Oscar-winning Irish musician and activist Glen Hansard died in a motorcycle crash in Dublin in the early hours of Wednesday, sources said. The 56-year-old was the frontman of the band The Frames and featured in the film The Commitments.
Musical achievements
Hansard won an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2007 for 'Falling Slowly', which he co-wrote with Markéta Irglová for the movie Once. He was also one half of the rock duo The Swell Season. His solo album Didn't He Ramble was nominated for a Grammy for Best Folk Album in 2016.
Activism and charity work
For years he led the Christmas Eve charity busk outside The Gaiety Theatre in Dublin, raising funds for the Dublin Simon Community. He also took part in protests against Ireland's housing crisis, a march marking three years since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the anti-austerity water charge protests in 2014.
Funeral performance
At the funeral of The Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan in 2023, Hansard performed 'Fairytale of New York' with Irish singer Lisa O'Neill, which prompted dancing in the aisles of the Co Tipperary church.
Hansard is the father of a three-year-old boy, Christy.
Police investigation
Irish police said a man in his 50s died in a single-vehicle motorcycle crash in Lucan, on the outskirts of Dublin, before 4.30am on Wednesday. The man, who they did not name, was treated at the scene but was pronounced dead a short time later.
