Irish musician and actor Glen Hansard, best known for winning an Academy Award for the song “Falling Slowly” from the film Once, has died. He was 56 years old. His management confirmed the sad news on Wednesday morning, saying the family is heartbroken and asking for privacy at this difficult time.
Hansard passed away after a single-vehicle motorcycle crash on the outskirts of Dublin. Police say the accident happened before 4:30 a.m. on a stretch of road in Lucan, on the western edge of the Irish capital. He was treated at the scene but could not be saved.
What Happened in the Crash
According to Irish police, a man in his fifties was involved in a solo motorcycle crash near the Strawberry Beds area of Lucan. Officers have not officially named the victim, but multiple news outlets confirmed it was Glen Hansard. Reports say he had spent the evening before at a local pub on Lower Road, where he often joined a group of musicians for informal music sessions on Tuesday nights. He was riding home when the crash took place. Police are now asking anyone who witnessed the accident to come forward with information.
From Busker to Oscar Winner
Glen Hansard’s story is one that many people in Ireland know well. Born in Dublin in 1970 and raised in Ballymun, he started out as a street busker before forming the rock band The Frames in 1990. The band became a well-loved name in Irish music, releasing six studio albums over the years.
Hansard also had a strong connection to film. He made his acting debut in the 1991 movie The Commitments, playing a young musician in a Dublin soul band. But it was his role in the 2007 film Once that made him famous around the world. He starred in the movie alongside Markéta Irglová, and the two also wrote its songs together. Their song “Falling Slowly” won the Oscar for Best Original Song in 2008. The film later became a hit stage musical on Broadway, winning eight Tony Awards.
Beyond his work with The Frames and Irglová’s duo The Swell Season, Hansard built a solo career too. He released several albums on his own, including Didn’t He Ramble, which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album. He continued making new music right up until this year and remained a familiar face at concerts and folk festivals.
Summary
Glen Hansard, the Irish singer, songwriter, and actor famous for The Commitments and his Oscar-winning song “Falling Slowly” from Once, died on July 29, 2026, in a motorcycle crash in Dublin. He was 56. Police are investigating the accident and have appealed for witnesses. Hansard leaves behind a rich legacy in Irish music, from his early days busking on Dublin streets to his decades fronting The Frames, his award-winning film work, and his solo albums that touched fans across the world.
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