Songwriter Johnny Duhan dies while swimming in Galway Bay as search for second missing swimmer resumes

Johnny Duhan

A search and recovery operation has resumed this morning for a missing swimmer in Galway Bay.

The woman, aged in her 30s, was one of two people who failed to return to shore in two separate incidents after going swimming at Silver Strand.

The alarm was raised after the swimmer, aged in her 30s, failed to show up for work and her car was found at the scene.

The body of the second person, who has been named as renowned singer and songwriter Johnny Duhan, aged 74, was recovered shortly before 2pm on Tuesday afternoon.

The Limerick native, who has lived in Barna in Galway for many years, drowned after going for a swim at Silverstrand near his home this morning.

The alarm was raised when he failed to return home and as a search was being launched it emerged that a woman in her 30s was also missing after also swimming off the same beach.

Gardaí leading the investigation said they are treating the tragic events as two separate incidents and while both, like many in the area, were regular swimmers there, they do not believe they were known to each other.

A search will resume at first light for the woman who is believed to be from nearby Spiddal. The search for her was launched when she did not turn up for work and her car was found in the car park at Silverstrand where she was a regular swimmer.

The bizarre double incident has shocked the local community with neighbours and friends comforting both families and joining them at Silverstrand for the search.

Mr Duhan, who wrote songs for artists such as The Dubliners, Christy Moore, Mary Black and Dolores Keane among others, is a renowned singer and songwriter. He wrote 'The Voyage' which was made famous by Christy Moore.

He is survived by his wife Maureen and five children Ronan, Niamh, Kevin, Ailbhe and Brian, ten grandchildren, four sisters and three brothers, along with a large cohort of music fans.

Gardaí are treating the incidents separately and are trying to establish what happened.

Supt Paudie O’Shea appealed for anyone who was in the Silverstrand area on Tuesday morning and noticed anything to contact them.

“We don't fully understand the sequence of events which occurred here this morning, but it would be quite unusual. That is something we're just trying to piece together,” said Supt O’Shea, speaking at Silverstrand as the search continued on Tuesday afternoon.

“At the moment, currently, we are treating them as two separate incidents. We're dealing with two different families at one location.

“Both parties would be local to the area. We don't believe they are known to each other. They would have both arrived here this morning for they would have been both people who would frequent the sea for a daily swim.

“We're just trying to piece together the sequence of events, and currently we don't know the full sequence of events, and that is something we're trying to establish. It is absolutely devastating for both families and An Garda Síochána are working closely with both families. We are supporting them through this devastating time for both of them,” he added.

Galway's Silverstrand Beach. File picture: Google Maps

Gardaí, Galway RNLI, the Coast Guard, Galway Sub Aqua, and local volunteers, including fishing boats, launched a search both in the water and along the shoreline in a bid to locate the two swimmers.

Visibility was very poor, which prevented the Coast Guard rescue helicopter from being tasked, but Mr Duhan was located after a few hours.

“This morning at 10am An Garda Síochána received a report here at Silverstrand of a male who had failed to return to shore, who had gone out swimming,” added Supt O’Shea.

“At approximately 1.40pm this afternoon, the body of a male was recovered close by by Galway RNLI. The body was removed to Galway docks and was subsequently removed to Galway University Hospital where a postmortem will be conducted.

“An Garda Síochána are working and supporting the family of this deceased male. While Gardaí were present this morning here at the scene they received a further report of a lady who had not returned to shore following a swim.

"An Garda Síochána are currently conducting searches here with the assistance of Galway RNLI, the Coast Guard, Galway Sub Aqua and local volunteers. An Garda Síochána are also supporting and working with the family of this missing lady.

“An Garda Síochána would also like to thank the tremendous support of the local community here, which they have provided over the last number of hours.” 

There were distressing scenes as distraught family members of the two swimmers arrived at the scene, with more volunteers arriving as the afternoon progressed in efforts to locate them.

Several local people arrived with hot food and drinks for the rescue workers and family members.

Others arrived with kayaks on the roof of their cars or jet-skis on trailers and took to the water in the search, while other volunteers used drones.

More combed the shoreline on foot before the search was called off as darkness fell.

“The conditions are very challenging,” added Supt O’Shea. “We will be having a debrief this evening after our searches, and we'll be continuing tomorrow again.

“I want to pay tribute to all the agencies who are working closely with us here today, providing tremendous support to them, the local community. It has been outstanding, the amount of support we've got here.

“If people were here this morning and noticed anything unusual, we would certainly be appealing to them to come forward to An Garda Síochána with any information, no matter how small that may be.” 

The search will resume at Silverstrand, which is about seven kilometres west of Galway city, at first light on Wednesday morning, and Supt O’Shea asked that any volunteers joining the search make themselves known in advance.

“We would just caution that they make themselves known to us in the morning. We'll be here on the ground, and we'll have coordinated searches. But we want to make sure that if people are going out, that they're safe,” added Supt O’Shea.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has led tributes to Mr Duhan. In a social media post, Mr Harris said it was “terribly sad news tonight from Galway”.

He added: “Johnny Duhan was a renowned and much loved songwriter.

“Thinking of his family and loved ones at this very sad time.

“The young woman who is still missing remains in our thoughts tonight.”

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Sinn Féin senator Paul Gavan said it was “very sad news”.

He added: “I saw him play live in the 1980s a number of times in Limerick. A great writer and performer and a warm and thoughtful man.”

Former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said on X: “I’m really sorry to hear of the death of Johnny Duhan. One of our finest songwriters and creative writers.”

Hothouse Flowers musician Fiachna Ó Braonáin said The Voyage “belongs in the pantheon of Irish songs”.

Writing on X, he added: “I played Johnny Duhan’s music regularly on @RTÉRadio and his songs always received such a warm response.. and without fail, i received a beautifully crafted thank you note from Johnny.. every time.

“A master wordsmith… Deepest sympathies to Maureen and all his beloved family”

- Additional reporting by PA