Glen Hansard: Tributes From Bono, Springsteen, Zegler & More

The Frames frontman Glen Hansard, who also played guitarist Outspan Foster in The Commitments, has died aged 56 in a motorbike accident.

The incident was reported to Dublin’s emergency services at 4:30am on Wednesday.

Hansard, who won a Best Original Song Academy Award for Once’s Falling Slowly in 2008, is survived by his wife, poet Maire Saaritsa, and their three-year-old.

Since Wednesday, tributes have poured in from the likes of Bono, Ireland’s Taoiseach (similar to the UK’s Prime Minister) Micheál Martin, Rachel Zegler, and Bruce Springsteen, among many others.

Ireland’s president, Catherine Connolly, said: “Glen Hansard will be remembered as one of Ireland’s great singer-songwriters… 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.”

Glen’s The Frames bandmate Colm Mac Con Iomaire shared a picture of the group on Instagram with the caption “Fadó fadó ar maidin…” (“long, long ago this morning”).

Micheál Martin shared on X, “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. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam [God rest his soul].”

Musician Damien Dempsey wrote on Instagram, “Your power was unfathomable, otherworldly… a monumental power and a monumental loss.”

Comedian and actor Chris O’Dowd said, “Can’t believe Glen has left the world so terribly early. I recently encountered a Basquiat quote… ‘Art is how we decorate [space, and music] is how we decorate time’. Glen was an incredible decorator of our time.”

U2 star Bono shared on Instagram, “Sometimes I would wonder if Glen Hansard really existed… Seriously, he was such an angelic presence… this most musical and mischievous archangel of Ballymun… no airs, plenty of graces.

“He could never walk by a person living rough without checking they were OK… and more than that, he worked very hard so that less people had to live on the streets in the first place.”

Singer-songwriter Cat Power said: “In bonds of affection, you are tethered to our hearts forever. I ache for your beautiful family, Ed, Mike, & Oli.”

On BlueSky, folk band The Mountain Goats wrote: “His love of music was palpable, infectious, radiant.”

Waterboys singer Mike Scott posted on X, “Just heard that Glen Hansard has died. Travel on well, Buddy. You made your dreams come true. I’m so sorry that he leaves his wife and 3-year-old child.”

Musician Courtney Marie Andrews, who toured with Glen earlier this year, said: “am shocked and heartbroken to learn of @glenhansard passing… Our time together reminded me what it’s all about, the love of music. Glen embodied what it means to be a lifelong musician. He made a great impact on us all.”

Rachel Zegler, who performed a rendition of Once’s Falling Slowly alongside Glen in New York, posted pictures of herself alongside the musician with the caption: “oh i will love you forever. rest now, my friend.”

And Bruce Springsteen shared, “We met in Ireland many years ago and he was always nothing but a great musician, a good friend and a generous and gracious man. Always positive, smiling and ready to sing. God bless him and his loved ones.”