Glen Hansard: Oscar-winning Irish singer-songwriter has died, aged 56

Hot Press is deeply saddened to hear of the death of Glen Hansard this morning, aged 56.

The world-renowned Dublin singer-songwriter – who won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2008, alongside his Once co-star Markéta Irglová – died following a road traffic accident in the early hours of this morning, July 29.

The news was confirmed this morning by ATC Management, who represented Glen.

"Glen's family is deeply shocked and heartbroken by this tragic loss and respectfully requests privacy at this extremely difficult time," their statement reads. "The family is grateful for the support they have received and wishes to thank the emergency services who attended the scene. As this matter remains the subject of an active Garda investigation, no further comment will be made at this time."

A founding member of deeply influential Irish band The Frames, Hansard initially rose to prominence through an appearance in Alan Parker’s 1991 film The Commitments – before embarking on a remarkable career spanning over three decades.

In 2007, he starred in John Carney's film Once. Made on a relatively modest budget, the film became a global success, grossing $23 million worldwide – and featuring the Oscar-winning track 'Falling Slowly', which he penned alongside his co-star and Swell Season bandmate Markéta Irglová.

In addition to his work with The Frames and The Swell Season, he launched his solo career with 2012’s Rhythm and Repose, before going on to release the studio albums Didn’t He Ramble (2015), Between Two Shores (2018), This Wild Willing (2019), and All That Was East Is West of Me Now (2023).

This year saw Glen release Don+t Settle - Transmissions East & West – a 22-song career retrospective across two volumes, recorded live at Berlin's historic Funkhaus.

Glen Hansard at Trinity Summer Series on July 3, 2026. Copyright Saoirse McAllorum/hotpress.com

Over the course of his career, he collaborated with and earned praise from legendary artists like Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Joni Mitchell.

In 2022, he announced the birth of his son, Christy, with his partner, the Finnish poet Maire Saaritsa.

"I want to refuse to believe the terrible news that Glen has died,” Hot Press editor Niall Stokes said. "He was a man I knew and loved. A brilliant musician, a great singer, and a fantastically charismatic and intense character, who always gave his utmost in everything he did.

"From the first time we laid eyes on him in Hot Press, and heard that powerful Hansard voice, we knew that he had something utterly unique to offer. And so it proved, over and over again.

"Glen started out as a street poet, making that visceral connection to the two, or ten, or a hundred people that’d gather to listen to him sing on Grafton Street. And he never lost that direct connection either to the streets, or to audiences that flocked to see him perform. He was a troubadour at heart, as well as a man with a deep knowledge of – and love for – contemporary music in its many-faceted arteries. He was one of a kind – and an inspiration to so many young Irish musicians as they tried to find their own way into the creative world he inhabited so naturally.

"Glen was a wonderfully committed musician, who lived and loved the music from the very outset. He wrote marvellous songs – whether as a member of The Frames, as one half of The Swell Season or as Glen Hansard solo artist.

"Over the years, we did so many things together, from the brilliant 'Alas Poor Yorick' cover at the time of The Frames ascendancy in the 1990s, through the one with Markéta when they scooped the Oscar for 'Falling Slowly' – and his epic version of ‘Astral Weeks’ for our Van Morrison 75th birthday tribute – to the iconic appearance by The Frames at the Hot Press 50th Anniversary bash, in the 3Arena, at the start of the year.

"When I called him about doing that show his generosity of spirit shone like a diamond. He said yes straight away. I really want do be part of that. Count me in. And we did. He decided that it was best to do the show under The Frames umbrella, and I knew immediately that it made marvellous sense.

"The band’s appearance was an extraordinary highlight – first, hearing the intro to ‘Revelate’ booming out brilliantly during the afternoon sound check, and then during the show itself, when the band delivered a stunning musical highpoint –with Glen also saying very kind things about what Hot Press always meant to him and to the musicians he worked with, both onstage and afterwards, amid hugs and handshakes.

"It is honestly impossible to compute right now. Just fucking impossible. We have lost a friend and an ally, a thinker, a poet and a musical conjuror. Our thoughts are with his family and friends, band members and everyone who loved him, as we did. There is a hollow in our chest. Life will never feel – will never be – the same without him."