Lisa O’Neill Pays Tribute at Glen Hansard’s Funeral Three Years After Shane MacGowan Farewell

Lisa O’Neill delivered an emotional performance of ‘Old Note’ during Glen Hansard’s funeral, three years after the pair sang the same song at Shane MacGowan’s memorial.

Former Frames musicians Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Joseph Doyle and Michael Buckley accompanied O’Neill during the ceremony at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin yesterday, Tuesday, August 4. The group performed the track from her 2023 album ‘All of This Is Chance’.

The performance carried added meaning because Hansard and O’Neill had previously sung ‘Old Note’ together at Shane MacGowan’s funeral in 2023, with musicians from The Pogues supporting them.

Before singing at yesterday’s service, O’Neill explained Hansard’s role in inspiring the track. She said he had given her access to a Dublin apartment, where she later composed the song. Remembering his encouragement, she quoted him as saying: “Let your imagination grow in this big space and write songs”.

Colm Mac Con Iomaire and Liam Ó Maonlaí also contributed music to the funeral, while Eddie Vedder joined Markéta Irglová for ‘The Song of Good Hope’. Hansard made three albums with Irglova as The Swell Season and regularly worked with Vedder, often supporting him in concert and appearing on his second solo record, ‘Ukulele Songs’.

Bono honoured Hansard by delivering U2’s ‘A Beautiful Day’ as a spoken word piece, changing several lyrics in tribute to him: “You write your life until the story becomes true.”

Hozier, The Edge, Steve Coogan, Imelda May, Paddy Casey, Declan O’Rourke and Angeline Ball were among those who attended to pay tribute. Ball previously appeared with Hansard in The Commitments.

Hansard, the Oscar winning star of Once and frontman of The Frames, died after a motorcycle accident in Dublin last Wednesday, July 29. He was 56.

A large number of admirers gathered at a public wake in Dublin on Monday, August 3. His family requested donations to the Dublin Simon Community or Ukrainian Action instead of flowers and presents. Hansard had supported the Dublin Simon Community for many years and helped arrange its Christmas Eve busking fundraiser in the city.

Hansard founded the yearly event in 2010, with well known artists such as Sinéad O’Connor and Shane MacGowan later taking part. Before creating The Frames, he began his own musical journey by busking on Dublin’s streets.

Following his death, video from Hansard’s last public performance surfaced online. The appearance happened at The Wren’s Nest pub in Chapelizod only hours before the accident. He had also recently discussed the strength of his friendship with Eddie Vedder.

Bruce Springsteen, Warren Ellis, Rachel Zegler and former Irish President Michael D. Higgins are among the public figures who have honoured Hansard. Barack Obama featured his music on his yearly summer playlist, while Maggie Baird, the mother of Billie Eilish and Finneas, said her children “would not be who they are” without his music.