Bono, Eddie Vedder and More Honor Glen Hansard with Emotional Musical Tributes at Dublin Funeral

On Tuesday, August 4, the vibrant life and enduring artistry of Glen Hansard were lovingly commemorated through the melodies he dedicated his existence to creating, during an emotional funeral service in Dublin.

Family members, cherished companions, and iconic musical peers convened inside St. Patrick’s Cathedral to celebrate the profound impact of the esteemed Irish singer-songwriter, who tragically died on July 29 at the age of 56 following a motorcycle accident. Among the notable figures paying their final respects were Bono and The Edge of U2, Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, Hozier, Imelda May, Jake Clemons of the E Street Band, and Liam Ó Maonlaí of Hothouse Flowers, all uniting with grieving attendees to honor Hansard’s remarkable legacy.

During the ceremony, Bono delivered a deeply poignant address, reflecting on Hansard’s extraordinary gift for making everyone he encountered feel like a cherished confidant.

“The individuals standing outside on the lawn, they were his best friends. Those tuning in from afar, best friends. Even those who never crossed paths with him, they too were considered best friends,” Bono shared. “Anyone fortunate enough to meet him vividly remembers the exact day that encounter took place.”

The U2 frontman also broadcasted a touching voicemail message from Patti Smith featuring a gentle lullaby she recorded specifically for Hansard’s bereaved loved ones. Furthermore, accompanied by guitarist The Edge, Bono offered a spoken-word tribute woven from reimagined lyrics of U2’s anthemic track “Beautiful Day,” artfully adapted to celebrate Hansard’s spirit.

Later in the service, Eddie Vedder stepped up to the microphone to perform Hansard’s resonant composition “The Song of Good Hope,” serving as a fitting homage from a lifelong friend and frequent collaborator. The Pearl Jam icon was joined on stage by Markéta Irglová, Hansard’s acclaimed partner from the film Once, marking one of several transcendent musical moments that highlighted the late songwriter’s profound emotional resonance across generations of performers.

Richie Hansard, the musician’s brother, offered a deeply moving eulogy that recalled his sibling’s unique philosophy on navigating sorrow.

“Glen once mentioned that when you experience the loss of someone special, you do not truly lose them,” he told the congregation. “If you possess the necessary fortitude and resolve, you reclaim them and inherit their absolute finest qualities. And indeed, we have. We have inherited every vibrant, colorful phrase, every embrace, conversation, bout of madness, sorrow, and insightful, manic brilliance that a brother, uncle, husband, and father could possibly bestow. Thank you, Glen. Thank you, my brother.”

The memorial service culminated in a stirring group rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young,” featuring harmonized performances by Bono, Vedder, The Edge, Liam Ó Maonlaí, and a gathered choir of musicians encircling the altar to bid a final farewell.

Hansard initially captured widespread attention as the charismatic frontman of The Frames before achieving international acclaim alongside Irglová as part of The Swell Season. The dynamic duo secured the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2008 for “Falling Slowly,” featured in the critically lauded movie Once, which subsequently inspired a Tony Award-winning Broadway theatrical adaptation. Throughout his prolific career, Hansard also published five solo studio albums and became a beloved Dublin institution for his annual Christmas Eve busking charity performances in aid of the unhoused.

Watch the deeply moving musical tribute below.

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