Dave The Busker

On 17th April 2002, a property developer was clearing the garden of a house at 158 Upper Salthill, Galway in Ireland when he found a human skull. Gardaí subsequently found skeletal remains in a shallow grave nearby. They were wrapped in a blue sleeping bag tied with blue nylon twine, including clothing, jewellery, boots, and hair ties.

The post-mortem did not show any signs of assault, and it was concluded the male died of natural causes. The house had previously been used as a squat by homeless people. Gardai believe he may have been buried by his friends, not thinking it was illegal to bury someone in unconsecrated ground.

Gardaí believe that the body may belong to a man known as Dave. The well-known busker used to frequent Shop Street, Galway city since arriving in the area about August 1998. He lived as a New Age Traveller and played the tin whistle or guitar.

Dave had an English accent and is believed to have originated from the Tunbridge Well area of Kent. He may have trained as a classical musician in London and may also have a sister in Exeter. Friends told Gardai that he had been married at some point.

When he purchased a dog license for his collie dog, he named it ‘Dave Rawson’, but it has never been corroborated. He sometimes went by the nickname ‘Tang’. The last time he was seen was in 1999, and his collie, guitar, and tin whistle have not been found.

He carried a small notebook everywhere containing addresses and phone numbers, but that was not found with the body.