Oscar-winning Irish musician Glen Hansard dies in motorcycle crash

Oscar-winning Irish musician Glen Hansard has tragically died at the age of 56 following a motorcycle crash in Dublin early on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. His management confirmed his passing in a statement. Local authorities reported that a man in his 50s was involved in a single-vehicle collision in Lucan, on the outskirts of the Irish capital, shortly before 4:30 a.m., and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Hansard was widely recognized for his significant contributions to music and film. He gained international acclaim for co-writing and performing the song "Falling Slowly" with Markéta Irglová for the 2007 film *Once*, which earned them an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2008. Beyond his Oscar success, Hansard was the frontman of the Irish rock band The Frames and was also known for his work with the folk-rock duo The Swell Season.

Throughout his career, Hansard also ventured into acting, notably appearing in the 1991 film *The Commitments*. He continued to release solo albums, with his 2015 work "Didn't He Ramble" receiving a Grammy nomination. Tributes have poured in from across Ireland, with figures like Prime Minister Micheál Martin acknowledging Hansard's substantial impact on the nation's cultural landscape.