"For the 288 Irish men and women who are no longer with us, and may they rest in peace."
The last month has set upon us the most trying times in this country in most of our lifetimes. Yesterday, the government announced a further three weeks of lockdown measures as the death rate from coronavirus continues to grow, our ICUs start to reach capacity, and our frontline services are stretched to the very limit.
And yet in times like these, there are moments of profound beauty and deep pride in Irish people, even within the intense sadness.
The Irish music community are just one group who have excelled in their own small way during this crisis. A couple of weeks ago, Hozier appeared on the Late Late Show to promote ISPCC Childline's emergency appeal and captured the mood of the nation with an incredible display of The Parting Glass.
Last night, it was the turn of Glen Hansard and Colm Mac Con Iomaire of The Frames who were guests of the returning Ryan Tubridy. Hansard gave a stirring performance of his Oscar winning "Falling Slowly" that left few dry eyes around the country, with Ryan having dedicated it to the growing number of dead Irish men and women who have fallen to the coronavirus.
"For the 288 Irish men and women who are no longer with us, and may they rest in peace".@GlenHansard & Colm Mac Con Iomaire – Falling Slowly.#ShineYourLight #LateLate pic.twitter.com/uRdkhEHN8e
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) April 10, 2020
Needless to say, there was a lot of reaction to the performance.
Wow Falling Slowly on the was an incredibly poignant reminder that every number is so much more than a number, easy to become desensitised when we don’t hear a name or see a face but just hear a number each day 💔
— Aoife Shine (@aoifefegan) April 10, 2020
I’m in flitters 😭; beautiful Glen, very very poignant, thank you 🙏
— Sinead Smurf Murphy l (@smurf_sinead) April 11, 2020
And the ending to the #LateLateShow Incredible! What a performance of falling slowly! Best I've ever heard!!
— Gill Burnett (@Gillo4P) April 10, 2020
Wow how fantasic is Glen Hansard on tonight’s @RTELateLateShow along with Colm Mac Con Iomaire. They are both super and gave an amazing performance of Falling Slowly. It was super 👍👏#latelate
— DJ Derek Burke (@DJDerekBurke) April 10, 2020
@Glen_Hansard on @RTELateLateShow speechless, the emotion, beauty and sadness in the words.. An amazing song in a whole new context
— Niamh O'Carroll (@niamhbarlow) April 10, 2020
Hansard and Mac Con Iomaire were on the show to promote Shine Your Light, an RTE initiative for Irish people to come together tonight at 9pm and shine a light in the house, in solidarity with those effected by the coronavirus and those on the front lines fighting it. The duo also performed a stunning version of "Leave A Light" on the show for this reason.
SEE ALSO: Brendan Gleeson Invokes Flann O'Brien And Hopes Coronavirus Leads To 'Reprioritisation' Of What Matters
