President leads tributes to Oscar-winning musician Glen Hansard
By Gráinne Ní Aodha, Press Association
President Catherine Connolly has led tributes to Oscar-winning Irish musician and activist Glen Hansard after he died in a motorcycle crash in Dublin on Wednesday morning.
Hansard, 56, from Ballymun, was the frontman for the Irish band The Frames, featured in the iconic Irish film The Commitments, and won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Falling Slowly” in 2008, which he co-wrote with Markéta Irglová for the movie Once.
He also kickstarted the celebrity Christmas Eve busk near Dublin’s Grafton Street to fundraise for the homeless.
He is survived by his wife, the Finnish poet Maire Saaritsa, and their three-year-old son, Christy.
Tributes have been paid from across the world, including from Bruce Springsteen and Ed Sheeran.
U2 frontman Bono described Hansard as an “angelic presence” and “smiling rascal”, adding “the rest of us blessed to stand there beside our very own and very earthed Angel Gabriel”.
In a statement to the Press Association, his publicists ATC management said: “With broken hearts we announce the passing of Glen Hansard in the early hours of this morning.”
The firm told RTÉ: “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.”
President Catherine Connolly led tributes to Hansard as “one of Ireland’s great singer-songwriters” and said he was “renowned for his incomparable live performances”.
“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,” she said.
“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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“Glen was one of the vital driving influences of the Irish music world, bringing people together in the sharing of live music. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him or experienced his work.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said in a post on social media: “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.”
Tánaiste Simon Harris expressed his condolences at Hansard’s death and said he had gained “international success over a long and varied career”.
“I send my thoughts to his wife and their young son, all his family and friends as well as all those that knew him.”
Hansard was one half of the rock duo The Swell Season, and released solo albums including Didn’t He Ramble, which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Folk Album in 2016.
He began the Christmas Eve charity busk outside The Gaiety Theatre in Dublin city 16 years ago, drawing members of the public in to see famous Irish musicians perform in aid of the Dublin Simon Community.
He also took part in protests against Ireland’s housing crisis, a march to mark three years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the anti-austerity water charge protests in 2014.
At the funeral of The Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan in 2023, Hansard performed Fairytale Of New York with Irish singer Lisa O’Neill, which prompted dancing in the aisles of the Co Tipperary church.
Gardaí said a man in his 50s died in single vehicle motorcycle crash in Lucan on the outskirts of the Irish capital before 4.30am on Wednesday.
The man, who they did not name, was treated at the scene but was pronounced dead a short time later.
