Former US president Barack Obama has paid tribute to Oscar-winning songwriter and The Frames frontman Glen Hansard, who died yesterday aged 56.
Mr Hansard died in a motorcycle crash near Strawberry Beds in Chapelizod in Dublin city.
In a post on social media, Mr Obama described Mr Hansard as a “great musician”.
The former US president posts music playlists online containing songs he and his wife, Michelle, have listened to during a particular time.
Their summer playlist starts with ‘Song of Good Hope, with Mr Obama remarking this playlist “starts with a song Michelle and I love by Glen Hansard”.
“Our hearts go out to his family,” he added.
Here are some of the songs I’ve been listening to this summer. It starts with a song Michelle and I love by Glen Hansard, a great musician who passed tragically this week. Our hearts go out to his family. pic.twitter.com/3A1trYfXfx
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 30, 2026
Many high-profile have paid tribute to the late singer, including Bono, Bob Geldof, Bruce Springsteen, Ed Sheeran, President Catherine Connolly and his bandmate Colm Mac Con Iomaire among others.
In a statement, the U2 frontman described Mr Hansard as the “most musical and mischievous archangel of Ballymun”.
Live Aid co-founder and Boomtown Rats singer Bob Geldof called the frontman “a person and a songwriter and singer and musician and performer of great depth, understanding, compassion, daring and bravado”.
The Frames’ Colm Mac Con Iomaire remembered his friend and bandmate as “a troubadour from a different time”.
President Catherine Connolly said he would be remembered as “one of Ireland’s great singer-songwriters”.
Members of the public queued up to sign a book of condolence at the Mansion House in Dublin
Tributes from fans also continue to pour in for the singer-songwriter.
Members of the public queued up to sign a book of condolence at the Mansion House in Dublin.
Kildare County Council has also opened a book of condolence for members of the public to sign at their offices in Naas.
Mr Hansard went from busking on the streets of his hometown to success with his band The Frames, to Academy Award glory with the song Falling Slowly, from the film Once, and on to a successful career as a solo artist.
He was one of Ireland’s most acclaimed and influential musicians, who built an international career spanning more than three decades across music, film and theatre.
Born in Ballymun, Dublin, on 21 April 1970, Hansard began performing music at a young age, busking on the streets of Dublin before co-founding The Frames in 1990.