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The cathedral was full as family, friends and fellow musicians gathered in Dublin to remember Glen Hansard after the Oscar-winning singer-songwriter died in a motorcycle crash. At a packed Requiem Mass in St Patrick’s Cathedral his wife and brothers paid personal tributes, while a string of artists performed songs that marked his life.
Wife thanks first responders and speaks of their son
Finnish poet Maire Saaritsa addressed mourners at the altar, recounting how emergency officers found her husband at the roadside and offering gratitude for the care she received in what she called her “most desperate hour.” She named Gardaí Keith Cribbin, Lucy Byrne, Adam Heffernan, Jordan Walsh and Gareth McCardle for their role after the accident.
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Saaritsa spoke about the life she and Hansard shared and the inward compass the couple found together. She said they discovered meaning in their son, Christy, who is too young to attend the service. Saaritsa closed her remarks with a poem she had written for her husband as a response to the songs he wrote for her.
Brothers recall a steady, demanding presence
Richard Hansard described Glen as someone who held people together — “the glue to so many,” he said — and remembered him first as a son and brother, then as a larger-than-life figure in music. Richard reflected on Glen’s attentiveness and curiosity, saying he listened closely and wanted to know people beyond the surface.
He painted a picture of an older brother who both inspired and disciplined. Glen, Richard recalled, pushed his siblings to aim higher, set a moral example, and even hauled them out of bed for school after late-night gigs. Those small domestic scenes, Richard said, were where Hansard’s earliest influence began.
Gary Hansard, another brother, thanked the public for the outpouring of support and later performed “I Can See God” with Frank Killeen as part of the service.
Music filled the cathedral
The funeral featured performances by many of Hansard’s friends and collaborators. Among those taking part were his former musical partner Markéta Irglová, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, members of The Frames and pianist Thomas Bartlett.
- Markéta Irglová performed “The Song of Good Hope,” joined by Eddie Vedder and others.
- Lisa O’Neill, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Joseph Doyle and Michael Buckley sang “Old Note.”
- Damien Dempsey and The Frames performed “Sing All Our Cares Away.”
- Hansard’s coffin was carried out to Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young,” performed by Liam Ó Maonlaí with Bono, The Edge and Imelda May among the musicians present.
Tributes from peers and final arrangements
U2 frontman Bono paid tribute by reading a poetic version of the band’s song “Beautiful Day.” The wicker coffin was carried by six pallbearers and laid among arrangements of ivy, white snapdragons, red hypericum and white hydrangeas.
Following the public service, Glen Hansard was cremated in a private ceremony. In a family statement they thanked everyone who had come to celebrate his life and said the messages and memories shared at home and from around the world had been a great comfort.
