The world is saying goodbye to Glen Hansard (1970-2026). The Irish musician and Oscar winner was laid to rest on Tuesday in Dublin. Numerous companions from music and culture attended the funeral service at St. Patrick's Cathedral, according to the BBC, including Bono and The Edge from U2. Hozier, actor Steve Coogan, and Eddie Vedder, the singer of Pearl Jam, were also present - as was Hansard's widow Maire Saaritsa.
Additionally, hundreds of fans gathered outside the cathedral and followed the service on screens. According to the "Irish Times", over 40,000 people watched the livestream that was provided on YouTube.
Bono Sings "Beautiful Day"
Bono honored his longtime friend with a speech and then recited a poem together with The Edge that reportedly contained lines from the U2 classic "Beautiful Day". Afterward, they sang the song together. He also played a voice message from Patti Smith, who had left a personal message for Hansard's family.
Eddie Vedder and Markéta Irglová, who appeared with Hansard in the film "Once", also remembered the deceased with music. Together with members of Hansard's band The Frames, they sang his song "The Song of Good Hope". To the sounds of Bob Dylan's "Forever Young", the coffin was finally carried out of the cathedral.
Already on Monday, according to reports, more than 11,000 people paid their last respects to Glen Hansard. His coffin lay in state for five hours in the Baroque Chapel of the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Kilmainham, Dublin.
He Was 56 Years Old
Hansard died on the morning of July 29, 2026, at the age of 56 in a motorcycle accident. The Irish musician became known primarily as the frontman of the band The Frames, but also to a broader audience through the film "Once". In 2008, he received the Oscar for Best Original Song together with Markéta Irglová for "Falling Slowly".
