The funeral begins

More than 40,000 fans joined in the livestream on YouTube as the fire safety precautions were explained to the attendees, as well as a request made to mourners not to take pictures or film during the service.

Glen Hansard’s body arrives

The funeral cortege arrived shortly before 1.30pm with the horse-drawn hearse leading the procession followed by Hansard’s wicker coffin being carried shoulder high, writes Conor Pope.

Pope shared a video of the arrival on Instagram.

The funeral booklet describes the occasion as “A Celebration of the Life of Glen Hansard (21st April 1970 – 29th July 2026)”.

More musicians arrive

Fifteen minutes ahead of the funeral, Bono and the Edge have joined the slew of musicians attending the service.

Imelda May, who had a 35-yearfriendship with Hansard and was a long-time collaborator, also entered the cathedral.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family have asked that donations be made to the Simon Community and Ukrainian Action Ireland. A lifelong activist, Hansard held a beloved Christmas Eve busk for the Simon Community annually.

Comedians and actors also arrived to pay their respects. Among them are Roscommon native Chris O’Dowd and Alan Patridge star Steve Coogan.

John Carney, the director of Once, was seen talking to Coogan while singer Dermot Kennedy and O’Dowd headed quickly into the church after arriving on foot.

It is not just Irish artists that have travelled to pay their respects at but international stars too, including Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam.

Conor Pope described the scene, saying that “every now and then a fleet of SUVs arrives to a soundtrack of camera clicks”.

The funeral set-up is very elaborate and split between the public, the VIPs, and family and friends, writes Conor Pope.

The former U2 manager Paul McGuinness, artist Guggi and Hozier have all been seen entering the church as have former Commitments bandmates Andrew Strong and Angeline Ball. John Sheehan from the Dubliners also arrived, as well as Tom Dunne from Something Happens and activist Dean Scurry.

There wasn’t even standing room in the church a full 90 minutes before the service was set to start.

Fans gather in St Patrick’s Park

An hour ahead of the funeral service, fans, buskers and mourners gathered outside St Patrick’s Cathedral.

Queues have already begun to form, musicians played live in the adjacent park and some mourners have secured spots in front of the large screen that will broadcast the funeral from inside the church.

Watch: Conor Pope’s video of fans gathered in at Patrick’s Cathedral ahead of service

Tributes to Glen Hansard

Since the musician’s death last week, tributes have poured out from politicians, public figures and musicians both internationally and here in Ireland.

Among them, was Bruce Springsteen, who shared a statement describing Hansard as “a great musician, a good friend and a generous and gracious man”.

Closer to home, at Waterford music festival All Together Now, Kildare musician Christy Moore dedicated a performance of The Auld Triangle to the Ballymun star, remembering him as a dear friend and collaborator.

In the political sphere, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was “deeply saddened” by the death of Hansard, who he said was “a talented musician and actor who made a significant contribution to Ireland’s cultural landscape over many years”.

On the streets of Dublin, members of the public and buskers turned out in their droves to honour Hansard, who himself was a lifelong busker.

Watch: Dublin buskers pay tribute to Glen Hansard

Glen Hansard funeral:

Glen Hansard’s funeral is taking place today at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin at 1.30pm.

The Oscar winner and Frames frontman died in the early hours of July 29th.

The 56-year-old died following a motorcycle crash at the Strawberry Beds, Lucan, before 4.30am.

According to a brief Garda statement, which did not name Glen Hansard, the incident took place on a stretch of Lower Road, between Tinkers Hill and Rugged Lane.

“The motorcyclist, a man in his 50s, was treated at the scene but was pronounced deceased a short time later,” the Garda said.

The funeral is open to the public; however, access inside the cathedral is extremely limited given the huge numbers paying tribute to the musician.