Glen Hansard dead at 56 in a motorcycle accident. Tributes pour in from friends and colleagues

Glen Hansard, the Irish singer-songwriter who won an Oscar for “Falling Slowly”, has died at the age of 56 in a motorcycle accident that occurred in the early hours of the morning in Lucan, on the outskirts of Dublin. According to police reports, the crash, which took place around 4:30am, did not involve any other vehicles.

One of the most beloved figures in European folk music of recent decades, Hansard had built a long and consistent career, always steering clear of the logic of commercial success. Born in 1970 in Ballymun, a working-class neighborhood of the Irish capital, he started out as a street musician before founding the Frames, the legendary folk rock outfit with whom he would keep performing for the rest of his life.
His first taste of international fame came in 1991, thanks to his role as guitarist Outspan Foster in the film "The Commitments." But global recognition arrived in 2007 with "Once," the independent film in which he starred alongside Czech singer-songwriter Markéta Irglová, his partner at the time both on and off screen. The two played a pair of musicians grappling with financial and emotional struggles, while their song "Falling Slowly" went on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The success of the film, made on a shoestring budget and championed by directors such as Steven Spielberg, turned Hansard and Irglová into an international phenomenon.

Their collaboration gave birth to Swell Season, a project that released several albums, the last of which, “Forward“, came out in 2025. Alongside this, Hansard continued his solo career with albums such as “Rhythm And Repose” (2012), “Didn’t He Ramble” (2015), a Grammy nominee for Best Folk Album, “Between Two Shores” (2018), “This Wild Willing” (2019) and “All That Was East Is West of Me Now” (2023). This last record turned out to be his final solo work, though in recent months he had also released the two-volume project “Don’t Settle“.
Throughout his career he collaborated with artists such as U2, Eddie Vedder and Bob Dylan, recording a version of “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” for the soundtrack of Todd Haynes’ film “I'm Not There”. After “Once” he also continued working in film and television, appearing among other things in Joe Wright’s “Cyrano”, voicing an Irish street musician in an episode of “The Simpsons”, and contributing to the soundtrack of Sean Penn’s “Flag Day”.

Alongside music, Hansard maintained a deep commitment to social causes. For over fifteen years he had led the traditional Christmas Eve street performance in Dublin to raise funds for the Simon Community, an organisation dedicated to helping the homeless, often bringing in guests such as Bono and Imelda May. Last February he had also brought the Frames back to small Irish clubs to draw attention to the importance of these venues for the local music scene. “We need to keep the community alive. Keep the meitheal alive”, he had said from the stage at DeBarra’s in Clonakilty.
Hansard also had a special bond with Italy, particularly with Lucca, a city where over the years he had built a close network of friendships and where he loved performing intimate, informal shows. The video for “There’s No Mountain”, taken from the 2023 album, was filmed between Lucca and Ferrara. Four concerts in Italy were already scheduled for this coming December.
Glen Hansard’s passing leaves an enormous void, but also a style and a songbook of inestimable value.

Tributes from friends and colleagues

Hansard, who throughout his career had shared the stage with artists of the calibre of Eddie Vedder and Bob Dylan, has been remembered with emotion by musicians, politicians and institutions around the world.
Colum Eastwood, leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party from 2015 to 2024, wrote on social media: “I'm devastated to hear this news”. Eastwood went on to recall a personal episode: “A while back he did me a huge favour I'll never forget. A friend of mine was going through a really tough time and was a massive fan of Glen's. I mentioned it to him and he immediately sent her a beautiful video. No fuss, no fanfare. He was a genuinely good person”.
Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin also chose to remember him on social media: “Deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Glen Hansard. A hugely talented musician and actor, he made a significant contribution to Ireland's cultural landscape for many years”.
Former President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins described him as “an extraordinary musician and performer, a troubadour whose gift for storytelling brought so much joy to audiences all over the world”. Looking back on his career, he added: “From his early days as a busker on the streets of Dublin, to his work with the Frames, to Swell Season with Markéta Irglová, and on to his brilliant solo career, Glen won over everyone who listened to him, building a devoted following across the globe”.

Mike Scott, frontman of the Waterboys, also paid tribute to him on X: “Just heard that Glen Hansard has died. Safe travels, my friend. You made your dreams come true. It breaks my heart that he leaves behind a wife and a three-year-old son”.
Actress Rachel Zegler, star of “Snow White”, shared a series of photographs with Hansard on Instagram, captioning them: “I'll love you forever. Rest now, my friend”. Among the comments was one from singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams, who expressed her sympathy with a heart emoji.
The Púca Festival, where Hansard had been due to headline this year, also paid tribute to the musician: “While words can't ease the pain of such a devastating loss, we join music lovers around the world in remembering an extraordinary artist, whose talent, passion and performances left an indelible mark”.
Among the many tributes was one from Irish singer-songwriter David Keenan: “I met Glen in Dundalk in 2015. He called me up on stage at the Spirit Store and I genuinely couldn't believe it. At a moment when I was thinking about giving it all up, that encounter reignited the fire inside me”.

Just heard that Glen Hansard has died. Travel on well, Buddy. You made your dreams come true. I'm so sorry that he leaves his wife and 3-year-old child.

— Mike Scott (@MickPuck) July 29, 2026

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