Oscar-winning musician Glen Hansard has died following a motorbike crash in Dublin. He was 56 years old.
According to Irish authorities and local reports, the legendary singer-songwriter was killed in a single-vehicle collision early Wednesday morning (July 29), prompting an investigation.
Hansard was pronounced dead at the scene after the crash near Strawberry Beds in Lucan shortly before 4:30 a.m. Gardaí — the police service of Ireland — and emergency services responded to the incident on the R109 Lower Road, where forensic investigators later examined the area. Police are now appealing for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to come forward as they work to determine what happened.
A beloved figure in Irish music, Hansard first rose to prominence as the frontman of The Frames before earning international acclaim through the Indie film Once. He starred in the movie alongside musical partner Markéta Irglová, and their song Falling Slowly won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2008.
Hansard also appeared in the film The Commitments, building a career that blended acting and music.
Before worldwide recognition, Hansard spent years busking on Dublin’s Grafton Street, performing songs by artists including Bob Dylan and Van Morrison. He later formed The Frames in 1990, helping shape Ireland’s rock scene over the following decades.
In recent years, he divided his time between Ireland and Finland, where he lived with his wife, Finnish poet Maire Saaritsa. The couple welcomed their first child in 2022.
2026-07-29 16:25:00
