Gardaí believe Glen Hansard lost control of bike before fatal crash

Gardaí investigating the tragic death of Glen Hansard are continuing to piece together the 56-year-old’s final hours.

The Oscar-winning musician and songwriter died in an early morning motorbike accident on Wednesday in the Lucan area of Dublin.

Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene at approximately 4.30am. Mr Hansard was pronounced dead a short time later.

Video footage has since circulated of the beloved artist performing in The Wren’s Nest in Chapelizod just hours before his fateful demise.

The Wren’s Nest’s owner Stella has since paid tribute to the musician as she set straight speculation that a lock-in had taken place.

‘We just don’t know exactly when it happened,’ Stella told Extra.ie last week.

July 29, 2026: The Wrens Nest Pub on the Strawberry Beds, the morning after Glen Hansard's body was found further up the road. (RollingNews.ie)

Investigations are now pointing towards the possibility that Hansard may have left The Wren’s Nest and headed to another location before making his way to his home in Celbridge, Co Kildare.

The Irish Independent report that it is thought a ‘loss of control’ was the cause of the accident, rather than a collision.

A source told the publication that factors including road surface and weather conditions will be taken into account in the investigation.

July 30, 2026: Flowers at the scene of Glen Hansard's fatal motorcycle crash in the Strawberry Beds area of Lucan, Dublin. (RollingNews.ie)

The motorbike is reported to have only sustained minor damage but will undergo a technical examination.

This examination is expected to provide further ‘key information’ regarding Hansard’s driving route and the time of the crash.

Gardaí do believe, however, that the fatal accident occurred shortly before the musician was pronounced dead due to the volume of traffic on the road, even in the early hours of the morning.

The funeral mass of the frontman of The Frames will take place on Tuesday.

On Monday, a public wake has been confirmed for the singer-songwriter.

In the wake of his death, fans have been taking to the streets of the capital to perform renditions of his greatest hits, including Falling Slowly, which was written for the film Once.

The public wake on Monday will take place in the Baroque Chapel at IMMA, Royal Hospital Kilmainham from 11am to 4pm.

The musician will lie in repose for those wishing to pay their respects over the Bank Holiday.

*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.