Galway drowning victim named as well-known singer songwriter ...

The body of Mr Duhan, aged 74, was recovered from the Silverstrand in Barna earlier today while a second swimmer still remains missing.

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 tragic 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 including The Voyage, for artists such as The Dubliners, Christy Moore, Mary Black and Dolores Keane among others, is a renowned singer and songwriter.

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.

The Irish Coast Guard and a number of local boats went to the scene earlier today in an effort to find the missing swimmers but visibility is extremely poor.

It had not been possible to task the Irish Coast Guard helicopter because of the dense fog.

Family members of both swimmers began arriving at the scene earlier today as news of the incident spread.

Gardaí sealed off the road leading to the beach.

In a statement, the coast guard said the two swimmers were reported overdue separately in the same location this morning before 10am.

"The body of one male swimmer was subsequently recovered by Aran Island Lifeboat at 1:30pm. Resources on scene include Costelloe Bay Coast Guard boat, Galway Bay RNLI and Aran Island Lifeboat in addition to the Civil Defence.

"Cleggan Coast Guard Unit are also on scene assessing conditions for a drone search. A number of local boats are also searching the area in support of the search.”