Imelda May breaks silence on heartbreaking loss of Glen Hansard & reveals poignant last text message in tearful tribute
IMELDA May has broken her silence on the heartbreaking loss of her legendary singing pal Glen Hansard.
The music world was plunged into mourning after the singer-songwriter sadly passed away following a motorbike crash in Dublin in the early hours of Wednesday.
Tributes have poured in from across the music, political and showbiz spheres after news of his death emerged.
Imelda was a good friend of Glen’s for over 35 years and regularly joined him at his Christmas Eve busk on Dublin’s Grafton Street to raise funds for homelessness.
Earlier this week someone posted on behalf of Imelda to say she was “processing the tragic news”.
Last night, Imelda took to Instagram herself to pay a heartbreaking tribute for her friend.
Imelda shared a clip of herself and Glen doting on each other while performing Shane MacGowan’s hit Rainy Night in Soho in the Devonshire in London.
The 52-year-old wrote out a lengthy caption that said: “Our darling Glen is gone. How can we navigate this without his light? How do we sail without our Captain?
“Where do we even go but in circles trying to find him… but then his voice rises from the depths of within us.
“Every word of his that mattered still matters. Every glance, embrace, laugh still vibrates with his pure love.
“A human amongst humans yet a glimpse of an immortal a poet, prophet our future ancestors will sing of.”
Imelda said she will cherish their friendship “past her own passing” and added: “Those twinkling eyes, the look of knowing, mischievous smile before a happening, a heart you could feel beat with every tight hug, a breath that calmed mine often in all kinds of storms.
“I allow myself time to weep, break, long for… mourn grieve but he’s within us.”
The Johnny Got a Boom Boom star wrote: “His sudden passing has catapulted, at great speed, an immense and universal Love that Glen, a curly haired dreamer from Ballymun, would be/IS abso-f***ing-lutely delighted with.
“Keep it lit!!!! In Glens own words, ‘If you’ve got the strength and the will
you inherit the best of the person who passed so he doesn’t go he just gets bigger!’.
“Get bigger brother!!! I love you and you know it.”
Imelda shared her love and “heartfelt condolences” to Glen’s wife Maire, son Christy, brothers Gary, Dylan Richard and all the Hansard family, as well as The Frames bandmates, Swell Season family and his friends and followers.
She finished off her statement revealed: “My last text to him after just missing each other, ‘Passing Ships. Sail Away!!!’.”
The Liberties native’s friends and fans were left in tears by the emotional post and flooded it with condolences and support.
David wrote: “I was waiting to see and feel your words. I knew you would find strength in his words so you could make us realise what we had and lost but also what he left us to have and treasure.”
Martina said: “Such beautiful words, he will carry you and everyone through, his spirit is still amongst us.”
Vanessa commented: “In tears reading this. Only you could pen the immense loss so beautifully of your bestie. Feeling your pain and grieve from afar and sending you love… Gra Mor Mo Chara.”
Glen’s wake will take place on Monday in the Baroque Chapel at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin 8.
Glen will lie in repose between 11am and 4pm for those wishing to pay their respects.
His funeral will be held on Tuesday at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin 8.
It will also be open to the public, however, access is expected to be extremely limited due to the numbers of people expected to attend.
Music at the singer’s funeral will be provided by Glen’s family and friends.
A public address system will be in place for those gathered outside in the cathedral grounds.
His funeral mass will also be streamed on RTE News and Rip.ie for those who are not able to attend.
Glen’s family have asked, in lieu of flowers or gifts, for donations to be made to either the Simon Community or Ukrainian Action.
