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Oscar-winning songwriter Glen Hansard killed in crash

Hansard, who was 56, won the best song Oscar for the 2007 low-budget musical film Once.

Published July 29, 2026, 11:27 AM
Updated July 29, 2026, 11:35 AM1.2K
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Oscar-winning songwriter Glen Hansard killed in crash

Oscar-winning Irish musician Glen Hansard has died in a motorbike crash in Dublin.

Hansard, 56, was the frontman for rock group The Frames and also featured in The Commitments.

He won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for Falling Slowly in 2007 which he wrote for the low-budget film Once.

Hansard was born in Dublin in 1970 and busked on its streets before landing the role of Outspan Foster in The Commitments.

Police are appealing for witnesses following the single-vehicle crash, which happened on Lower Road in Lucan, west of Dublin.

It was reported to the emergency services shortly before 04:30 local time.

Hansard was also 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 was the father of a three-year-old boy.

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