Bob Geldof has described Glen Hansard as "one of the greats" after the Oscar-winning Irish musician died in a motorcycle crash in Dublin on Wednesday morning.
Hansard, 56, from Ballymun, was the frontman of The Frames, starred in The Commitments, and won an Academy Award with Markéta Irglová for the song "Falling Slowly".
Tributes from around the world
Messages of condolence have arrived from Bruce Springsteen, Ed Sheeran, and U2, among others.
Geldof, the Live Aid co-founder, said: "Glen was wonderful. The universe lacks mercy or justice that such a sweet, thoughtful, burstingly talented man should be so wantonly and violently killed on an early Irish morning backroad."
He added: "Tragedy does not do justice to this terrible calamity for his family, the world of music and Ireland itself. For we have lost one of the great ones."
U2 frontman Bono described Hansard as an "angelic presence" and "smiling rascal".
Statement from his management
His publicists ATC management said: "With broken hearts we announce the passing of Glen Hansard in the early hours of this morning." The family requested privacy and thanked emergency services.
Sheeran wrote on Instagram that he was "heartbroken" and called Hansard "an incredible human". Springsteen remembered him as "positive, smiling and ready to sing".
Career highlights and activism
Hansard was also part of the duo The Swell Season and released solo albums, including Didn't He Ramble, nominated for a Grammy in 2016. He began the Christmas Eve busk for the Dublin Simon Community 16 years ago and took part in protests over housing, water charges, and the Ukraine war.
At the funeral of Shane MacGowan in 2023, he performed "Fairytale of New York" with Lisa O'Neill.
Political tributes
President Catherine Connolly called him "one of Ireland's great singer-songwriters". Taoiseach Micheál Martin praised his contribution to Ireland's cultural landscape, and deputy premier Simon Harris offered condolences.
Crash details
Irish police said a man in his 50s died in a single-vehicle motorcycle crash in Lucan before 4:30am. He was treated at the scene but pronounced dead shortly after.
Hansard is survived by his wife, Finnish poet Maire Saaritsa, and their three-year-old son Christy.
