Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan’s widow joins thousands of well-wishers paying tribute to Glen Hansard after star died in motorcycle crash
Irish musician Glen Hansard, frontman of The Frames and an Oscar-winning songwriter, has died aged 56 following a motorcycle crash on the outskirts of Dublin. Thousands of well-wishers, including Shane MacGowan's widow Victoria Mary Clarke, singer Declan O'Rourke and journalist Niall Stokes, queued outside the Baroque Chapel at the Irish Museum of Modern Art to pay their respects at a public wake, reflecting Hansard's wide influence on Irish music and public life.
Hansard died hours after taking part in a traditional music session at The Wren's Nest pub. His wicker coffin, laid with greenery, apples and two of his guitars, was viewed by mourners as traditional musicians performed nearby and well-wishers left flowers, cards and notes. He won the Best Original Song Oscar in 2008 for "Falling Slowly", co-written with Marketa Irglova for the film Once, and had featured in The Commitments and led the duo The Swell Season. He also performed "Fairytale of New York" at MacGowan's funeral in 2023, ran an annual Christmas Eve charity busk in Dublin for homelessness charity Dublin Simon Community, and was active in campaigns including Irish housing protests, water charge demonstrations and support for Ukraine.
- Glen Hansard, 56, died in a Dublin motorcycle crash
- Thousands attended his public wake at IMMA, Dublin
- He won a 2008 Oscar for "Falling Slowly" from the film Once
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Glen Hansard was an Irish singer-songwriter best known as the frontman of the band The Frames and for his work with the duo The Swell Season. He also acted in the film The Commitments and co-wrote “Falling Slowly” with Markéta Irglová for the film Once; the song won an Oscar in 2008.
Hansard was a prominent figure in Irish music and public life, performing at Shane MacGowan’s funeral and taking part in an annual Christmas Eve charity busk in Dublin. His death prompted a public wake where musicians and other well-wishers gathered to pay their respects.