Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan's widow joins thousands of well-wishers paying tribute to Glen Hansard after star died in motorcycle crash

Published: 19:21, 3 August 2026 | Updated: 19:23, 3 August 2026 Shane MacGowan's widow Victoria Mary Clarke joined thousands of well-wishers to commemorate Oscar-winning Irish musician Glen Hansard. Hansard, 56, won a Best Original Song Oscar in 2027 for the indie film Once and was lead singer for rock group the Frames. The frontman of Irish band The Frames was killed in a motorcycle crash on the outskirts of Dublin, hours after taking part in a trad session at The Wren's Nest pub.  Mourners queued outside the Baroque Chapel at the Irish Museum of Modern Art at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, to see the coffin of the songwriter and pay their respects. Trad musicians played under the stained glass window in the chapel, where Hansard's wicker coffin was laid on a table adorned with greenery and apples. Two of his guitars were at the foot of the coffin, on which some laid their hands as they passed. Others left flowers, cards and notes as a tribute to him. Hansard had performed at the funeral of MacGowan in 2023, collaborating with fellow Irish singer Lisa O'Neill to perform Fairytale of New York - prompting dancing in the aisles of the Co Tipperary church. Today Ms Mary Clarke joined singer Declan O'Rourke and music journalist Niall Stokes at the public wake. Hansard, 56, won a Best Original Song Oscar in 2027 for the indie film Once and was lead singer for rock group the Frames Hansard performed Fairytale Of New York at the funeral of Shane MacGowan in 2023  Hansard had featured in the celebrated film The Commitments, and won an Oscar for best original song for Falling Slowly in 2008, which he co-wrote with Marketa Irglova for the movie Once. He began an annual Christmas Eve charity busk outside the Gaiety Theatre 16 years ago, drawing members of the public to see famous Irish musicians perform in aid of the homeless in the city. DJ Sinead Ni Mhorda, who was among the first in line on Monday, said Hansard had 'a raw talent that is joyous and all-consuming and life-changing'. 'I fell in love with the music of the Frames when I was 18, when I was in college, and just followed him over the years, I've been to see him countless number of times,' she said. She added: 'I interviewed him at the Choice Music Prize in Vicar Street when he was up for the Choice Music Prize for the Swell Season album, and he was just so lovely, so humble. 'He was really gracious with where he'd got to with his success, and I asked him about what has been the biggest moment for you, where you thought, 'wow, this, I can't believe this is actually happening', so I think he said when Bruce Springsteen reached out to him and complimented him. 'He's done so much for Irish music. He really was a trailblazer for a lot of singer-songwriters, he brought people under his wing. 'He had such a generous spirit, and he always was the Pied Piper, I guess that's how I would have known him, in terms of getting together sessions and things like that. 'He was a really warm, lovely man.' People queue to attend a public wake for Glen Hansard at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) in Dublin Members of the public queue to attend the public wake of the Irish musician  The Hearse leaves as people queue to attend a public wake for Glen Hansard at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) in Dublin Hansard was 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. For years he led the Christmas Eve charity busk outside The Gaiety Theatre in Dublin city, where members of the public gathered to see famous Irish musicians perform in aid of the Dublin Simon Community. He also took part in protests against Ireland’s housing crisis, a march to mark three years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and he joined anti-austerity water charge protests in 2014. Hansard also recorded a song called Take Heart, in October 2022, expressing support for Ukraine following the country's invasion by Russia - with Hansard backed on the track by Irglová, U2 frontman Bono and Ukrainian refugees.  In The Commitments, based on a 1987 novel by Roddy Doyle, Hansard played Outspan Foster, a guitarist recruited by music fan Jimmy Rabbitte - played by Robert Arkins - with dreams of setting up a band to perform classic 50s and 60s soul music. The film won four Baftas and was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe. Hansard toured in the past with Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder, sang the track Coyote at Joni Mitchell's 75th birthday celebration in Los Angeles in 2018 and also sang live alongside artists including Bruce Springsteen and Ed Sheeran. Former Irish president Michael D Higgins said Hansard was a 'wonderful musician and performer' who had a gift for storytelling. He also praised the musician for having 'also placed great emphasis throughout his life to the importance of tackling the problems of society, including regular work in drawing attention to the problem of homelessness'. Bono said in a statement: 'Sometimes I would wonder if Glen Hansard really existed….Seriously, he was such an angelic presence… not otherworldly…in fact, very present this presence… 'A smiling rascal if you needed him to be… this most musical and mischievous archangel of Ballymun… no airs, plenty of graces... 