One of Ireland’s most famous singers, Glen Hansard, has died tragically aged 56.
His death occurred in a motorcycle accident in Dublin in the early hours of this morning.
Hansard starred in famous Irish film The Commitments early in his career before finding success with The Frames. He became a global star with his Oscar winning song ‘Falling Slowly’ from the film Once, which he also starred in.
In recent years, Hansard was also known for his activism, particularly towards Dublin’s homeless, busking in the city every Christmas Eve to raise money.
In the 2010s, he took part in a documentary retracing the medieval route to the Camino Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
He had earlier covered U2’s song 40, which was composed of the words of Psalm 40.
Hansard was baptised and raised Catholic and even served as an altar boy. He later became interested in the Hare Krishna movement.
In 2018, after his Camino journey, he was asked about his relationship with faith.
‘We are drawn to the monastic life without necessarily following the teachings of the church. Getting the opportunities to sleep in churches, living a very simple life, is very attractive. Walking with only what you can carry’
When asked if he had faith, he replied ‘Absolutely. I definitely have a belief. I have a relationship with some spiritual thing. I like churches, but I don’t like the Church. I like the peace and quiet that’s in them’.
Hansard represents his generation of Irish people’s attitude to Catholicism, they were raised around it and cannot get away from it and are even attracted to its ancient pilgrimages, they raise money for its charitable endeavours, but there is some obvious relational barrier, one that is surely not impossible to overcome and it definitely falls to us in the church to try harder to do so.
He is survived by his partner and 4 year old son. Pray for his soul and for them.
