In the wake of renewed public interest following Glen Hansard’s funeral, many readers searching for entertainment news Ireland have been looking back at one of music’s most memorable creative pairings. But while Markéta Irglová’s name will always be linked with Once and its emotional legacy, her life since that chapter closed has unfolded far from the glare of constant headlines.
Irglová, the Czech singer-songwriter and Oscar winner, shared a deeply personal and artistic bond with Hansard that resonated well beyond the screen. Their real-life relationship, which developed during the success of Once, became part of the film’s enduring mythology. Her appearance at his funeral felt, for many, like a poignant full-circle moment.
How Markéta Irglová rebuilt her life away from the spotlight
For followers of Irish entertainment news and music stories tied to Hansard’s legacy, Irglová’s next act may come as a surprise. After her relationship with Hansard ended, she experienced another major personal change when her marriage to American studio engineer Tim Iseler came to an end after a short period.
That difficult stretch was followed by a life-changing move to Iceland, where she focused on healing, creativity and building something more lasting. In a message to fans at the time, Irglová explained that the move became a catalyst for profound personal change, adding that she had withdrawn somewhat while navigating everything that had shifted in her world.
It was in Iceland that she met Sturla Míó Þórisson, the man who would become her husband. The relationship marked a steadier, happier era in her life, and the couple married in 2012.
Family life and a fresh sense of happiness
Irglová has since embraced a quieter family-centred life, something that stands in contrast to the international attention that once surrounded her career and romance. She and Sturla went on to welcome three children, beginning with daughter Árveig in 2013, followed by son Eyvindur in 2015 and another son whose name has been kept private.
In her public messages, Irglová has often shared affectionate reflections on her husband and the life they have built together. Those glimpses suggest a woman who found peace not through celebrity, but through stability, love and artistic purpose.
A career that never stopped evolving
While she stepped back from the more intense spotlight, Irglová never left music behind. Her post-Once years have included a steady run of creative work:
- Anar released in 2011
- Muna followed in 2014
- Collaboration with her husband on the Home Is Here soundtrack in 2016
- More recent work including the EP Where You Belong
- Continued performances with The Swell Season
That continued output keeps her relevant not just in music news Ireland, but in wider conversations around artists who choose substance over spectacle.
Why her story still resonates
There is a reason Irglová’s journey continues to draw attention in celebrity news Ireland and broader pop culture Ireland coverage. Hers is not a story built on scandal or noise. Instead, it is about reinvention, resilience and the possibility of finding lasting love after heartbreak.
For audiences following entertainment news Ireland, her path offers a different kind of celebrity narrative: one shaped by artistry, personal growth and emotional honesty. The takeaway is simple but powerful — Markéta Irglová may have stepped away from the spotlight, but she never stopped moving forward.





