Kildare mourns Glen Hansard

GLEN Hansard, the national treasure who died in a motorcycle crash in the early hours of Wednesday morning (29 July), had lived and loved in Kildare for decades.

Glen (56), Oscar-winner, and former frontman with The Frames for 20 years, lived in an 18th century house on the Clane Road just outside of Celbridge since 2003, however, this was not his first time to dwell in the county.

When starting out on his iconic career as a 16-year-old busker, around the Grafton Street area, he met another teen called Temple, and somehow decided to get on a bus with him and go home to his house in Ardclough.

Turned out Temple’s mam was renowned artist Phillipa Bayliss who lived in The Old Schoolhouse beside the canal, and she let him live there for two years.

Phillipa even paid for two years of music and violin lessons for him at the Chatham Row School of Music (not far from Grafton Street!) which set Glen up for one of the most unique careers in Irish artistic history.

“It’s very sad. I only seen him on Monday in town with Christy, his four-year-old, but that was his way – you wouldn’t know him from Adam”, said a Celbridge resident in conversation with The Kildare Nationalist.

“I once saw him bring Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam frontman) for a pint, that was the way of him.

“Even though he shared stages with Bruce Springsteen, or Sinead O’Connor, or Bono, or even Eddie Vedder, he’d be happiest poppin’ in somewhere with his guitar, in front of 20 people.

“He was in the Wren’s Nest on Tuesday night, that was his sorta gig.

“Anywhere there was a session, he’d pop out the guitar – there was no airs and graces.

“He was happiest out poppin’ up in different places, wherever the wind would take him!

“He was very talented, but probably not as recognised as he should have been.

“The (Celbridge) locals wouldn’t have seen him as anything big, 100 per cent, but the regard in which he was held was unbelievable.

“Nobody in town would bother him. Ye might say ‘hello’ and he’d just nod ‘howaya big man’ – that’d be it. No airs and graces.

“He won an Oscar, but he just drove a normal car – that’s what Irish people appreciate.

“What I heard was he was happiest with 10 people and a guitar.

“He was unimpressed with fame, and that, along with his social campaigning is what impressed me.

“He was a true Irishman, and we’re running out of them”.

Alan Hainsworth, owner of Roche’s Bar in Donadea, when Glen has been visiting for more than 15 years added his memories.

“Oh, he doesn’t gig here,” Alan explained.

“He used to come out, bring the guitar, and maybe play a few tune, but there was nothing organised. It’d be every few months, on spec.

“He was last out here two weeks ago, he’d bring the missus and kid out for dinner.

“Nobody ever made a fuss over Glen. He’d just come out and sit beside the fire, it was lovely”.

The Kildare Nationalist asked when Glen first wandered out to the Sinking Pub, as it is locally known.

“Oh, Glen’s been coming here a long time,” Alan said.

“I’ve been out here eight years and there’s pictures of Glen behind the bar 15 years ago, so probably even further back than that.

“But he could come out here and not be annoyed, he could be left alone, or he’d chat away if he wanted.

“A lot of us here are still in a bit of shock, to be honest.

“He was just a really normal bloke with no airs and graces. He’d just come out, and I’d let him go.

“Nobody would annoy him and he could sit and have his pint”.

Other tributes have come in from Kildare, from the middle and south of the county this time.

“RIP Glen Hansard, the Bard of Grafton Street, and my heartfelt condolences to all the family go out at this impossible time,” said Athy’s Jack Lukeman on Instagram, a pal of Glen’s for 30 years.

“All who knew Glen are in shock - and he knew everybody! - and had a kind heart for all.

“We would meet in venues and sessions all over for the last 30 years, and he was always great craic and soul.

“Last time I saw him was at Patti Smith in Dublin with the family, and he was flying!

“Glen was always a big smile and positive joy, a powerful and inspiring singer and musician and a true bard and town crier making things happen reminding everybody what they should be doing and caring about.

“A mighty spirit is gone on to his next gig. We will miss you and your genius heart. Sail on Glen”.

Newbridge ceoltoir, and the man for whom Glen named his son, Christy Moore also lamented the death.

“It’s such sad news that Glen, our much loved troubadour, has died,” he offered.

“A bright light extinguished tragically yesterday morning (29 July), and our generous, smiling, talented friend is no longer with us.

“He will be sadly missed by his family, bandmates, by all the music community here and much further afield, because Glen was always there when called upon.

“Marcaidh ar aghaidh, mo chara”.

Former Kildare Arts Officer for Kildare Lucina Russell also joined the tributes on Instagram.

'It feels like the whole country has a Glen Hansard story as we collectively reel from the news of his death today, so here’s mine,” she offered.

“It’s from the launch of the Kildare Biennale exhibition 2014 in Riverbank Arts Centre (Newbridge) where my college lecturer from NCAD, Prof Gary Granville, and Glen Hansard were guest speakers.

“Glen spoke about how, as a teenager, he met one of the participating artists, Philippa Bayliss, through a chance encounter with her son while busking and ended up living in her house for a number of years.

“Many years later, after his acting role in The Commitments (as ‘Outspan’), he bought a painting from her that he had always admired.

“He spoke of how Philippa had supported him to study music and how her free spirit inspired him.

“His words were uplifting and he was generous with his time, so rest in peace Glen, shining star. Make Art."

A Book of Condolence is open at Kildare County Council, Áras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas, Co. Kildare during normal opening hours until 12th August.

Messages of sympathy may also be submitted online: Book of Condolence - Kildare County Council.