Oscar-winning singer-songwriter Glen Hansard was enjoying a night of Irish music before his fatal motorcycle accident west of Ireland’s capital city early Wednesday morning.
The 56-year-old, who died in a single-vehicle motorcycle crash just before 4:30 a.m. in western Dublin, spent his final moments at the Wren’s Nest pub attending a trad session, The Irish Times reported.
Hansard was a regular at the watering hole on Tuesday nights when the bar hosted trad sessions — which are casual gatherings of musicians playing Irish music together — with the musical group Trad 15.
Tuesday’s musical session was advertised as a celebration of the Mayo County football team’s win in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship over the weekend, according to the outlet.
The decorated musician departed the pub on his motorbike and rode west on Lower Road before crashing less than two miles away, according to the Times.
In a social media post Wednesday afternoon, the Wren’s Nest pub said they were “deeply saddened” by Hansard’s sudden death.
“It was always a privilege to welcome Glen to The Wren’s Nest over the years. He will be remembered for his incredible talent, generosity and the joy he brought to so many,” the Facebook statement said.
As the tragic collision was a single-vehicle crash, there will be no criminal investigation — but police will conduct a probe to determine the cause of the crash and to prepare a file for the coroner’s inquest.
A post-mortem will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death, including a toxicology examination.
The results of the examinations and inquiries will be presented during evidence at the inquest — which often takes place several years after death, according to the outlet.
Hansard was married to Finnish poet Maire Saaritsa, with whom he shared a young son born in 2022.
The Frames frontman split his time between homes in Ireland and Finland, where his wife is from.
Hansard’s management issued a statement Wednesday confirming the musician’s death.
“With broken hearts we announce the passing of Glen Hansard in the early hours of this morning,” the statement said.
“We are still dealing with the shock of it all, so we kindly ask that the privacy of Glen’s family, colleagues and friends is respected at this difficult time.”
Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin mourned Hansard’s untimely death, calling the artist “a talented musician and actor who made a significant contribution to Ireland’s cultural landscape over many years.”
Hansard began his musical career by busking on the streets of his native Dublin before catapulting into success with influential Irish rock band The Frames in 1990, who released six studio albums between 1991 and 2006.
Most notably, Hansard won the Oscar for Best Original Song for the indie film “Once,” which he also starred in.
He was also one half of folk duo The Swell Season with “Once” co-star Marketa Irglova, who starred beside him in the 2007 film that features their music.
Their duet “Falling Slowly” won the Oscar at the 2008 Academy Awards.
“Once” also became a successful Broadway production, scoring eight Tony Awards in 2012.
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