Oscar winning Irish singer songwriter Glen Hansard has died following a motorcycle crash in Dublin, his management confirmed on Tuesday. He was 56.
Hansard died after a single vehicle motorcycle collision on Lower Road near Lucan, west of Dublin. Emergency services responded to the scene shortly before 4:30 a.m. local time, but he could not be saved. Police have launched an investigation and appealed for witnesses.
Hansard rose to international prominence as the frontman of Irish rock band The Frames and later as one half of the folk duo The Swell Season alongside Czech musician Markéta Irglová. The pair won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2008 for Falling Slowly, featured in the critically acclaimed independent film Once, in which they also starred.
Before his musical breakthrough, Hansard appeared in the 1991 film The Commitments, portraying guitarist Outspan Foster. He later released several solo albums, including Didn’t He Ramble, which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album in 2016.
Beyond music, Hansard was widely recognised for his charitable work, particularly the annual Christmas Eve busking event in Dublin supporting the Dublin Simon Community, which assists people experiencing homelessness. The charity described him as “a true advocate” whose generosity and commitment to social justice made a lasting impact.
Tributes poured in from across Ireland and the international music community. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin described Hansard as a gifted musician and actor whose contributions to Ireland’s cultural life would be remembered for generations. Fellow artists, including actor Chris O’Dowd, singer Mike Scott of The Waterboys and actor-musician Andrew Strong, also paid tribute, remembering Hansard’s artistry, kindness and influence.
In a statement, Hansard’s management said his family was “deeply shocked and heartbroken” by the tragedy and requested privacy as they mourned his loss. The statement also thanked emergency responders who attended the scene.
Hansard is survived by his partner and their young son.
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