Glen Hansard, the Oscar-winning Irish musician and actor, has died following a motorcycle crash in Dublin on Wednesday morning. He was 56.
Tributes from Irish Leaders
Ireland's President Catherine Connolly led tributes, describing Hansard as "one of Ireland's great singer-songwriters" and "renowned for his incomparable live performances." She said Hansard and his band The Frames "stood out as one of the leaders of the thriving wave of Irish bands who emerged in the 1990s."
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said on social media: "Deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Glen Hansard. A talented musician and actor who made a significant contribution to Ireland's cultural landscape over many years."
Deputy premier Simon Harris expressed condolences, noting Hansard's "international success over a long and varied career."
Career Highlights
Hansard, from Ballymun, was the frontman for The Frames and appeared in the film The Commitments. He won an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2008 for "Falling Slowly," co-written with Markéta Irglová for the movie Once. He also formed the rock duo The Swell Season and released solo albums, including Didn't He Ramble, nominated for a Grammy for Best Folk Album in 2016.
Sixteen years ago, he began the annual Christmas Eve charity busk outside the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin to raise funds for the Dublin Simon Community, drawing famous Irish musicians to perform.
Activism and Personal Life
Hansard participated 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. At Shane MacGowan's funeral in 2023, he performed Fairytale of New York with Lisa O'Neill.
He is survived by his wife, Finnish poet Maire Saaritsa, and their three-year-old son, Christy.
Accident Details
Irish police said a man in his 50s died in a single-vehicle motorcycle crash on Lower Road, Strawberry Beds, Lucan, before 4.30am on Wednesday. He was treated at the scene but pronounced dead shortly after.
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, thanking emergency services who attended.