'Of course, Glen was the shining star of the Christmas Eve busk… sometimes the only one reminding the rest of us that Christmas began with a refugee born in a manger, which is hardly a step from living on the street. 'To be utterly yourself by being more interested in others – a clue for any of us trying out different personas. 'He really was who you thought he was. 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. 'When the crowds got bigger and for safety’s sake Glen had to agree to move the busk to a stage kindly provided outside The Gaiety Theatre, he would say "we’ll give it our best but it’s not a busk if we’re not on the street!" …because that’s who he was - a performer at eye level in any situation. 'The stage was a separation he wouldn’t recognize. Of all the grand and gigantic venues he and The Frames played, you sensed the street was his most favoured place to perform. And street people, his favourite audience. 'Voice of the streets. A choir of angels in one man. The rest of us blessed to stand there beside our very own and very earthed Angel Gabriel… All of us welcome in his choir, whatever shape or form. '….and I’m telling myself this morning that if he never existed, then he can never cease to exist. For me, he will always be everywhere I see a coin spinning into an open guitar case. 'May you rest in the peace you gave to so many. Bono.' Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová hold their Oscars for Best Original Song at the 80th annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California, in February 2008 Glen Hansard was filmed performing at Dublin pub The Wren's Nest shortly before his death Video footage showed Hansard's final performance at the Wren's Nest late on Tuesday night. The Wren's Nest, a pub in Dublin dating back to 1588, has posted an online tribute, saying: 'We are deeply saddened by the passing of Glen Hansard. '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. 'Our thoughts are with his family, friends and all who knew and loved him. Rest in peace, Glen. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.' Fans have noted how Hansard's last performance delivered lyrics such as 'Time is the only thing that's going to fix this now'. A clock on the wall in the footage marks the time as being 11.15pm on Tuesday. Responses online included the late comedian Spike Milligan's daughter Jane Milligan saying: 'How beautiful to have this song. 'Once is a most profoundly great show, not only for its songs and sweet love story but for its Actor Musician element. RIP Glen.' Another poster wrote: 'You just never know when it all ends. So glad he was doing what he loved right up to the last moment. Thank you for everything Glen.' Other comments included: 'Nice that he left this song, and thankfully someone captured this on video.' Glen Hansard featured in the 1991 movie The Commitments as guitarist Outspan Foster Glen Hansard is seen taking part in the annual Christmas Eve busk on Grafton Street, Dublin, in December 2019 Hansard and Markéta Irglová (right) co-wrote Falling Slowly which won an Oscar in 2008 Irish police are seen where Glen Hansard died in a motorcycle crash in Lucan, Dublin Dave Ashe said Hansard's death was a 'shock' and described him as a 'cultural node' for the music community in Ireland. 'His inputs of busking on the street, and then being the guitarist, the frontman, and then being the Oscar-winner, and being the storyteller, and then the trad session musician – to have that removed from the culture, I think it's jarring for people,' he said. Songwriter Barra Donovan said Hansard was a 'hero' of his and described meeting Hansard in Dublin last month. 'Who walks in but Glen?' he said. 'So naturally, I had to go up and say hello, and he was very approachable and very kind. We had a lovely conversation. 'For about 30 minutes, we were just chatting, and he kept coming back and asking me questions about my music, had all the time in the world, and I walked away that night – I should say stumbled away – with a big grin on my face and a very happy story to tell the next day.' He added: 'I was so shocked at Glen's passing, and the only thing I could think to do is, I have to come down, pay my respects to an absolute giant in the music community and around the world, really. 'Glen helped build people up all the time, he was a giant is the only word for it.' Singer songwriter Zoe Hayter met Hansard when she was 10. 'I never, ever thought someone could change your life in the best way possible,' she said. 'He introduced me into a world that was the most magical thing you could ever be a part of, and there was no-one else like him that could ever do that for anybody else, and he's done it for me, and he's done it for everybody in the whole world. 'The whole world is crying, and there'll never be anyone like that, and I'll never stop loving him and I know no-one else will.' Maureen Doyle and Richard Thorpe travelled from Co Kilkenny to pay their respects to Hansard. Ms Doyle said he was a 'good person' and they expressed their condolences to his wife and young son, Christy.