Oscar-winning Irish musician Glen Hansard dies aged 56

Shocking news.

Mr Hansard was best known as the frontman of the Irish rock band The Frames and for his roles in the Irish music-comedy-drama movies The Commitments and Once.

Alongside Markéta Irglová, he won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2008. This was for the track "Falling Slowly" that appeared in Once, which he starred in opposite Irglová.

Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová at the Oscars

In a statement, Gardaí said they were appealing for witnesses after a fatal single-vehicle collision on Lower Road, Strawberry Beds, Lucan, Dublin on Wednesday, 29 July 2026.

Shortly before 4.30am, Gardaí and emergency services were alerted to a collision involving a motorcycle on the R109 Lower Road, between Tinkers Hill (R121) and Rugged Lane.

The motorcyclist, a man in his 50s, was treated at the scene but was pronounced deceased a short time later.

It was later reported that the victim of the crash was Glen Hansard.

Glen Hansard performing at The Roundhouse in London on May 23, 2026

Born in Ballymun in Dublin in 1970, the singer-songwriter began busking on local streets as a teenager.

Alongside Irglová, Hansard was also part of folk rock duo The Swell Season. On top of this, he was an acclaimed solo artist, releasing five studio albums.

His second solo record, Didn't He Ramble, earned a nomination at the Grammy Awards for Best Folk Album.

The scene of the crash has been preserved for examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. Local traffic diversions are currently in place.

"Gardaí are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward. Road users who may have relevant camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area at the time are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí," the spokesperson added.

"Anyone with information is asked to contact Lucan Garda Station at (01) 666 7300, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda station."