Author and artist Kieran Beville pays tribute to Limerick music legend Johnny Duhan

LIMERICK singer-songwriter Johnny Duhan’s sudden death has shocked and saddened the nation and the ripples of this tragedy are felt beyond these shores too. He will be greatly missed by family and friends.

He first came to prominence as the frontman with Granny’s Intentions, formed in Limerick by school friends in 1965. His lifelong friend and drummer with the band Guido Divido has described him as: “The best frontman I ever had the pleasure to work with."

Other Limerick members of the band included, Johnny Hockedy and Jack Costello. Johnny had a voice that conjured up passion and pathos and personally I prefer him singing ‘The Voyage’ to Christy Moore – even though Christy sings it exceptionally well.

Anybody who knew Johnny Duhan will tell you he was a lovely man. I think his faith shaped his identity and character and it would be remiss not to mention that aspect of his life.

The image I have chosen to accompany this article has an inscription written in black marker on the railing Johnny is leaning on. This is often cropped out but if you look closely it refers to a biblical text, Luke 9:26 which is a quotation from Jesus in the Gospel of Luke, “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”

I think it was no accident that Johnny chose that spot for that photo and if it was then it is coincidentally very apt for the man that he was.

He was exceptionally gifted. Born on March 30, 1950 his untimely death occurred on November 12, 2024 while swimming at Silver Strand, Barna, Co. Galway.

Johnny began his career as the 15-year-old frontman of the Limerick group Granny's Intentions. After success in Limerick and Dublin, the band moved to London and was signed to the Deram Records label. They released several singles and one album, Honest Injun. However, the band disbanded before Duhan was twenty-one.

READ MORE: Kilfinane journal recalling past events launched

Duhan left the music industry to start writing folk songs, poetry, and prose. He wrote some outstanding songs, musically and lyrically, such as ‘Just Another Town,' ‘To the Light,' ‘Flame,' ‘The Voyage,' Whiskey Didn’t Kill the Pain’ and many more.

His songs have been performed by Christy Moore, Mary Black, Mary Coughlan, Van Morrisson, The Dubliners as well as other Irish and international singers. Christy Moore stated that his song ‘The Voyage’ has been performed at over a million weddings worldwide. Hyperbole it may be but I have no doubt it was and still is a popular song at weddings and anniversaries too.

It is disappointing that RTÉ 8am news on Wednesday, November 12 referred to Johnny Duhan as 'The Galway singer, songwriter.' We know he lived there for some years, but he is not from there. No offence whatsoever intended to Galway, I love the place. He is from Limerick. I am not being petty.

Would you refer to James Joyce as 'The Zurich' writer or Samuel Becket as 'The Parisian writer?' I spent most of my life in Cork but I am a Limerick man. RTÉ could have (and should have) said The Limerick singer, songwriter who moved to Galway some years ago. This is simple, accurate and good journalism. Other media outlets, such as Newstalk got it right.

What does it matter? Well Johnny Duhan is part of Limerick’s proud heritage. Where a person comes from is important – roots bear fruit in creative work. The formative years are qualitatively different to the accumulated years of a life. Where a person was born, went to school, grew up and so on. These things matter.

Nevertheless, Limerick, Galway, Ireland and many international communities will mourn his death. It is one of my regrets that when I wrote the SPOTLIGHT series of feature articles for the Limerick Leader, focusing on writers, artists and musicians, profiling their work and showcasing Limerick’s astounding talent, that I never got around to including Johnny Duhan.

He used to send me links to songs he was composing asking for my opinion. I think this shows a great humility because, although I am a writer, I am not a musician.