Hundreds of people have gathered outside St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, where large screens have been erected to show the funeral service of Oscar-winning musician Glen Hansard. The service began at 1.30pm at the cathedral.
Musicians Hozier, Declan O'Rourke, Jerry Fish and Imelda May were among the first to arrive. U2's Bono, actors Steve Coogan and Chris O'Dowd, former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams, and traditional musician Finbar Furey were also in attendance.
Tributes and Public Wake
Hansard, the frontman of Irish band The Frames, was killed at the age of 56 in a motorcycle crash on the outskirts of Dublin last week, hours after taking part in a trad session at The Wren's Nest pub. Tributes poured in from around the world.
Thousands of mourners attended a public wake for the musician at the Baroque Chapel at the Irish Museum of Modern Art at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham on Monday.
Legacy and Career
Hansard featured in the celebrated film The Commitments and won an Oscar for best original song for Falling Slowly in 2008, which he co-wrote with Marketa Irglova for the movie Once. He began an annual Christmas Eve charity busk outside the Gaiety Theatre 16 years ago, drawing members of the public to see famous Irish musicians perform in aid of the homeless in the city.
Mourners' Reflections
Several people queued for hours to attend the service. Stefania Domesi from Italy said: "I really was astonished by the person that he was so I thought it was nice to come here. He was not just a musician and artist but he was a great person and he showed it in all his life."
Theresa Martin travelled from Co Waterford to attend the funeral. She said: "It was just the feeling that he brought to the music. You could see it in his eyes and his face. It was true stories as well. It was unique."
A number of traffic diversions are in place close to the cathedral to accommodate the funeral service.
