The story of Arthur Colahan, the Irish man who wrote "Galway Bay," is just as moving as the song itself. "Galway Bay," made famous by Bing Crosby and featured in "The Quiet Man," was once the third bestselling song in the world, according to the Billboard chart. It became one of the great Irish tunes of all time.
The creator of "Galway Bay" was a quiet doctor who was born in Ireland, died in England, and was buried in an unmarked grave back in his beloved Irish homeland. Dr. Arthur Colahan never lived to see the massive worldwide success of his song.
He was born in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh , the eldest child of Professor Nicholas Whistler Colahan (1853-1930) and Elisabeth Quinn of Limerick (b.c.1866).
His family moved to Galway, and he grew up there. After completing his secondary education at St Joseph's College, Galway (The 'Bish'), he enrolled at University College Dublin in 1900, did an Arts degree, and then studied medicine. He transferred to University College Galway and graduated in 1913.
He was a member of the college Literary and Debating Society and participated in drama. He began his medical career in the County Infirmary in Galway and then moved to Holles Street. He joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and was badly affected by mustard gas in India.
After the war, he settled in Leicester, where he spent the rest of his career as a neurological specialist. Theories abound as to where the song was written or where it was first heard. Some say it was in the home of D.