Glen Hansard, Oscar-Winning Irish Musician, Dies at 56
Glen Hansard, the Oscar-winning Irish musician who captivated audiences as the frontman of The Frames and won an Academy Award for the song “Falling Slowly,” died in a motorcycle crash on the outskirts of Dublin early Wednesday. He was 56.
The single-vehicle crash occurred shortly before 4:30 AM local time on Lower Road (R109) near Strawberry Beds in Lucan, west of Dublin, according to RTÉ News. Garda Forensic Collision Investigators examined the scene, and no criminal investigation is underway as no other vehicles were involved. A postmortem and toxicology tests are pending as part of the coroner’s inquest.
Hansard had been at Wren’s Nest Pub attending a Tuesday night traditional music session, celebrating Mayo’s All-Ireland football victory, before leaving on his motorcycle and crashing 2-3 kilometers into his journey, the Irish Times reported.
A Storied Career
Born in Ballymun, Dublin on April 21, 1970, Hansard left school at 13 and began busking on Grafton Street before co-founding The Frames in 1990. The band became one of Ireland’s most respected live acts, releasing acclaimed albums including Fitzcarraldo, For the Birds, and The Cost.
Hansard’s acting debut came in 1991 when he played guitarist Outspan Foster in Alan Parker’s beloved film The Commitments. His international breakthrough arrived in 2007 with the musical film Once, co-starring Czech musician Markéta Irglová. The low-budget production won the Sundance Audience Award and earned Hansard and Irglová the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2008 for “Falling Slowly.”
The duo, performing as The Swell Season, released three albums together. The Broadway adaptation of Once, featuring Hansard and Irglová’s songs, won eight Tony Awards in 2012, including Best Musical.
As a solo artist, Hansard released five albums, with Didn’t He Ramble earning a Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album in 2016. His collaborators included Bruce Springsteen, Bono, Eddie Vedder, Ed Sheeran, and Sinéad O’Connor. He also served as the original presenter of RTÉ’s acclaimed music series Other Voices in 2002.
Tributes from the Music World
ATC Management, Hansard’s representatives, confirmed his death in a statement: “With broken hearts we announce the passing of Glen Hansard who passed away, in the early hours of this morning, following a road traffic accident in Dublin. We are still dealing with the shock of it all.”
Tributes poured in from across the music industry. Bruce Springsteen wrote on Instagram: “Here on E Street, we are heartbroken over the death of Glen Hansard. He was always nothing but a great musician, a good friend and a generous and gracious man,” as reported by BBC News.
Bono described Hansard as “this most musical and mischievous archangel of Ballymun,” adding that “the street was his most favoured place to perform.” Ed Sheeran called him “such an incredible human, an incredible force.”
Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin praised him as “a talented musician and actor who made a significant contribution to Ireland’s cultural landscape,” while President Catherine Connolly called him “one of the vital driving influences of the Irish music world.”
The Associated Press noted that actor Chris O’Dowd said Hansard’s “energizing melodies and soulful, searching voice made the tough times more manageable, the stagnant times more beautiful, and the joyful times even more memorable.”
Colm Mac Con Iomaire, co-founder of The Frames, remembered Hansard as “a force of nature, a troubadour from a different time” who “had that unique ability to bring people together.”
A Legacy of Generosity
Beyond his music, Hansard was deeply committed to social causes. In 2010, he began an annual Christmas Eve busk on Grafton Street in Dublin, raising funds for the Simon Community homeless charity. The event became an Irish institution, drawing performances from Bono, Sinéad O’Connor, and Shane MacGowan.
Hansard is survived by his wife, Finnish poet Maire Saaritsa, and their three-year-old son, Christy. The family has requested privacy during this difficult time.
A book of condolence has been opened both online and in person at Dublin’s Mansion House. Gardaí have appealed for witnesses and anyone with dash-cam footage from the area at the time of the crash to come forward.