Footage has emerged of Glen Hansard’s final performance, filmed just hours before the beloved Irish musician lost his life in a motorcycle crash outside Dublin. On Tuesday night, Hansard stopped by The Wren’s Nest in Chapelizod, where he was a regular at the pub’s weekly traditional Irish music sessions. Video from the evening shows Hansard seated in the middle of the room with his guitar, surrounded by fellow musicians as the crowd falls almost completely silent to listen. A clock hanging on the wall behind him reads 11:15 p.m.
In an especially stilling moment, Hansard sings in his distinctly raw cadence, “Time is the only thing that’s going to fix this now.” The performance would prove to be Hansard’s last. According to The Wren’s Nest, Hansard left the pub at closing time. Several hours later, at approximately 4:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, Gardaí, the “Guardians of the Peace” of the Republic of Ireland, were alerted to a single-vehicle motorcycle crash in the Strawberry Beds area of Dublin after a passerby discovered the scene. Hansard, 56, was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
Legacy and Tributes
The Wren’s Nest later paid tribute to Hansard, writing that it had “always [been] a privilege” to welcome him over the years and remembering the musician for “his incredible talent, generosity and the joy he brought to so many.” Hansard’s management confirmed his death on Wednesday. Best known as the frontman of The Frames, one half of The Swell Season, and the star of the 2007 film Once, Hansard won the Academy Award for Best Original Song alongside Markéta Irglová for “Falling Slowly.”
Tributes have since poured in from across Ireland and the music world, with Bono, Bruce Springsteen, Warren Ellis, and President of Ireland Catherine Connolly among those honoring the late songwriter. The circumstances of Hansard’s final performance echo how his career began. Long before his international success, Hansard busked on the streets of Dublin and continued regularly turning up at pubs and impromptu music sessions around the city throughout his career.
Final Performance Footage
Watch footage of Glen Hansard’s final performance below. The video was recorded just hours before his death and shows him performing at The Wren’s Nest in Chapelizod. The footage is a poignant reminder of the talented musician’s legacy and the impact he had on those who knew him and his music.
In conclusion, the emergence of Glen Hansard’s final performance footage serves as a bittersweet reminder of the talented musician’s life and legacy. The outpouring of tributes and condolences from the music world and beyond is a testament to the impact Hansard had on those who knew him and his music. As the world continues to mourn the loss of this beloved Irish musician, his music and memory will live on, inspiring future generations of musicians and fans alike.
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