Tributes have been paid to the Academy Award winning singer/songwriter Glen Hansard, who has died aged 56.
The musician was killed after being involved in a motorcycle crash in Dublin earlier today.
Having started out by busking on Grafton Street, Glen Hansard went on to become one of Ireland's most celebrated performers, culminating in him garnering an Oscar for co writing Falling Slowly, which featured in the Irish drama, Once in 2007.
Other credits including winning a Grammy Award for starring in The Commitments, the film adaption of Roddy Doyle's book of the same name in 1991. He played guitarist, 'Outspan' Foster.
Hansard had performed live at Trinity College, Dublin as part of the Trinity Summer Series earlier this month, which saw him treat the audience to a mixture of new material, along with a range of songs from his back catalogue as a solo artist and in The Frames.
He had also performed a range of shows across the UK and Europe.
Following this tragic news regarding Hansard's death, Taoiseach Micheál Martin led the tributes to the popular musician.
“Deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Glen Hansard", Mr Martin wrote on X. “A talented musician and actor who made a significant contribution to Ireland’s cultural landscape over many years.
“My sincere sympathies to his family, friends, and fans. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam".
Deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Glen Hansard.
A talented musician and actor who made a significant contribution to Ireland's cultural landscape over many years.
My sincere sympathies to his family, friends, and fans.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) July 29, 2026
President Catherine Connolly hailed Hansard as "one of Ireland's great singer/songwriters".
“As President of Ireland, may I join with all of those who have expressed such shock on learning of the death of Glen Hansard.
“”Glen and his band the Frames stood out as one of the leaders of the thriving wave of Irish bands who emerged in the 1990s and were the source of so much inspiration to a generation of young people and musicians.
"Whether with the Frames, with Markéta, or as a solo artist, Glen was renowned for his incomparable live performances, beautiful evenings of music where Glen would regale audiences with stories as well as his music, along with that of many of those who had touched his life over the decades.
“Glen will also be remembered for the generosity with which he shared his fame, providing encouragement to young musicians and performers, while working to assist with important causes, in particular those suffering from homelessness, with his annual Christmas Eve busk in Dublin’s city centre one of the highlights of the Christmas period".
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The world of music also paid moving tributes to Glen Hansard, with singer Ed Sheeran calling him "an incredible human, an incredible force".
Saying that he was "heartbroken" to hear of his passing, Ed Sheeran wrote on his Instagram stories:
"He was such an incredible human, an incredible force," he said. "I am grateful for the times we shared together, sending so much love to his family x".
Glen Hansard performed Fairytale of New York at the funeral of Pogues singer, Shane MacGowan in 2023.
Speaking to RTÉ Radio, Shane MacGowan's widow, Victoria Mary Clarke said: "The most loving man, the most thoughtful man, the most compassionate and generous man. Somebody who cared about people on an epic level, like more than anyone I had ever met".
"He was always, always helping people".
Clarke also praised Hansard for his work in helping young, aspiring musicians, as well as his charity work, adding that she had only seen him perform live at Trinity College.
Hothouse Flowers' Liam Ó Maonlaí also paid tribute to his late friend.
"He was such a genuine man, and so full of love and fun as well, and always had time to enjoy life with those people, whoever they were, whether they were film directors in Hollywood to friends who were living on the street. He had time for them", the singer told RTÉ.
"Our hearts are broken," he said, "but we have to send the love to him and to his family".
Other household names to pay tribute to Hansard include, The Waterboys' Mike Scott, and Irish actor, Chris O'Dowd. See all below.
Just heard that Glen Hansard has died. Travel on well, Buddy. You made your dreams come true. I'm so sorry that he leaves his wife and 3-year-old child.
— Mike Scott (@MickPuck) July 29, 2026
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Glen Hansard is survived by his wife, Maire, and their son, Christy, who was born in October 2022.
