Cork musicians pay tribute to Glen Hansard's lasting impact on Irish music and grassroots performers

Friends, musicians and venue owners recall an artist whose generosity shaped Irish music far beyond the spotlight

A photograph of Glen Hansard beside the book of condolence at the Mansion House in Dublin this week. Picture: Damien Eagers/PA Wire

The outpouring and sheer scale of the tributes following the passing of Glen Hansard illustrate the profound impact he had on so many people, across music, film, and activism.

His life may have been tragically cut short at just 56 years of age, but there can be no disputing the significant imprint he made during his lifetime.

Hansard was the frontman of one of the most iconic Irish bands of all time in the The Frames. He also won an Academy Award for best original song in 2008 for Falling Slowly, which he co-wrote with Markéta Irglová. The pair also starred together in the film Once, for which the song was written.

On top of his musical talent, Hansard was known for his generosity and warmth of spirit. This included establishing the Christmas Eve busk on Grafton Street in Dublin, to raise funds for homeless services.

it was Hansard's commitment to Irish music at every level, particularly at grassroots, that set him apart and earned him the admiration of people across the country and world.

“We have lost our champion and our hero in Glen. A true champion of art, of people, of Irish culture, of social justice and of song," said Ray Blackwell of De Barra’s in Clonakilty, West Cork.

He lifted us all up and we stood on his shoulders, emboldened and closer to the sun.

Hansard and The Frames played a sold-out show at DeBarra's on February 9 this year — which ultimately turned out to be their last show in Cork. 

Hansard was due to play Cork Opera House in November as part of an autumn tour around the country.

'How passionate and inclusive he was'

Edel Curtin at Coughlan's on Douglas Street, Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins

Edel Curtin, owner and manager of Coughlan's Bar and live music venue, where Hansard performed and was highly regarded, said the legacy he leaves in music is abundantly clear.

“How passionate and inclusive he was. As a performer and musician, he always gave me and Coughlan’s so much of his time. And all of the little grassroots venues around the country," she said.

“One of the last things Glen did was in February, himself and The Frames got together to do a tour of grassroots venues in the country, to shine a spotlight on how important they are.

“Glen was always very generous and passionate about the grassroots industry and upcoming artists. He always tried to give them a platform.” 

She added: “I think you can see from the outpouring of emotion from the whole country I think. Nearly everybody has a story or a picture with him.

He always just was so willing to give his time to everybody. I don’t think he will ever be replaced.

“We have lost a very important person to us all. He was a huge influence on loads of musicians.

Glen Hansard taking part in the annual Christmas Eve busk on Grafton Street, Dublin. File picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

“There is loads of musicians that he has brought onto the stages, playing big venues, where they have gotten a chance to perform for thousands of people, that they might not have had a chance to do that.

“He kickstarted an awful lot of musicians careers' and he has been a massive help to loads of people.” 

Kate O’Shea, event manager at Crane Lane, says Hansard always stood out from the pack.

“He made an unrelenting impact in the grassroots music scene over the last 40 years," she said.

“I would have seen him play with The Frames in the late 1990s and early 2000s in Sir Henry’s and other festival stages.

“As a solo artist too, he seemed to be at every event that needed support from a famous face.

“He gave his time to people who needed it without a second thought. He will be missed by all who knew him. His music will live on and never fade out — certainly not forgotten.”

Glen Hansard performing with the Frames in DeBarra's, Clonakilty in February — his last gig in Cork.

It is exactly 10 years ago this week that Glen Hansard made an appearance at the Skibbereen Arts festival, to perform in memory of his friend Fergus O’Farrell.

Also, on the line-up at the festival that year was Niall O’Driscoll and his West Cork-based band Low Mountain.

O’Driscoll recalls of encountering Hansard “He was a lovely guy and he was very encouraging for guys who were otherwise low-level musicians.

“Glen was a good energy to be around. I can't say that I knew him terribly well. But I would have met him a few times over the years. 

“We did other concerts and also tributes to Fergus O’Farrell in the Cork Opera House and Vicar Street the following year.

Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová with the Academy Award for best original song for 'Falling Slowly' from 'Once' in 2008. Picture: Ian West/PA

“Again Glen was the driving force. He seemed like the kind of guy who pulled people around him. You certainly felt encouraged by him as opposed to feeling discouraged.” 

O'Driscoll says he and his band were hugely inspired by the musical influence of Hansard.

“He was always a guy that was on the scene that you would have looked at and going there just something different about this guy.

Absolutely he would have been an inspiration. To see Glen perform and to see him perform up close. To see him backstage at a gig or whatever, he was just this ball of creative energy. 

On the overall legacy Hansard leaves on Irish music, O'Driscoll says: “There is obviously the body of work between the Frames, The Swell Season, and his own solo stuff.

“But there was a truth about what he did in the sense that he started out as a busker. But he was always a busker.

“He was a real performer. It was everything he ever did. Whether there was a microphone in front of him or not, it didn't really matter. He had an amazing ability to make a very big place seem very small.

“He embodied what it was to be a musician or a creative person or in every aspect.” 

'He was just so generous with his time'

The impact of Hansard's career and influence could be felt at MusicZone in Togher, a music and record shop where his music and support for independent artists were held in high regard.

Adam Walsh said staff had been left stunned by news of his death and recalled an encounter and conversation he had with Hansard following the show in DeBarras’s.

“I am in a band myself and he asked me for a song, listened to the song and gave honest input.

He was just so generous with his time. At the end, he picked up a bit of paper, gave me his contact details and said, 'When you make the album I want to hear it'.

“It is sad that I will never get it to him now.” 

Adam added: “Glen was a prophet sent to us from the deepest form of earth, I think. He gave us his music and he has left us with a catalogue that spans the breadth of human emotion.

“He was somebody that you could reach out and touch. Glen, there was an earthly thing to him.

“The amount of stories people had about meeting him and how big his heart was. He had the amazing gift of being able to just bring himself down to your level, no matter how big he got. He pulled people up with him and that is the most admirable thing.

“He was incredible. I think people will look back and see that Glen was one of a kind.” 

Hansard is survived by his Finnish partner, poet Maire Saaritsa, and their son, Christy, who was born in 2022.