Thousands of mourners filed through Dublin’s Irish Museum of Modern Art today (Aug. 3) to pay their final respects to Glen Hansard during a public wake for the beloved Irish singer/songwriter, who died July 29 at age 56 following a motorcycle crash.
Hansard lay in repose in a wicker coffin inside the Baroque Chapel at IMMA in Kilmainham, where fans queued throughout the day to honor the musician. Many shared memories of seeing Hansard perform over the years, reflecting on the profound connection he forged with audiences throughout his career. Throughout the day, a steady stream of mourners filled the chapel and its surrounding grounds.
The public wake preceded Hansard’s funeral, which is scheduled for tomorrow (Aug. 4) at 1:30 p.m. local time at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. According to a statement released by his family, the service will be open to the public, although access inside the cathedral will be extremely limited because of the large crowds expected.
To accommodate mourners unable to enter the cathedral, a public address system will be installed outside, and the funeral will also be livestreamed by RTÉ News and RIP.ie. Music during the service will be provided by as-yet-unnamed members of Hansard’s family and robust group of musical friends.
The family has also requested that in lieu of flowers or gifts, donations be made to the Simon Community and Ukrainian Action, two organizations that reflected causes close to Hansard’s heart.