{"id":968917,"date":"2026-07-30T11:25:19","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T11:25:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/968917\/"},"modified":"2026-07-30T11:25:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T11:25:19","slug":"glen-hansard-dead-bruce-springsteen-bono-among-celeb-reactions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/968917\/","title":{"rendered":"Glen Hansard Dead: Bruce Springsteen, Bono Among Celeb Reactions"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tBruce Springsteen<\/a>, Bono<\/a> and Finneas O\u2019Connell are among the musicians remembering Glen Hansard<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe Irish singer-songwriter, who co-wrote the Oscar-winning \u201cFalling Slowly\u201d from Once, died in a motorcycle crash<\/a> early Wednesday morning near his native Dublin. He was 56.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe death of the Frames frontman has sparked a number of tributes from across the entertainment industry.<\/p>\n

\n\tBono penned a lengthy essay about Hansard, beginning, \u201cSometimes I would wonder if Glen Hansard really existed\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tHe then recalled his kindness and busking past, writing in part, \u201cHe really was who you thought he was. He could never walk by a person living rough without checking they were OK\u2026 and more than that, he worked very hard so that less people had to live on the streets in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tIn closing, Bono returned to his view of Hansard as an \u201cangelic presence.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cAnd I\u2019m telling myself this morning that if he never existed, then he can never cease to exist,\u201d he wrote. \u201cFor me, he will always be everywhere I see a coin spinning into an open guitar case.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tSpringsteen, meanwhile, recalled meeting Hansard in Ireland \u201cmany years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cHe was always nothing but a great musician, a good friend and a generous and gracious man,\u201d he wrote on social media. \u201cAlways positive, smiling and ready to sing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tFinneas O\u2019Connell remembered how \u201cFalling Slowly\u201d was the first song he ever performed onstage, at the age of 11.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cHis songs made me want to write songs and they also made me cry,\u201d O\u2019Connell wrote. \u201cWhen our family met him in Dublin in 2019, he greeted us like old friends even though we were just his fans. Today I am a heartbroken fan. Hope he knew how much he meant to so many, this is how much he meant to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tO\u2019Connell\u2019s mom Maggie Baird shared that their entire family was saddened by the death of someone who \u201cwas a force in [their] lives\u201d adding that she\u2019s \u201cdevastated for his family and for all of us who were so changed by him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWhen we first saw the movie Once it affected us also profoundly. I know Finneas and Billie would not be who they are without his music,\u201d she wrote. \u201cFinneas first performed publicly singing Falling Slowly, Billie sang all the songs from the movie, we went to see him talk and perform at The Grammy Museum in 2013 and were blown away. I made my film inspired by that beautiful movie. I got to see him at the Greek last fall and it was such a joy and I know he had so many shows planned and a three year old! He was a thrilling human to be in the presence of I hope you have a little inkling of what he meant to people. I know it\u2019s a very hard thing to feel and taken I doubt that he really knew, but he was such a gift I\u2019m so so sad. I\u2019m so grateful for what he brought to the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tSearchlight Pictures, which released John Carney\u2019s Once, wrote on its social media that it was \u201cdevastated by the loss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cA singer and actor of singular talent, his melodies gave voice to first love, first heartbreak and many milestones in between for a generation of filmgoers,\u201d the message continued. \u201cOur thoughts are with his family and friends. He will be missed by us all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tLin-Manuel Miranda referred to Hansard as a \u201conce in a lifetime songwriter\u201d and said he was, \u201cgrateful for the music we got\u201d but \u201cgreedy for more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tAnd Josh Groban called him an \u201cabsolute gem of a man. As pure an artistic soul as they come and a spirit of kindness that always took precedence over his immense talent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tFellow Irish musician Hozier also posted an extended tribute to Hansard.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cGlen\u2019s legacy reaches far beyond that of an Irish or Dublin musician who\u2019s work became beloved globally; he was a uniquely central feature and vessel of Irish story telling on both stage, screen and street for as long as many of us can remember,\u201d he wrote. \u201cGlen is so indelibly tied into the life and breath of Irish music, and particularly the city of Dublin, that it feels utterly surreal to imagine that he could be gone from us now. His beautiful work was an inspirational component of my own and so many other\u2019s upbringing and adult life, as was his consistent kindness, support and advocacy. This was a man who gave a remarkable amount of himself to song itself, to his shows, to the city he loved and to a community of musicians who loved and admired him dearly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tRead on to see what Hollywood is saying about the late singer-songwriter.<\/p>\n

\n

Sometimes I would wonder if Glen Hansard really existed\u2026. <\/p>\n

Seriously, he was such an angelic presence\u2026 not otherworldly\u2026in fact, very present this presence\u2026
A smiling rascal if you needed him to be\u2026 this most musical and mischievous archangel of Ballymun\u2026 no airs, plenty\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/8d8Cw6YTSb<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 U2 (@U2) July 29, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

Glen Hansard (1970-2026)<\/p>\n

We are devastated by the loss of this inimitable member of our Searchlight family. A singer and actor of singular talent, his melodies gave voice to first love, first heartbreak, and many milestones in between for a generation of filmgoers.<\/p>\n

Our thoughts\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/FQgsJ3E1Nd<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Searchlight Pictures (@searchlightpics) July 29, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

So saddened to hear the news that Glen Hansard was killed in a motorcycle accident . What a tragic loss , gone too soon . Such a lovely guy and so talented . Condolences to his family . May he rest in peace #glenhansard<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/8ERiHODLYO<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Roma Downey (@RealRomaDowney) July 29, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

We are deeply saddened by the loss of singer-songwriter Glen Hansard. Thank you for all the history and memories you made with us at The Garden \u2764\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/ECNXxIXMUs<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 MSG (@TheGarden) July 29, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

I join the people of Ireland in mourning the loss of Glen Hansard, an extraordinary artist whose music spoke to the heart and whose talent transcended borders.<\/p>\n

From the streets of Dublin to the Academy Awards, his voice carried Ireland\u2019s spirit to the world, inspiring\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/mK5FMoPL6S<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ambassador Edward Walsh (@USAmbIreland) July 29, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

I echo my brother\u2019s words\u2014what a good man, what a great friend, what an incredible talent, what a loss, what a tragedy. Life is so fragile; it reminds us of this everyday. Hug those you love again and again and again.<\/p>\n

Glen was such a good friend to you, @bobbyshriver<\/a> and I\u2019m\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/CHoCz1KEMA<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) July 29, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n