Johnny Duhan dies in tragic Galway drowning
Johnny Duhan dies in tragic Galway drowning
Fatal Galway drowning claims life of singer-songwriter Johnny Duhan – Obituary
Renowned Irish singer and songwriter Johnny Duhan, aged 74, lost his life on Tuesday morning in a drowning accident near his Galway home. The Limerick native, known for his contributions to Irish music, particularly his song “The Voyage,” which became popular through Christy Moore, was swimming at Silverstrand Beach in Galway when he went missing.
The alarm was raised after Duhan did not return from his swim. Authorities soon discovered that a second swimmer, a woman in her 30s from Spiddal, was also missing from the same beach. The two incidents are believed to be unrelated, and Gardaí are treating each as a separate occurrence. Both individuals were reportedly regular swimmers in the area, but investigators believe they were not acquainted.
As the search progressed, Galway RNLI located Duhan’s body around 1:40 p.m., bringing a somber end to the morning’s efforts. He was subsequently taken to Galway University Hospital, where a postmortem examination will be conducted. Despite poor visibility and challenging conditions, search teams—comprising Gardaí, Coast Guard, Galway RNLI, local volunteers, and Galway Sub Aqua members—continued looking for the missing woman into the afternoon.
In response to the incident, Superintendent Paudie O’Shea issued an appeal to anyone who may have been present at Silverstrand Beach on Tuesday morning to provide any information that might aid the investigation. He expressed deep sympathy for the families and extended thanks to the community and volunteers supporting the search.
Duhan is survived by his wife, Maureen, five children, and ten grandchildren. His passing has deeply affected his family and the music community, who remember his talent and contributions to Irish culture. The search for the missing woman is expected to resume at dawn Wednesday, with authorities coordinating safety measures for additional volunteers.
Johnny Duhan dies in tragic Galway drowning Fatal Galway drowning claims life of singer-songwriter Johnny Duhan – Obituary Renowned Irish singer and songwriter Johnny Duhan, aged 74, lost his life on Tuesday morning in a drowning accident near his Galway home. The Limerick native, known for his contributions to Irish music, particularly his song “The…
Johnny Duhan dies in tragic Galway drowning Fatal Galway drowning claims life of singer-songwriter Johnny Duhan – Obituary Renowned Irish singer and songwriter Johnny Duhan, aged 74, lost his life on Tuesday morning in a drowning accident near his Galway home. The Limerick native, known for his contributions to Irish music, particularly his song “The…