Irish singer-songwriter Johnny Duhan, 74, died in a swimming accident at Silverstrand near his home in Barna, Galway, Ireland on Tuesday morning. The tragedy coincided with the disappearance of another swimmer, though authorities are treating these as separate incidents, per The Irish Times.
Superintendent Paudie O’Shea addressed the unique circumstances: “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.” He added, “At the moment, currently, we are treating them as two separate incidents. We’re dealing with two different families at one location,” according to the outlet.
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Both swimmers were regular visitors to the beach, though investigators believe they were not acquainted. A search operation commenced when a woman in her 30s, believed to be from nearby Spiddal, failed to arrive at work, and her vehicle was discovered in the beach parking area. Dense fog impaired visibility throughout the morning, preventing Coast Guard helicopter deployment despite calm sea conditions.
The response involved multiple agencies, including Gardaí, Galway RNLI, the Coast Guard, Galway Sub Aqua, and local volunteers with fishing vessels, conducting both water and shoreline searches. While Duhan’s body was recovered after several hours, the search for the woman continues, The Irish Times reports.
Fellow musician Christy Moore, whose rendition of Duhan’s “The Voyage” became a wedding staple across Ireland, paid tribute to his colleague: “Family Man, Gentle Man, Artist and, it must be said, an almighty Rock and Roller when he fronted his Band ‘Granny’s Intention’ 60 years ago. Farewell Johnny Boy… see you later.”
Moore elaborated on their professional relationship: “I knew Johnny through songs. Over 40 years ago he shared his song El Salvador with me. Then he taught me his beautiful song ‘The Voyage’ which reverberates around the world. He wrote 100 Miles from Home for a homelessness project 25 years ago.”
Just months before his death, Duhan shared the origin story of “The Voyage” in The Irish Times. The song emerged from adversity following a harsh review that criticized his personal values rather than his artistry. “From this experience, I learned that our sweetest moments can come from our bitterest trials if we learn to swallow humble pie. Paradoxically, my harshest critic helped me complete the most inspirational song of my career and gave me material for a full chapter of part two of my autobiography, The Voyage.”
Singer Mary Coughlan reflected on Duhan’s precise artistic vision, noting his rare willingness to compromise when she combined two of his compositions for her hit “Whiskey Didn’t Kill the Pain.” She shared a poignant connection to the tragedy’s location to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, per The Irish Times: “I was down in Galway last Tuesday and I passed Silverstrand and I pointed out to the people I was with that I used to swim there all the time. And in fact, the last time I ever swam anywhere before I left Galway, I went out to Silverstrand for a dip in the ocean before I moved to Dublin. So it’s all very, very sad.”
Tributes poured in from across Ireland’s cultural landscape. Taoiseach Simon Harris described Duhan as a “renowned and much-loved songwriter,” while former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams called him “one of our finest songwriters and creative writers.”
Musician Mike Hanrahan of Stockton Wing expressed his devastation on social media: “May you rest in peace. Beautiful man. The heart of Irish songwriting is truly broken.” He quoted from Ronnie Drew’s “Always”: “Somewhere between all the anguish and pain, we always remember the sun.”
Riverdance composer Bill Whelan praised Duhan’s artistic evolution “from rock star in his twenties to thoughtful disciplined and spiritual songwriter in his later years is testament to a life well-lived and a talent realised. His gentle influence has left too soon.”
Broadcaster Fiachna Ó Braonáin highlighted both Duhan’s musical legacy and personal grace, noting that “The Voyage” “belongs in the pantheon of Irish song.” He recalled, “I played Johnny Duhan’s music regularly on RTÉ Radio 1 and his songs always received such a warm response … and without fail, I received a beautifully crafted thank you note from Johnny every time.”
Throughout his career, Duhan’s compositions were performed by numerous prominent Irish artists, including The Dubliners, Mary Black, and Dolores Keane. His legacy continues through his wife Maureen, five children (Ronan, Niamh, Kevin, Ailbhe, and Brian), ten grandchildren, four sisters, and three brothers.
Local authorities continue their investigation into the tragic events, with Superintendent O’Shea stating, per The Irish Times: “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.”
