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Thousands gathered in central Dublin on 4 August as fans, fellow musicians and family bid farewell to Glen Hansard, the Oscar-winning singer-songwriter and frontman of The Frames, who died suddenly aged 56. The city’s main cathedral hosted a service that reflected his lifelong commitment to song and community.
Funeral at St Patrick’s Cathedral
The funeral took place at St Patrick’s Cathedral, where mourners filled the nave and the surrounding precinct. Clergy, longtime collaborators and members of the public stood together to mark the singer’s life.
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Wake at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham
A public wake was held the previous day at the Baroque Chapel of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, drawing many who wanted to pay their respects in person.
After the wake, crowds moved toward the cathedral, and thousands were reported in the streets around the area as the city observed the farewell.
Music and tributes
The service was anchored by acoustic performances and communal singing. Longtime bandmates, peers from the Irish traditional music scene and family members led several pieces, giving the event a distinctly musical tone.
Those in attendance joined in at times, turning the cathedral into a space of shared remembrance shaped by the songs Hansard was known for.
His sudden death has prompted an outpouring of grief across Ireland’s music community and beyond, with today’s gatherings offering a public expression of that loss. The gatherings reflected both personal sorrow and recognition of his influence as an artist.
