It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Dan Walsh, age 65, on Friday, April 17, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Dan was born and raised in Cork, Ireland, and moved to the Netherlands with Heineken in 1989, soon after marrying his wife of 36 years, Claire.
A few years later, after a year in St. Lucia and Curacao, Dan and Claire moved again and landed in Rye. Dan spent 40 years working in the beer business, 27 of which were with Heineken, but anyone who knew him knew his true passion was sailing.
He started sailing dinghies at a very young age at The Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven, and sailing became a lifelong passion. After settling in Rye, where he and Claire raised their four children, Dan joined the American Yacht Club, where he shared his love of sailing with his family.
Every summer was spent cruising New England as a family on his beloved Wild Goose, stopping at some of his favorite spots, including Block Island, Menemsha, and Cuttyhunk. Dan completed several prestigious offshore races: The Middle Sea Race, The Fastnet Race, The Marblehead to Halifax Race, The Rolex Giraglia, Newport to Bermuda (several times, including double-handed and the 1-2 single-handed), and the Around Ireland Race.
In the last four years, during his illness, he sailed thousands of miles (on his other favorite boat, Marauder) around the Mediterranean and as far north as the Arctic Circle. With Claire by his side, his siblings, children, and friends were always eager to join them on board.
Every trip was an adventure and made wonderful memories for everyone. His doctor said he was the only patient he had to track down around the world in order to speak to him.
Dan was always even-keeled, someone you could trust and someone you could count on to solve any problem. These qualities helped him forge strong bonds with anyone he came into contact with. He was wise, loyal, kind, had a wicked sense of humor, and was loved by everyone.
May he rest in peace now after a very brave and courageous fight. He never let his illness limit or define him and lived as full a life as was possible.
Dan is survived by his loving wife Claire; his children Eoghan, Niamh (Cory), Fiona, and Sean; his grandchildren, Lachlan and Maeve, who gave him such joy; his siblings, Geraldine, Deirdre, Fiona (Kieran), David (Ellie) and Paul (Jennie); and his many nieces and nephews, all who loved him dearly. He will be missed by so many people across the world.
Visitation was at Graham Funeral Home in Rye on Wednesday, April 22. The funeral mass was Thursday, April 23, at Church of the Resurrection, and streamed online at www.grahamfuneralhomerye.com. There was no need to wear black, as this was a celebration of a life well-lived. In lieu of flowers, we invite you to make a contribution to NAMI in Dan’s name.
