Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard has died in a motorcycle crash in Strawberry Beds, a few kilometers west of Dublin, Ireland. He was 56.

Glen Hansard performing at Palace Theatre St. Paul in 2018. Photo © Andy Witchger/Wikimedia commons

Born in Ballymun, Dublin in 1970, Hansard left school at the age of 13 to begin busking. In 1990, he founded rock group The Frames. Named for Hansard’s hobby for fixing up old bicycles for his friends, the frames of which littered his backyard, the group released six studio albums and opened for Bob Dylan during his 2007 Australian and New Zealand tour.

In 1991, Hansard made his acting debut as guitarist Outspan Foster in cult musical-comedy film The Commitments, spotlighting a ragtag group of working-class Irish youngsters brought together to form a soul band.

His next screen appearance was in the 2007 film Once, where he starred as an Irish busker who falls in love with a young Czech musician, played by Markéta Irglová. Directed by The Frames ex-bassist John Carney and produced on a shoestring budget, Once went on to to earn the Academy Award for Best Original Song for Falling Slowly, co-written and performed by Hansard and Irglová.

During the film’s promotional tour, 37-year-old Hansard and 19-year-old Irglová began a two-year-long romantic relationship and formed the folk duo The Swell Season. The two remained friends and musical collaborators after their breakup, with The Swell Season releasing its third album, Forward, in 2025.

Once was also later adapted into a musical, which ran on Broadway between 2012–2015 and won eight Tony Awards. The show had its Australian premiere in Melbourne in 2014, presented by Melbourne Theatre Company and the Gordon Frost Organisation, and has since been staged by other companies.

As a solo musician, Hansard released five studio albums and three live albums, including Live at the Sydney Opera House in 2016, and Don’t Settle (Vol. 2 – Transmissions West), released last month. He was a four-time Grammy nominee – once for The Commitments, twice for Once and once for Best Contemporary Folk Album for Didn’t He Ramble.

He also led an annual Christmas Eve Charity busk in Dublin, which raised funds for the charity the Dublin Simon Community.

“[He was a] smiling rascal if you needed him to be… this most musical and mischievous archangel of Ballymun… no airs, plenty of graces,” wrote U2 frontman Bono on Instagram.

“Of all the grand and gigantic venues he and The Frames played, you sensed the street was his most favoured place to perform. And street people, his favourite audience.”

Australian violinist Warren Ellis also paid tribute to Hansard in an Instagram post.

“I can’t believe it Glen. You were a good man and loyal friend … always above and beyond. And always about the music.”

A statement from Hansard’s management group said: “Glen’s family is deeply shocked and heartbroken by this tragic loss and respectfully requests privacy at this extremely difficult time. The family is grateful for the support they have received and wishes to thank the emergency services who attended the scene. As this matter remains the subject of an active Garda investigation, no further comment will be made at this time.”

He is survived by his wife, Finnish poet Maire Saaritsa, and their three-year-old son Christy.

 

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