Hansard’s fatal motorcycle crash prompts emotional Bono tribute
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U2 frontman Bono has paid tribute to fellow Irish musician Glen Hansard, the Frames and Swell Season singer, who died in a motorcycle accident early on 29 July 2026. In an emotional statement, Bono described Hansard as "such an angelic presence" and praised his lifelong dedication to helping people experiencing homelessness, calling him the "voice of the streets".
Both men were long-standing participants in the Simon Community's annual Christmas Eve busking event on Grafton Street in Dublin, which raises money for the city's homeless population; Hansard, who began his career as a teenage busker in Dublin, was consistently its "shining star". Bono's tribute, shared alongside footage of the pair performing together, recalled Hansard's insistence on staying close to the street even after the event moved to a stage outside the Gaiety Theatre, and praised his genuine, unpretentious character.
- Glen Hansard died in a motorcycle crash on 29 July 2026
- Bono paid emotional tribute, calling him an "angelic presence"
- Both were fixtures of Dublin's Christmas Eve homeless charity busk
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Bono and Glen Hansard are two of Ireland's best-known musicians, with Hansard fronting the Dublin band the Frames and later performing as one half of the duo Swell Season, while Bono leads U2. The two have long been linked not just by music but by charity work, particularly the Simon Community's Christmas Eve busking event on Grafton Street in Dublin, which raises money for people who are homeless in the city.
Hansard's connection to that cause ran deep: he started out as a teenage busker on the same street and became a fixture of the annual event over the years, often described as its standout performer. His death in a motorcycle crash has prompted tributes from across the Irish music world, with Bono's statement highlighting both their personal friendship and Hansard's long-standing commitment to helping homeless people through his music.
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Originally published by Stereogum as “Bono Shares Tribute To The Late Glen Hansard: “He Was Such An Angelic Presence””.