The funeral of Glen Hansard, the Oscar-winning musician and actor, drew a distinguished gathering of artists and friends to St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin on August 26. Hansard, known for his role in The Commitments and his Best Original Song Academy Award for "Falling Slowly," died six days earlier in a motorbike accident near Strawberry Beds outside the village of Lucan. He was 56.

The ceremony featured performances and tributes from notable figures including U2 frontman Bono, who recited a poem inspired by the band’s hit "Beautiful Day" before singing it alongside guitarist The Edge. Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, a close friend of Hansard, opened the musical tributes with "The Song of Good Hope," accompanied by Marketa Irglova, Hansard’s songwriting partner with whom he won the Oscar in 2008.

The funeral procession began with Hansard’s wicker coffin conveyed on a horse-drawn carriage through streets lined with hundreds paying respects. Attending the service were actors Steve Coogan, Chris O’Dowd, and Angeline Ball, as well as musicians Hozier, Imelda May, and Liam Ó Maonlaí of Hothouse Flowers, who closed the ceremony with a rendition of Bob Dylan’s "Forever Young." Also present were Victoria Mary Clarke, widow of Shane MacGowan, and Gerry Adams, former president of Sinn Féin.

Hansard’s widow, Maire Saaritsa, delivered an emotional tribute highlighting their shared journey and the legacy passed to their three-year-old son, Christie, whom she described as having inherited Hansard’s "bright spirit." She thanked her late husband for a life devoted to seeking "truth and beauty side by side." Hansard’s younger brother Richard reflected on his influence, saying Glen had made the world feel more magical.

Following the public service, the family held a private cremation. The event marked a poignant farewell to a celebrated figure in Irish music and film, whose artistic contributions and personal warmth left a lasting impression on those who knew him.