Bono and Steve Coogan were among the mourners at Glen Hansard’s funeral service on Tuesday.
The Once actor died in a single-vehicle motorbike crash near Dublin, Ireland on 29 July at the age of 56.
His family, friends and fans celebrated his life and career at his funeral service in St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin on Tuesday.
In addition to the U2 frontman and Alan Partridge actor, mourners included Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, Hansard’s Once co-star Markéta Irglová, and his The Commitments co-star Angeline Ball.
A number of Irish stars were also in attendance, including Bridesmaids actor Chris O’Dowd and musicians Hozier, Imelda May, Paddy Casey and Declan O’Rourke.
According to BBC News, Bono recited an extended poem titled Beautiful Day, which features lyrics from the U2 song of the same name, before bursting into song with his bandmate The Edge and encouraging the congregation to join them.
In his speech, the musician revealed that U.S. singer Patti Smith left him a voicemail message about Hansard’s death, a recording Bono described as a “lullaby” to Hansard’s widow Maire Saaritsa and their three-year-old son.
Playing the voicemail in the cathedral, Bono said that Smith was unable to attend the service in person but approved of him sharing the recording.
Elsewhere in the ceremony, Vedder sang Hansard’s The Song of Good Hope alongside Irglová, Irish singer-songwriter Damien Dempsey performed Sing All Our Cares Away and Lisa O’Neill gave a rendition of her song Old Note. Saaritsa, a Finnish poet, and Hansard’s younger brother Richard also read tributes.
More than 200 fans were admitted into the cathedral, while hundreds more gathered outside to watch the service on large screens. The ceremony was also livestreamed online.
In addition to his roles in Once and The Commitments, Hansard was a solo musician, the frontman of the Irish rock band The Frames and one-half of the folk-rock duo The Swell Season.
