Updated: August 7, 2026
Glen Hansard, the Irish singer-songwriter best known for The Frames, the Oscar-winning film Once, and his raw, heartfelt songwriting, never had a traditional “ex-wife.” Searches for that phrase usually lead people to his most public romance or his later marriage. Here’s the clear picture based on what’s publicly known.
Hansard died on July 29, 2026, at age 56 after a motorcycle crash in Dublin. He is survived by his wife, Finnish poet Maire Saaritsa, and their young son. Understanding his personal life means separating the intense, high-profile relationship that defined a chapter of his career from the quieter partnership that came later.
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The Once Romance with Markéta Irglová
Hansard met Czech musician Markéta Irglová years earlier through her father, a promoter and Frames fan. Their professional collaboration deepened while making the 2007 film Once, in which they starred and co-wrote the music. The on-screen connection spilled into real life during the promotional tour. They began dating around 2006–2007, when Hansard was in his mid-to-late 30s and Irglová was about 19.
Their chemistry produced the Academy Award-winning song “Falling Slowly.” As The Swell Season they toured extensively and released albums together. The relationship lasted roughly two years. In early 2009 they confirmed the romantic side had ended. Hansard later described it as a natural evolution: they had been friends first, became lovers amid the whirlwind of the film and Oscar success, then returned to being close collaborators and friends. They continued making music, including a 2025 reunion album Forward.
Irglová later married and built her own career, settling in Iceland with her family. The pair remained on good terms and occasionally worked together.
Why the “Ex-Wife” Label Doesn’t Fit
Hansard and Irglová never married. Media coverage sometimes blurred the lines because their story felt cinematic and public. No divorce papers, no legal separation—just a private decision to end the romantic chapter while preserving the creative one. Hansard had no previous marriages, so he had no legal ex-wife.
Marriage to Maire Saaritsa and Becoming a Father
In 2022 Hansard married Finnish poet Maire Saaritsa. She is a private figure, known for translating Irish poetry into Finnish and participating in literary events. They welcomed their son Christy in September/October 2022 (accounts vary slightly on the exact day). Hansard, then 52, spoke openly about how fatherhood shifted everything. He described a complete change in perspective after decades focused on his own work and touring life, calling the experience deeply meaningful and one of the most engaged periods of his life.
The couple divided time between Ireland (including Celbridge, County Kildare) and Helsinki. Saaritsa understood she had married a “troubadour” whose career involved travel; they made it work. After Hansard’s death, Saaritsa spoke at his funeral in St Patrick’s Cathedral, thanking those who supported the family and reflecting on the life they shared “searching for truth and beauty side by side.”
Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Partner 2006–2009 | Markéta Irglová (never married) |
| Wife | Maire Saaritsa (married December 2022) |
| Child | Son Christy (born 2022) |
| Hansard’s death | July 29, 2026, motorcycle crash, Dublin |
| Survived by | Wife Maire Saaritsa and son Christy |
| Notable collaboration | Once soundtrack, “Falling Slowly” (Oscar) |
How Personal Chapters Shaped the Music
Hansard’s songs often carried emotional honesty that felt lived-in. The intensity of the Once period and its aftermath fed into The Swell Season’s work. Later, fatherhood brought a different tenderness and sense of priority. He remained a restless, touring artist until the end, yet the last years clearly centered family alongside the music.
Glen Hansard’s story shows two distinct chapters: a high-visibility creative and romantic partnership that never became a marriage, and a later, more private marriage and parenthood that arrived in his fifties. The “ex-wife” search usually points to the first chapter. The fuller picture includes both the celebrated collaboration with Irglová and the quieter, lasting partnership with Saaritsa that defined his final years. His music and the people closest to him remain the lasting record.