About
Folk singer, actor, and activist who makes up half of the duo The Swell Season alongside Marketa Irglova. He and Marketa composed the music and starred in the 2007 Irish musical film Once in 2007, winning an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Falling Slowly."
Before fame
He dropped out of school when he was 13 and began performing music on the streets of Dublin.
Trivia
His first solo album, Rhythm and Repose, peaked at #21 on the US Billboard chart in 2012. He passed away in a motorcycle accident on July 29, 2026.
Family life
He was born in Ballymun, Dublin, Ireland. He married Finnish poet Maire Saaritsa in December 2022 after welcoming a son in October 2022.
Associated with
He appeared in the 1991 comedy The Commitments, directed by Alan Parker.
