Glen Hansard funeral proceedings began on Monday with his remains laid in state in the old chapel of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. Mourners moved through the building for a wake set to live music, turning the farewell into a public gathering rather than a private goodbye.
Royal Hospital Kilmainham
The wake took place in a building constructed in the 1680s as a retirement home for veteran soldiers, with portraits of William III, Queen Anne, and Charles II still lining the former dining hall. One fan summed up the mood to friends by saying, "They should take those down and put up Luke Kelly and Christy and Glen instead."
The route through the hall led mourners past the casket and the guitars placed at its foot. Hansard's closed wicker casket sat on a wooden table draped with a Tricolour, while greenery covered both the coffin and the casket. People touched the casket and the guitars before leaving, a small ritual that gave the room its own order.
Music in the chapel
Music played only during the wake on Monday. The Coolin, Spancil Hill, the Parting Glass, and Raglan Road were among the traditional tunes performed, with Colm Mac Com Iomaire playing airs including Carrickfergus and Liam Ó Maonlaí singing Mo Ghile Mear.
That blend of songs gave the chapel a different register from the usual funeral silence. Dan Madigan, who attended on his way home after returning from holiday in Italy, said simply, "It wasn’t sad."
Six condolence books
Six condolence books were set out in the courtyard, and the messages in them came from Liverpool, Hamburg, São Paulo, Sydney, and Cootehill. One entry read, "Thanks for all the sessions," while another quoted, "O Captain! my captain!"
Roisín Power Hackett said, "He was one of my heroes, a big part of my life," adding that she had been a fan of his voice and lyrics since her mid-teens. That mix of private memory and public attendance turned the wake into something larger than a family farewell, with the funeral date still left unsaid.
